United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division is responsible for developing U.S. grade standards and providing inspection, grading, certification, and audit-based services nation-wide on a user-fee basis for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables and related products. SCI Division coordinates Federal and Federal-State terminal market and shipping point inspections for fresh fruits and vegetables and maintains cooperative agreements with individual States and Puerto Rico to meet the needs of these programs. SCI Division develops and conducts training in support of these inspection and audit-based programs. SCI Division also provides services including information coordination and label review services in support of USDA feeding programs. SCI Division is also responsible for Government-wide development and coordination of Commercial Item Descriptions for foods. SCI Division Area Offices deliver Division services to applicants within the individual office’s designated geographic area of coverage. Services are provided by area office inspection personnel under the supervision of the Officer-in-Charge (OIC), the Assistant Officer-in-Charge (AOIC), and possibly a Sub-area Supervisor (SAS). The incumbent serves as a grader at an inspection point, processing facility or area office lab. Assignments may also involve details and/or reassignment to a different geographical area as determined by management. The incumbent is subject to geographic mobility should a directed reassignment become necessary.