Marketing
Poultry Grading
Poultry grading is a voluntary program provided under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.), and is offered on a fee-for-service basis. It is designed to assist the orderly marketing of poultry products. Quality in practical terms refers to the usability, desirability, and value of a product, as well as its marketability. Poultry grade standards identify and measure degrees of quality in poultry products. They permit important quality attributes to be evaluated uniformly and accurately; they provide a way for buyers and sellers to negotiate using a common language.
Once poultry has been graded according to these standards, it may be identified with the USDA grademark. Over the years, processors have found it advantageous to market grade-identified poultry products and consumers have come to rely on the USDA grademark as assurance that they are getting the quality they want.
Shell Egg Grading
Shell egg grading is a voluntary program provided under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, and is offered on a fee-for-service basis. It is designed to assist the orderly marketing of shell eggs by providing for the official certification of egg quality, quantity, size, temperature, packaging, and other factors.
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