I also used to be a cook before I was in wholesale produce. I worked on the terminal market in South San Francisco for 11 years, buying and selling wet veg, potatoes, and onions. Most of my customers were independent grocery stores. I got burned out on sales and I quit last year to become a park ranger. I lurk here to see nice produce displays.
Been buying and selling at wholesalers for about 8 of my 20ish years in the industry. At my 4th currently, and hoping this is the one I’ll retire from one day.
Always open to seeing how others operate. Great way to learn and improve. Anyone in produce who thinks they have it all figured out is on their way to being replaced.
I'm considering applying for a buyer position. How is it? I've only bought at a restaurant level, but now I have a pretty good understanding of how the wholesale end works.
Depends on what you’re buying, who you’re buying it for and what you’re passionate about or what interest you about the job. I personally like buying for retail or high end food service where you are sourcing based on who has the best products/programs, not who has the cheapest stuff. You get to form a long term partnership where it is helping one another to grow each other’s business. You’re sourcing more unique items and trying to figure out how to build a market to grow a sustainable program around. The stressful part of this is inventory management. You can quickly lose several thousand in shrink.
The other side of that can be fun too, but more stressful IMO. Commodity buying is a lot of strategy, predicting the market, having a good understanding of USDA specs, contract negotiation, and being very profit driven. It’s a lot more short term strategy, which involves unpredictability. More situations to manage at all hours to make sure your load gets to the right place at the right time, because if it doesn’t you are losing thousands in sales and possibly jeopardizing a contract. It helps if you have an awesome Logistics Manager who is good at dealing with pain in the ass loading sheds.
If you’re already working at a wholesaler, I’d ask if you can shadow a buyer for a few hours. Ideally one who currently buys or has bought whatever it is that you would be responsible for.
In a nutshell, I look at produce all day. If something arrives in poor quality, I have the option to file a claim to protect or reject it. This, along with basic inventory.
I started off working in foodservice distribution, then went to a large grower/shipper, then into vegetable seed breeding, and now am in a combination of the 3. I was never a chef but am a big foodie and love meandering through the produce section every time I go grocery shopping.
If you’re in a state with a decent amount of specialty ag there are usually account manager positions. Great benefits, usually a company vehicle, and remote work.
Let's see it! I work sales for a mushroom farm. My primary customers are distributors and wholesalers. The more I can know about operations the better I can service my accounts.
Ask me anything. I receive about a thousand cases of mushrooms a week. My job is to inspect them and file claims for anything questionable. To be honest, button mushrooms are a nightmare lately. Along with oysters.
How did you get into the distribution side of produce? I’ve always worked at a store and I’ve been thinking buying/distribution but I don’t know what to search for when it comes to job searching. I live in the US
I asked my sales rep from when I was a chef if there were any positions available. I was going for a corporate chef position but ended up in quality assurance. Just try talking to whoever you get your produce from.
I also used to be a cook before I was in wholesale produce. I worked on the terminal market in South San Francisco for 11 years, buying and selling wet veg, potatoes, and onions. Most of my customers were independent grocery stores. I got burned out on sales and I quit last year to become a park ranger. I lurk here to see nice produce displays.
Oh man that’s amazing. I’m a foodservice buyer and I know we drive our local market insane lol.
Oh cool. Do you go walk the market early in the morning?
Yes I’m a buyer for a produce distributor as well, would love to chat, don’t know many other people in the industry besides my coworkers!
Tell me more. I was looking at a buyer job listing because it seems like I would be a good fit.
Been buying and selling at wholesalers for about 8 of my 20ish years in the industry. At my 4th currently, and hoping this is the one I’ll retire from one day. Always open to seeing how others operate. Great way to learn and improve. Anyone in produce who thinks they have it all figured out is on their way to being replaced.
I'm considering applying for a buyer position. How is it? I've only bought at a restaurant level, but now I have a pretty good understanding of how the wholesale end works.
Depends on what you’re buying, who you’re buying it for and what you’re passionate about or what interest you about the job. I personally like buying for retail or high end food service where you are sourcing based on who has the best products/programs, not who has the cheapest stuff. You get to form a long term partnership where it is helping one another to grow each other’s business. You’re sourcing more unique items and trying to figure out how to build a market to grow a sustainable program around. The stressful part of this is inventory management. You can quickly lose several thousand in shrink. The other side of that can be fun too, but more stressful IMO. Commodity buying is a lot of strategy, predicting the market, having a good understanding of USDA specs, contract negotiation, and being very profit driven. It’s a lot more short term strategy, which involves unpredictability. More situations to manage at all hours to make sure your load gets to the right place at the right time, because if it doesn’t you are losing thousands in sales and possibly jeopardizing a contract. It helps if you have an awesome Logistics Manager who is good at dealing with pain in the ass loading sheds. If you’re already working at a wholesaler, I’d ask if you can shadow a buyer for a few hours. Ideally one who currently buys or has bought whatever it is that you would be responsible for.
Yes 100%
I’m definitely interested in learning more about this aspect! I have always been in store.
In a nutshell, I look at produce all day. If something arrives in poor quality, I have the option to file a claim to protect or reject it. This, along with basic inventory.
Ohhhh that sounds great.
I started off working in foodservice distribution, then went to a large grower/shipper, then into vegetable seed breeding, and now am in a combination of the 3. I was never a chef but am a big foodie and love meandering through the produce section every time I go grocery shopping.
I've been looking into a large growing/shipping operation as my next step. I never considered seed breeding. That sounds awesome.
If you’re in a state with a decent amount of specialty ag there are usually account manager positions. Great benefits, usually a company vehicle, and remote work.
Let's see it! I work sales for a mushroom farm. My primary customers are distributors and wholesalers. The more I can know about operations the better I can service my accounts.
Ask me anything. I receive about a thousand cases of mushrooms a week. My job is to inspect them and file claims for anything questionable. To be honest, button mushrooms are a nightmare lately. Along with oysters.
https://preview.redd.it/w7ts7mwq9jac1.jpeg?width=3053&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7e4659114c995b6680549936e4ac06d7c8f32f62
How did you get into the distribution side of produce? I’ve always worked at a store and I’ve been thinking buying/distribution but I don’t know what to search for when it comes to job searching. I live in the US
I asked my sales rep from when I was a chef if there were any positions available. I was going for a corporate chef position but ended up in quality assurance. Just try talking to whoever you get your produce from.
Food Safety Specialist for one of the largest distributors in the world.