Produce Inspectors
Our US Foods® broadline Distribution Centers have Produce Inspectors who are dedicated to providing high-quality produce to your facility.
Who are Produce Inspectors?
Produce Inspectors are responsible for assuring that the produce received and shipped from each US Foods broadline Distribution Center meets or exceeds the quality standards set forth by the USDA, and that our Exclusive Brands produce meets our even higher Cross Valley Farms® spec requirements. The role of Produce Inspectors is highly technical, and continuous education is offered through ongoing training modules. Depending on the size and volume of the broadline Distribution Center, there are between one and four Produce Inspectors on staff*.
What do US Foods® Produce Inspectors Do?
Our highly-trained Produce Inspectors follow a series of steps and quality checks that must be completed for every lot of produce under their inspection.
Assess Produce Loads
Before a trailer is unloaded, Produce Inspectors will conduct an initial assessment by taking the temperature of the load and visually checking for problems. If no issues are present, the product will be off-loaded and staged on the cooler dock, maintaining the cold chain.
Inbound Inspections
Produce Inspectors open cases from each lot of produce and inspect for USDA standards, including size, shape, temperature, deformities, etc., ensuring each item on an invoice has been sampled. If any issues are found, such as incorrect temperature, count or poor quality, the product will be rejected and communicated to the vendor, that so it does not end up in our warehouse.
Technology
The Produce Inspector uses a proprietary tool called Fresh Check to record inspection results on their tablet, which allows for instant communication on inspection findings, to take quick action as needed.
Slot Checks
Produce Inspectors consistently check every produce slot in the warehouse. They inspect cases from multiple levels of the produce pallet to check for proper rotation, new quality concerns or damage.
The work of our Produce Inspectors is detailed and comprehensive. Produce inspectors are just a few of the many associates at US Foods who work hard to provide you with high-quality fresh produce.
*Our three Systems Distribution Centers do not have produce inspectors.