official grade 
standards and 
inspection for 
fresh fruits 
and vegetables 
What They Do 
Thanks to a highly efficient marketing system, 
fruits and vegetables in the United States canbe 
grown where climate, soil and geography are 
most suitable--and delivered fresh and whole- 
some to consumers thousands of miles away. 
U.S. grade standards and official inspection 
play a vital role in the smooth functioning of this 
far-flung marketing system. 
Grade standards developed by the U.S. De- 
partment of Agriculture serve as a basis for 
measuring the quality of fresh fruits, vegetables, 
nuts and related commodities. They give the 
industry a common trading language for selling 
and buying. 
Also, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 
cooperation with various State Departments of 
Agriculture and other State agencies, makes 
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