Agricultural Produce Grader or Sorter
Other Titles
Agriculture Laborer, Apple Sorter, Corn Lab Technician, Distribution Technician, Egg Grader, Egg Worker, Grader, Potato Grader, Potato Sorter, Sorter
Agricultural Products Graders and Sorters refers to such workers who are responsible for grading and sorting a wide range of foods. In doing so, they may categorize different foods according to specific features such as weight, size and color. In this role, they use various tools to grade and sort the products according to their quality, condition, weight and other factors. They also place the sorted products in the designated containers. A part of their job is to identify the foods or food products which have inferior quality or any other defects. They then remove these items and discard them.
Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Package agricultural products for shipment or further processing.
Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.
Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.
Sort forestry or agricultural materials.
Record agricultural or forestry inventory data.
Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
Manual Dexterity — The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Category Flexibility — The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Electronic mail software -- e.g., Google Gmail; Microsoft Outlook
Office suite software -- e.g., Google Workspace; WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Apache OpenOffice
Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; LibreOffice Calc; Google Sheets
Web platform development software -- e.g., Adobe Dreamweaver; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP; WordPress
Word processing software -- e.g., Google Docs; WordPerfect Microsoft Word; LibreOffice Writer
Belt conveyors
Binocular light compound microscopes
Calipers — 2-inch aluminum Kemper calipers; 6-inch plastic calipers; Digital calipers
Centrifugal separation equipment or parts or screens — Rotary sifters; Specific gravity separators
Chain conveyors — Drag conveyors
Digital cameras
Domestic apple corer — Apple corers
Domestic garlic press — Garlic presses
Electronic measuring probes — Meat probes; Probes
Electronic toploading balances — Overhead weighing systems
Grading machines for seed or grain or dried leguminous vegetables — Cherry sizers; Deformation testers; Firmness testers; General purpose sizers; Grape sizers; Indented cylinder graders; Onion sizers; Potato sizers; Seed graders; Tomato sizers
Handheld refractometers or polarimeters — Digital refractometers
Penetrometers — Electronic penetrometers
Pry bars — Crate openers
Reflectometers — Optical reflectometers
Sample holders — Diverter samplers; Peanut triers
Sorting machines for seed or grain or dried leguminous vegetables — Color sorters; Cross belt sorters; Diameter sorting machines; Kick sorters; Overhead diverters; Paddle sorters; Shape sorting machines; Weight sorting machines
Surface thermometers — Digital surface thermometers
Utility knives
Vibratory separation equipment or parts or screens — Vibrating screens
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Self Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.