The pulp temperature of lettuce is 

 taken as part of the grading 

 process. 



6 



For Receivers 



Receivers in terminal markets through- 

 out the country can have shipments of 

 produce graded for both quality and con- 

 dition or for condition only. Many 

 receivers use the grading service to 

 determine whether or not a shipment 

 meets contract terms at time of arrival, 

 to help them decide the best use for a 

 particular shipment, or as an aid in sell- 

 ing. Grading service on any shipment is 

 available to anyone with a financial inter- 

 est in the commodity. 



Receivers, as a group, or as individuals, 

 may enter into a special contract with 

 USDA to have their entire volume of rail 

 car and trucklot receipts graded. This 

 special contract service will be granted 

 only when the anticipated volume is 

 large enough to cover grading costs and 

 when sufficient grading staff is available. 



For Institutional Buyers and 

 Government Agencies 



Federal, State, and local governments, 

 airlines, hospitals, schools, hotels, and 

 other large feeding establishments make 

 extensive use of the Federal and Federal- 

 State Grading Services. 



The grading service will help institutional 

 buyers draw up specifications — using 

 U.S. grade standards wherever appropri- 

 ate — to describe the quality of produce 

 they need, and then inspect deliveries to 

 assure that they fit the specifications. In 

 the contract with suppliers, buyers can 

 specify that all purchases must be certi- 

 fied by USDA. 



USDA grader checks the quality of 

 tomatoes before truck is unloaded. 



