This is a unique opportunity to gain an overview of food safety in an award-winning Greenhouse growing and food manufacturing company. The intern will spend three weeks each with the Product Quality, Food Safety, and Organics/Food Safety Systems teams gaining direct exposure to and experience in day-to-day work.

Job Title: Food Safety & Quality Rotational Intern

Location: Livonia, MI - On Site

Duration: 10 Weeks

Summer Internship Cycle: June-August

About the Program:
Mastronardi offers a structured, 10-week internship program that runs three times per year, during the Spring, Summer and Fall. This internship provides students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop skills, contribute to meaningful projects, and learn from industry professionals.

Who We Are:

Mastronardi Produce pioneered the commercial greenhouse industry in North America, and we’re now the leading greenhouse vegetable company on the continent. Our award-winning, flavorful produce is packed under the SUNSET® brand and is available at leading grocery retailers across North America. Family owned for over 70 years, we pride ourselves on having the most flavorful products and the best people in the industry. We are constantly pushing boundaries to be a leader in fresh produce innovation. We seek individuals that demonstrate our PRIDE values (Passion, Respect, Innovation, Drive, Excellence) to help us fulfill our mission to inspire healthy living through WOW flavor experiences.

Values:

To perform the job successfully, the incumbent's behavior must be consistent with the PRIDE values expected of all Mastronardi Produce employees: be Passionate; have Respect; be Innovative; be Driven; and strive for Excellence.

Primary Function:

This is a unique opportunity to gain an overview of food safety in an award-winning Greenhouse growing and food manufacturing company. The intern will spend three weeks each with the Product Quality, Food Safety, and Organics/Food Safey Systems teams gaining direct exposure to and experience in day-to-day work.

Product Quality rotation

In the Product Quality portion of the internship, the intern will learn various quality measures and how to determine whether product meets established standards. The intern will gain exposure to various aspects of Product Quality including USDA grade standards and inspection instructions, laboratory quality measures, and developing defect guides for the company. By the end of the Product Quality rotation, the intern will understand grade standards and be able to present them in a clear, easy-to-use format for inspection staff.

Food Safety rotation

In the Food Safety portion of the internship, the intern will gain a “farm-to-forklift” understanding of how greenhouse produce grows on the farm and traverses to a distribution center. The intern will learn how food safety measures are applied during growing, harvest, packing, and shipping processes. By the end of the Food Safety rotation, the intern will be able to apply the knowledge they gained by participating in an internal inspection or external audit, prepare samples for testing, or verify agricultural input documentation.

Organics/Food Safety Systems rotation

In the Organics/Food Safety Systems portion of the internship, the intern will support operational excellence initiatives by developing standardized work instructions, analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs), and creating visual communication materials. By collaborating with cross-functional teams and using ERP systems, the intern will gain comprehensive exposure to process documentation, performance measurement, and operational best practices. Additionally, the intern will support organic certification compliance by reviewing system plans and ensuring alignment with certifier requirements. By the end of the Organics/Food Safety Systems rotation, the intern will be able to use ERP systems, analyze data, create documented processes, and assess system plans, tasks that are critical to maintaining food safety and organics programs.

Primary Responsibilities

• Maintain confidentiality of all proprietary information as well as company data.
• Communicate and present learning at the end of the internship as part of the Internship Program.

Product Quality

• Perform inbound inspection of incoming produce from the Farms.
• Conduct a mini-testing project in the Post Harvest Lab to collect data to include in Lab reports.
• Draft an inbound inspection guide for a commodity using USDA guidance and following established standards for internal defect guides.

Food Safety

• Conduct daily SafetyChain checks to verify proper record-keeping by Operations staff.
• Assist the Food Safety Manager with internal inspections, record review, and audit preparation.
• Perform GAP assessment for facility(ies) entering audit windows and present to management.
• Assist Laboratory staff by helping prepare various samples and media for testing.
• Input microbiological testing data into result databases.
• Collect, review, and file various forms of agricultural input compliance documentation.

Organics/Food Safety Systems

• Collaborate with subject matter experts and frontline staff to observe, document, and understand current operational processes, identifying key steps and best practices for standardization.
• Develop clear, accurate work instructions that detail operating procedures, incorporating appropriate visual aids and ensuring alignment with company requirements.
• Learn and apply KPI reporting methodologies by collecting performance data, analyzing trends, and assisting in the preparation of reports to support food safety and operational decision-making.
• Create visually compelling materials such as process diagrams, infographics, and work instruction aids that effectively communicate operational concepts and procedures to diverse audiences. The intern may also develop training materials.
• Navigate and utilize ERP systems (for example Microsoft NAV, SafetyChain, CDMS) to access relevant data, understand workflow integration and support documentation of system-related processes and procedures.
• Review Organic System Plans (OSPs) against certifier’s active files to identify potential gaps or discrepancies, analyze basic compliance requirements, and prepare a draft submission(s) to ensure alignment with organic certification standards.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities by gathering feedback from stakeholders, identifying opportunities for process enhancement, and contributing to the refinement of systems and records.

Education/Background Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in process, sophomore level or above.
• Preferred majors: Food Science, Agriculture, Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, or closely related fields.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively follow up.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize work and make progress on multiple projects.
• Self-starter with the capacity to work independently.
• Open-minded and adaptable to different working styles.
• Dedicated and reliable with attendance, follow through, and producing quality outputs.
• Demonstrate curiosity, including forthrightness to ask “why” and “how” to understand processes deeply.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to conceptualize limited or vague information.
• Complete background and drug test screening

Working Conditions:

• Typical office environment
• Must be able to lift up to 30 lbs. with or without accommodation
• Position requires sitting, standing, and walking on a regular basis

We are pleased to offer the following Benefits:

• Paid weekly
• Employee Engagement & Recognition Programs
• Opportunities for growth and advancement

Please continue your application online by clicking APPLY TO THIS POSITION.