Programs and Services SCI facilitates the efficient fair marketing of Americas fresh frozen and processed fruits vegetables and other specialty crops by providing Grading inspection and certification services ID: 1033514
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1. Specialty Crops Inspection Division
2. Programs and ServicesSCI facilitates the efficient, fair marketing of America’s fresh, frozen, and processed fruits, vegetables, and other specialty crops by providing:Grading, inspection, and certification servicesVoluntary, audit-based services to verify good agricultural and manufacturing practices, HACCP, traceability, food defense, and export certificationU.S. grade standards and related guidance, and Commercial Item Descriptions for all commoditiesServices are voluntary (except when mandated by Federal marketing orders, or school lunch and other feeding programs)Services provided on a user-fee basis to anyone with a financial interest in product load
3. Delivering to StakeholdersUSDA and Federal AgenciesSpecialty Crops Inspection DivisionState Departments of AgricultureAMS Managers and EmployeesInternational OrganizationsSpecialty Crops IndustryAMS CPPFSIS FNS FSA FDA DoD NMFSGFSICodexUNECEUSAID
4. SCI Field Locations
5. Inspection ServicesInspect fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, nuts, and specialty crops products Certify class, quality, quantity, and condition of product upon shipping or receipt in interstate commerceCustomers choose inspection typeU.S. grade standards or contract termsFull inspection (quality and condition)Condition onlyWeight or count onlyTemperature onlyCustom certificationsWe support an efficient marketing system that quickly moves wholesome, affordable agricultural products from farm to consumer
6. USDA GAP Audit ServicesMeeting Buyers’ Needs
7. Audit Program Export CertificationsPre-Export Check Program for almonds destined for the European UnionAflatoxin control measures for peanuts destined for the European UnionEuropean Union Certification Program for Sprouts and Seeds for SproutsPistachio Export Aflatoxin Reporting (PEAR) Program
8. Standardization ProgramsDevelop and maintain 300+ U.S. standards for gradesStandards define quality and condition factors for fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other specialty crop productsDevelop and maintain 188 Commercial Item Descriptions (CID) for products in all commodity areasCIDs are official U.S. Government procurement documents that describe the most important characteristics of a commercial productUsed by buyers to specify the product they want to purchase
9. SCIONSpecialty Crops Integrated Operating NetworkNew automated platform supporting USDAspecialty crops grading, inspection, and audit business processesAllows applicants to request services, and get certificates, audit reports, and billing statements onlineSeptember 29, 2021 – SCI issued the first SCION-generated certificate!
10. SCION TimelineRelease 1Release 2Release 3September 27, 2021January 2022April 2022Processed lot inspectionsPlant SurveysAudits (excluded GroupGAP)In-plant inspectionsShipping point inspectionsOperational RationsCitrusQuality Assurance ProgramChild Nutrition LabelingFresh products inspectionsGroup auditsFederal/State integration
11. Specialty Crops Inspection Division