The Cooperative Grading Service, under an Agreement between the USDA and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, administers a program to provide an impartial basis for the fruit, vegetable, and peanut industry to buy, sell, trade, and make settlements on various products throughout the state. This is accomplished by applying U.S. Grade Standards to determine size, quality, condition, and grade of these products. This enables the industry to establish a monetary value directly based on these determinations. This service also ascertains compliance with Marketing Orders and Import requirements. The service is provided through request only, but grading is mandatory for peanuts being bought, sold, or otherwise marketed. The Grading Service also provides audit verification of a company’s efforts to minimize the risk of microbial contamination of commodities by microbial pathogens based on the FDA’s “Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables”. The grading service is totally self-supporting through fees that are established to cover the cost of operation.

The primary duties of this position are to provide Farmer Stock (FS) peanut maintenance on all sampling and grading equipment utilized in North Carolina. The incumbent will calibrate grading equipment to meet USDA specifications and tolerances. Incumbent must compose legible records and create statements for services rendered. Applicant will prepare documentation annually to account for peanut parts sold which maintain the necessary inventory essential for peanut stations that rely on our service and repair parts. This position will require maintenance as much as 50 feet above ground level. Support with general maintenance around the Williamston office. Applicant will be required to learn to inspect shipping point commodities as needed.

This position may require shift work and additional work hours. Some weekends and holidays may be required.

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The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provide services that promote and improve agriculture, agribusiness and forests; protect consumers and businesses; and conserve farmland and natural resources for the prosperity of all North Carolinians. The Department employs approximately 2,000 employees.

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• Knowledge of industrial workplace safety.
• Knowledge of USDA grading standards, principles, and procedures for commercial horticulture crop marketing and those specific to the area of assignment.
• Experience in welding.
• Accurate color vision.
• Ability to complete required forms, records, and reports and to compute billing charges.
• Ability to work independently, analytically make sound decisions, use good judgement, and close attention to details.
• Ability to train and supervise employees in sample pulling, grading procedures, and equipment use.
• Ability to follow department safety guidelines and industry safety rules of the processing plant to which allocated if assigned.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with plant management, producers, shippers, receivers, co-workers, and others.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply Federal/State guidelines and regulations.

• Knowledge of Farmer Stock peanut grading
• Knowledge of Mill peanut grading
• 2 or more years in any type of welding or Metal Fabrication techniques

High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and one year of closely related work experience such as commodity grading, farming, quality control, working in a processing plant in the area of assignment, food service, grocery, and manufacturing; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Qualification:

• Ability to obtain licensure by USDA for commodities grader
• Possession of a valid state driver's license.