To provide grading service nationwide, 

 USDA maintains cooperative grading 

 agreements with State Departments of 

 Agriculture and other State agencies. 

 Agreements are now in force in 48 

 States and Puerto Rico. 



The grading service performed under 

 these agreements is operated jointly by 

 USDA's Food Safety and Quality Service 

 (FSQS) and cooperating State agencies, 

 and is known as the Federal-State Grad- 

 ing Service. FSQS establishes basic 

 grading policies and procedures and fur- 

 nishes overall direction. 



Under these Federal-State agreements, 

 Federally-licensed graders perform their 

 work throughout the country at points of 

 origin. Often, these shipping point 

 graders work in the fields while a crop is 

 being harvested. 



USDA grader inspects grapes at 

 shipping point. 



