SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division

 Established in October 2012 as a result of the merger of the 

Processed and Fresh Products Inspection Divisions.

 USDA inspections have been serving the food industry since 

1917

 Supporting the global specialty crops market by collaborating with 

the agricultural community to provide trusted, impartial, prompt, 

and accurate quality assurance and food safety verification services

Specialty Crops Inspection Division
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Inspection Grades

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1973

Used by: Plants operating under USDA 

continuous inspection contracts for 

processed fruits and vegetables. The grade 

mark indicates the quality level of the 

product. The designated grade could be 

Grade A or Grade B.
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Continuous Inspection Marks

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Used by: Plants operating under USDA 

continuous inspection contracts. No grade is 

designated. The statement may be used 

inside a shield (shown left) or text-only 

(shown right).

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Inspection Grades

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Used by: Plants operating under USDA 

inspection service contracts. The grade mark 

indicates the quality level of the product. 

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Inspection Marks

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Used by: Plants operating under USDA 

inspection service contracts. No grade is 

designated. The mark can be used with 

the shield (shown left) and or text-only 

(shown right).

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Quality Assurance Program (QAP)

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1976

Use: To designate participation in the QAP service, 

which means the facility under contract is operated with 

USDA oversight, and their quality control program is 

reliable and capable of producing sound and wholesome 

product of the desired quality under sanitary 

conditions.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Processed Product Inspection Marks

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1983

Use: For processed products produced in an 

approved plant and inspected and certified 

by an inspector on a lot basis. The mark is 

used without a grade, and can be used with 

the shield (shown left) or text-only (shown 

right).

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Processed Product Grade Marks

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Use: To indicate the processed fruits and vegetable 

products have been produced in an approved plant and 

inspected and certified by an inspector on a lot basis. 

The grade mark indicates the quality level of the 

product. Grades are typically Grade A, B, or C.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Sampling Marks

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1955

Use: To identify products that have been 

officially sampled and the field office that 

provided the sampling service. Two examples 

of these marks are shown here.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Graded Product Packed Under Continuous Inspection

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Use: To show the appropriate U.S. grade designation 

container labels or other packaging for product packed 

under continuous inspection by USDA. This ensures the 

plant in which the product is packed is maintained under 

good commercial sanitary practices and the product has 

been certified by an inspector as meeting the 

requirements of the U.S. Grade A, Grade No. 1, or a 

higher designated grade.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Continuous Inspection by Federal-State 

Licensed Employees

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Use: For Federal-State licensed employees in 

facilities packing under continuous inspection 

to indicate product is U.S. Grade No. 1. Two 

examples of shields with packer identification 

numbers are provided here.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Fresh Produce Inspected Lots

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Use: For fresh produce that is inspected on a lotby-lot basis is identified by the official inspection 

mark. The mark is stamped on a container.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Partners in Quality (PIQ)

Type: Packer/Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1997

Use: Designates a client’s participation in a program 

under which USDA-licensed personnel audit documentintensive systems used by packinghouses to ensure the 

quality of the commodities passing through them.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Quality Monitoring Program (QMP)

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 2007

Use: To designate participation in the QMP, which provides a 

supplier with an objective, third-party assessment of product 

quality. These evaluations may be based on official U.S. grade 

standards or customer quality specifications.

Grade and Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and 

Good Handling Practices (GHP)

Type: Packer/Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 2007

Use: To designate participation in Fruit and 

Vegetable Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and 

Good Handling Practices (GHP) audit program.

Food Safety Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops
SCI: Quality and Food Safety Labels

Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Qualified Through Verification (QTV)

Type: Consumer/Industry

Status: In use since 1997

Use: To designate participation in the QTV program, which is is

a food safety-based program with a foundation of Hazard 

Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, Good 

Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), and effective sanitation 

programs, product recall planning, and microbiological testing.

Food Safety Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops