Pack Certification-Under this pro- 

 gram, the inspector is not necessarily 

 present during all operating shifts. He 

 may inspect and certify the entire 

 pack under a cooperative Quality As- 

 surance Program in plants which qual- 

 ify or he may inspect and certify only 

 designated portions of production. 



Lot Inspection-The inspector will 

 check specific lots for quality and 

 condition of the food product and con- 

 tainer. The lot can be any size and 

 located in places other than a process- 

 ing plant. 



Unofficial Sample Inspection-In- 

 spection will be made of samples which 

 you select and submit to the nearest 

 USDA inspection office. 



In addition, USDA offers volume 

 buyers a service under which USDA 

 representatives will help them write 

 their purchase specifications and will 

 certify the quality and condition of 

 their orders either prior to shipment or 

 when they arrive. 



These inspection and grading serv- 

 ices play an important role in the or- 

 derly marketing of canned, frozen, and 



dried fruits and vegetables. And the 

 application of the U.S. standards and 

 other specifications by highly trained 

 USDA inspectors assures processors, 

 buyers, and sellers of an impartial, 

 third-party certification of quality. 



U.S. Grade Standards- 

 Yardsticks of Quality 



Specialists in USDA have developed 

 U.S. grade standards for some 150 

 processed fruit and vegetable products. 



These U.S. standards are the yard- 

 sticks used by USDA's inspectors 

 when you request official inspection 

 based on the U.S. grades. The stand- 

 ards also provide the industry with a 

 common trading language, a guide for 

 in-plant quality control, and a con- 

 venient basis for sales. 



In addition to certifying the quality, quan- 

 tity, and condition of fruit and vegetable 

 products, USDA inspectors will also check 

 the condition of the food containers. 



