AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AGENT 1

Code: 33892 State Competitive Range: I16 (FY 2027) Work week 40: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $52,308.32 - $75,954.22/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under limited supervision in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, inspects, certifies, and grades designated agricultural products; collects official samples of agricultural production materials; conducts surveys of prices, product dating, and required license for agricultural products; performs routine and special investigations to enforce the New Jersey Milk Control Act, Chapter 274, P.L. 1941, as amended; explains the provisions of the law and assists milk dealers, processors, and retail merchants in milk marketing problems; monitors inventory at the recipient agency and reviews storage and handling of USDA Foods to minimize losses; assists recipient agencies with effective utilization of entitlement; reviews compliance with the State Food Purchase Program; does the inspection and required follow-up accountability reviews of all school recipient agencies as well as needy agencies under The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) to ensure compliance with federal standards; explains participation requirements to prospective using agencies; does related work as required.

Examples of work

• Inspects egg-breaking plants and processes to ensure compliance with USDA regulations.
• Serves as resident grader in shell egg plants to inspect and to certify compliance with USDA and state requirements.
• Conducts shipping point and/or terminal market inspections of fruits, vegetables, shell eggs, fish and fisheries products, red meat, and poultry on the basis of contractor, USDA, and USDC standards, and certifies their quality, condition, size, weight, quantity, and grade.
• Prepares technically accurate official state/federal certificates and other related official documents in accordance with state/federal laws and regulations.
• Collects samples of animal feeds, seeds, fertilizers, soil conditioners, and liming materials displayed for sale at retail level.
• Inspects and grades poultry products on the basis of contract specifications.
• Test-weights poultry products to certify compliance with a contract agreement.
• Grades fruits and vegetables received at processing plants and receiving stations on the basis of contract specifications incorporating state/federal standards.
• Inspects shell eggs, fruits, and vegetables, fish and fisheries products, red meat, and poultry products at various marketing levels to determine their compliance with state and federal Departments of Agriculture laws.
• Explains and interprets the provision of basic law and regulations.
• Makes special field visits and investigations of licensed milk dealers, processors, and retail merchants to determine compliance with New Jersey Law.
• Examines records of milk dealers, processors, and retail merchants to determine whether prices being charged comply with minimum prices as required by regulations.
• Provides assistance to milk dealers, processors, and retail merchants in the preparation and interpretation of various reports and forms required.
• Reports irregularities or suspected violations on the part of licensees in connection with milk marketing matters to regulate the milk industry.
• Verifies prices and proper dating of agricultural commodity packages and containers and proper labeling of commodities and materials such as lime, feed, fertilizers, potatoes, and eggs.
• Checks market outlets for the presence of properly valid dated milk licenses, and plant dealer and/or nursery certificates.
• Explains and interprets the provisions of Dairy regulations.
• Reviews financial statements of stores and dealers for compliance to variable cost sales.
• Administer dairy regulations and penalties when violations are identified.
• Prepares and presents training and refresher courses for Agricultural Products Agent Trainees.
• Acts as a state/federal witness for the state at hearings and in court and gives testimony under oath.
• Cooperates with federal agencies, official state organizations and agencies, and other state representatives on matters related to agricultural inspection and grading.
• Carries out delegated responsibilities pertaining to department and state policies and regulations including proper use, care, and maintenance of state equipment.
• Makes field visits to program participant agencies (schools, institutions, summer camps, summer feeding sites, Emergency Feeding Organizations, or Local TEFAP distribution sites) to review and monitor inventory controls of USDA donated foods and transfer foods deemed to be in excess.
• Reviews compliance with regulations and proper use of state procedures and forms.
• Reviews financial statements for proper crediting of USDA Foods by vendors and foodservice management companies.
• Trains recipient agencies on the use of the tools, forms and computer systems utilized by the NJDA Food Distribution Unit.
• Assists with follow-up on USDA food complaints and food recalls.
• Reviews storage facilities to ensure against losses.
• Takes inventory and reviews allocation records.
• Determines need to revisit agencies with food distribution related problem areas or potential problem areas.
• Prepares reports of inspections and related matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Conducts exit conferences with responsible agency administrators to review deficiencies and suggest corrective actions.
• Appraises and recommends the reduction of food issuance and/or withholding of food issuance for failure to adhere to program regulatory requirements.
• Visits new recipient agency applicants to explain the Food Distribution Program.
• Advises recipient agency food service director, business administrator, school board secretary or superintendent, and relevant staff as to program requirements.
• Applies income tax or full cost financial formulas in determining eligibility criteria of the number of eligible participants within recipient agencies being served.
• Determines greatest benefit to recipient agency and submits data to food distribution office.
• Responds to natural or manmade disaster situations in which commodities must be provided to feed those individuals affected.
• Investigates reports of commodity losses due to spoilage, deterioration, or theft.
• Determines degree of responsibility by user agency and recommends appropriate settlement.
• Attends job related conferences and programs to maintain up-to-date knowledge of the food distribution field.
• Publicly addresses small groups, (for example, food service personnel or needy feeding groups) on behalf of management to inform and update recipient agency program requirements.
• Assists in taking warehouse physical inventories.
• Reviews, prepares, and submits reports to meet federal requirements and/or to inform management.
• Cooperates with federal officials and other state staff on matters related to distribution and storage of federal foods.
• Maintains essential records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

One (1) year of experience in fresh fruit and vegetable grading and inspection; or in food safety systems auditing; or in field and internal related work as an agricultural commodities regulation enforcement officer; or as a food service director.

License

Appointees may be required to qualify for federal and/or State licenses or certifications for agricultural commodities inspections and/or food safety inspections.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

<b>SPECIAL NOTE:</b> The duties of this title may require heavy lifting. Appointees will be expected to perform duties where heavy lifting of objects such as crates of ice, pack poultry, and dry pack cases of eggs, meats, fruits, and vegetables and other objects will be required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of marketing practices and perishability of products being graded to ensure equitable service to the industries.
• Knowledge of common types of violations and evasions of regulations to be expected and of the means of identifying such evasions.
• Knowledge of factors to consider in proper storage and handling of foods to ensure safety, freedom from contamination, and full utilization.
• Knowledge of the USDA Food Distribution Program and the pertinent rules and regulations of the USDA.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures used to make accurate inspections, inventories, and checks of stored food commodities.
• Ability to train recipient agencies on the use of the tools, forms and computer systems utilized by the NJDA Food Distribution Unit.
• Ability to apply knowledge of agricultural products produced in New Jersey and their general production and marketing processes.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and apply official state and federal regulations governing inspection and grading of agricultural products.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and apply state and federal procedures in certifying eggs and poultry products.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and apply state and federal standards and contract specifications to agricultural commodities.
• Ability to explain scoring defects and tolerance, container marking requirements, and laws pertaining to interstate, intrastate, and export shipments of agricultural commodities to the industry.
• Ability to understand problems encountered in a statewide program of regulatory activity connected with milk production and milk marketing.
• Ability to apply provisions of the New Jersey Milk Control Act (Chapter 274, P.L. 1941, as amended) and the regulations and orders of the Division of Marketing and Development and their application to specific situations.
• Ability to make special investigations of large distributors of milk to ensure compliance with rules and regulations of the agency.
• Ability to administer dairy regulations and penalties when violations are identified.
• Ability to review financial statements for compliance to variable cost sales.
• Ability to explain and interpret the provisions of Dairy regulations.
• Ability to organize assigned work, analyze inspection and grading problems, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to prepare reports and correspondence.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to act as a state/federal witness at hearings and in court.
• Ability to give testimony under oath.
• Ability to provide depositions when requested.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and apply state and federal laws regarding the marketing of agricultural products to ensure compliance with export and import regulations.
• Ability to deal courteously and effectively with others in complex situations concerning the certification of agricultural products.
• Ability to perform basic percentage and ratio calculations.
• Ability to publicly address food service personnel and volunteers from nonprofit organizations at regional meetings.
• Ability to assess recipient agency needs and make recommendations.
• Ability to explain program requirements to new applicants and to recipient agencies.
• Ability to determine quantity and quality of inspected commodities.
• Ability to apply income tax or cost formulas to determine eligibility of institutional recipients.
• Ability to draft letters and prepare, review, and audit all contract and inspection forms.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.
• American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Possession of a United States Department of Agriculture Interstate/Intrastate Market license may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

Possession of a United States Department of Agriculture Processed Base Auditors license may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

Possession of a Food and Drug Administration, Grade A Milk Sanitation License may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.