or both. The packer may also refer to 

 continuous inspection in his advertising 

 and sales programs. 



Pack Certification 



This type of grading service is similar to 

 continuous inspection except that graders 

 need not be present continuously during 

 all operating shifts of the plant. While 

 they are on duty, however, the graders 

 may perform the same functions as they 

 would under continuous inspection. Their 

 responsibilities vary, depending on the 

 needs of the processor. They may certify 

 the entire production through a coopera- 



tive quality assurance program. (This 

 program is available to packers who 

 have a quality control program meeting 

 USDA requirements.) Or, if the packer 

 prefers, the graders may certify only 

 designated production lots. 



Processors may use this in-plant inspec- 

 tion service — like continuous inspec- 

 tion — as part of their quality control 

 programs as well as to facilitate sales. 



Products graded under this service can 

 carry the official grade names within the 

 official shield but no reference to con- 

 tinuous inspection may be used. 



Lot Inspection 



Anyone with a financial interest can 

 request grading of specific lots of proc- 

 essed fruits or vegetables. The lots can 

 be of any size and located in processing 

 plants, warehouses, or cold storage 

 plants — in producing areas, in transit, or 

 terminal markets. 



The graders will check the condition of 

 the containers, draw a prescribed 

 number of sample containers from the 

 lot, and examine the contents to deter- 

 mine the quality and condition of the 

 product. The results of the grading are 

 reported on an official certificate. 

 Official grade names — but not the 

 shield — may be used on products that 

 have been graded and certified on a lot 

 basis if the plant in which the products 

 were processed was approved in a plant 

 survey. 



Unofficial Sample Inspection 



Under this program, processors can 

 select their own samples and submit 

 them to the nearest grading office for 

 examination. 



