Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products Go Back to List Grade, sort, or classify unprocessed food and other agricultural products by size, weight, color, or condition.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Web platform development software

Tasks
	Grade and sort products according to factors such as color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage.
	Discard inferior or defective products or foreign matter, and place acceptable products in containers for further processing.
	Weigh products or estimate their weight, visually or by feel.
	Place products in containers according to grade and mark grades on containers.
	Record grade or identification numbers on tags or on shipping, receiving, or sales sheets.
	Separate fiber tufts between fingers to assess strength, uniformity, and cohesive quality of fibers.

Skills
	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Knowledge
	Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
	English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language 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.
	Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
	Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

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Education & Training   Education:   Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.   Related Experience:   Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.

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Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   10   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.