AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AGENT 2

Code: 33893 State Competitive Range: I19 (FY 2027) Work week 40: FLSA coveredOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $59,763.25 - $87,117.35/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 general supervision of a supervisor in the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, inspects, certifies, and grades a variety of agricultural products; collects official samples of agricultural production materials; conducts surveys of prices, product dating, and required licenses of agricultural products; trains Agricultural Product Agents 1's and Agricultural Product Agent Trainees; 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; provide assistance to recipient agencies with effective utilization of entitlement; evaluates, responds and follows-up on USDA food complaints and food recalls; inspects Department of Defense (DOD) fresh fruit deliveries to the warehouses; inspects warehouse receipts; processes loss claims for short and damaged foods; judges foods unfit for human consumption; conducts annual warehouse physical inventories, evaluates commercial processor storage and sanitary conditions, and makes recommendations on vendor contract acceptability; inspects storage and use of federal foods distributed to state/county/municipal agencies throughout New Jersey to ensure compliance with US Department of Agriculture usage requirements; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Inspects egg breaking plants and processes to ensure compliance with USDA regulations.
• Conducts shipping point inspections on the basis of USDA standards.
• Inspects and prepares official phytosanitary certificates on horticultural products for export.
• Prepares technically accurate official state/federal certificates and other related official documents in accord with state/federal laws, rules, and regulations.
• Collects samples of animal feeds, seeds, fertilizers, soil conditioners, and liming materials displayed for sale at retail and wholesale levels, and submits sample to the division laboratory for further analysis.
• Grades fresh agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables received at processing plants and receiving stations on the basis of contract and state/federal specifications.
• Inspects shell eggs, white potatoes, and poultry products at all levels in the marketing channel.
• Prepares and presents training and refresher courses for inspection and grading personnel, and participates in on-the-job training for Agricultural Product Agent Trainees and Agricultural Product Agents 1's.
• Verifies prices and proper dating and/or condition of agricultural commodity packages and containers and proper labeling of commodities and materials.
• Assist in planning and organizing of Division investigations in particular cases, particularly those highly sensitive and complicated in nature.
• Formalize and execute well organized reviews of licensed dealer business records and compile appropriate detailed findings of such reviews.
• Obtains affidavits from complainants, licensees, or witnesses to support or refute allegations relevant to cases conducted by this Division.
• Performs pre-investigative research of files of previous cases and Division licensing records for background information in formulating the course of action of an investigation to determine its relationship to the current investigative assignments.
• Participates in and arranges conferences related to investigative cases.
• Reviews labels of consumer packaging for compliance with New Jersey labeling regulations and those of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) and/or Certified Organic Program.
• Reviews detailed financial statements of stores and dealers for compliance to variable cost sales.
• Conducts detailed warehouse audits of products for dealers.
• Administer dairy regulations and penalties when violations are identified.
• Conducts laboratory evaluations of milk processing plants and holds the appropriate license to act as a Laboratory Evaluation Officer (LEO).
• Certifies laboratory technicians to perform sanitary and safety tests on raw milk used for processing milk and milk products.
• 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.
• Acts as instructor and perform as test proctor for the Weigher/Sampler licenses.
• Investigates Dealers and Processors to collect evidence for a hearing/mediation on a violation.
• Acts as Department representative to submit evidence at hearings.
• Conducts field hearings and mediation for dairy violations.
• Settles Disputes and violations with consultation with Coordinator of Dairy Program
• Participates in the development of - Value Added Dairy Marketing' under special assignment by the Coordinator of Dairy Program.
• Acts as a witness for the state/federal levels at hearings and in court, gives testimony under oath, and provides depositions when requested.
• Cooperates with federal agencies, official state organizations and agencies, and other states on matters of mutual interest.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Evaluates, responds and follows up on USDA Foods complaints and food recalls
• Inspects and recommends for approval/disapproval the facilities proposed for controlled atmosphere (CA) storage of agricultural commodities.
• Makes regular inspections of CA storage facilities.
• Improves packing techniques, grading standardization requirements, and appropriate labeling of packages of agricultural enterprises by encouraging farmers, shippers, and processors to do so.
• Prepares clear, accurate, and detailed, statistical, financial, and other reports of the respective programs containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Prepares correspondence and special reports.
• Carries out delegated responsibilities pertaining to department and state policies and regulations including proper use, care, and maintenance of state equipment.
• Monitors receipt of foods and inventory levels and investigates warehouse losses due to spoilage, damage, or theft.
• Recommends actions against commercial warehouses when found negligent.
• Visits processor plants to assist management in evaluation of processor plant facilities, storage areas, and sanitary conditions, and offers an opinion as to their condition in accord with USDA regulations.
• Directs Agricultural Products Agents 1's and Agricultural Products Agent Trainees in conducting annual physical inventories of commercial warehouses or as directed by management.
• Monitors warehouse inspections to ensure rotation of stock and to determine whether commodities are free from contamination.
• Evaluates and projects school and institutional food needs, and assesses food use factors regarding requests for additional or bonus food allocations.
• Responds to the Emergency Operations Center, State Police to assist and help in allocation of emergency foods to disaster areas.
• Reviews and monitors participant agencies, food usage, inventory control systems, and the transfer of foods judged to be in excess.
• Reviews participant agency inventory and financial records.
• Recommends to Manager, Food Distribution Programs the reduction of food issuances and/or withholding of food issuances for failure to adhere to program regulatory requirements.
• Reviews requests from recipient agencies for additional commodities and issues based on past history to avoid exceeding approved federal commodity dollar entitlement.
• Attends training conferences and programs as needed and/or directed by management.
• Publicly addresses small groups such as food service personnel or needy feeding groups or as otherwise assigned on behalf of the supervising or management personnel to inform and update recipient agency program requirements.
• Reviews, prepares, and submits required reports to meet federal requirements and /or to inform management. This may include the application of income tax or cost formulas to determine eligibility of institutional recipients.
• 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

Three (3) years 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 essential duties of the position.

<b>SPECIAL NOTE:</b> The duties of this title may involve heavy lifting. Appointees will be expected to perform duties where lifting of heavy objects such as crates of ice, pack poultry, and dry pack cases of eggs, fruits, and vegetables and other objects will be required. Appointees will be expected to detect color variations and undesirable odors in commodities being inspected and/or graded.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of marketing practices and perishability of products being graded to ensure equitable service to the industries.
• Knowledge of making accurate inspections, inventories, and checks of stored food commodities.
• Knowledge of inventory control systems related to food storage.
• Knowledge of industry practices for handling, storage, distribution, and preparation of perishable foods to ensure safety, freedom from contamination, and full utilization.
• 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 conduct detailed warehouse audits of products for dealers
• Ability to administer dairy regulations and penalties when violations are identified.
• Ability to conduct laboratory evaluations of milk processing plants and holds the appropriate license to act as a Laboratory Evaluation Officer (LEO).
• Ability to certify laboratory technicians to perform sanitary and safety tests on raw milk used for processing milk and milk products.
• Ability to collect detailed financial information as it relates to variable cost pricing and to explain variable cost as defined in the regulations for stores and dealers.
• Ability to perform pre-investigative research.
• Ability to instruct and perform as test proctor for the Weigher/Sampler licenses.
• Ability to investigate dealers and Processors to collect evidence for a hearing/mediation on a violation.
• Ability to act as Department representative to submit evidence at hearings.
• Ability to conduct field hearings and mediation for dairy violations.
• Ability to settle disputes and violations with consultation with Coordinator of Dairy Program.
• Ability to apply knowledge of state and federal regulations, standards, and procedures governing inspection and grading of agricultural products including certification of agricultural commodities.
• Ability to apply knowledge of state and federal laws regarding commodity storage and distribution and marketing of agricultural products to ensure compliance with export and import regulations.
• Ability to apply knowledge of all phases of USDA rules relating to commodity storage and distribution.
• Ability to understand, analyze, and apply specific state and federal standards and contract specifications to agricultural commodities.
• Ability to take representative samples, coordinate and/or make complex inspections, collect pertinent information, make evaluations and judgments, and prepare accurate, informative official certificates, contracts, claim forms, and reports.
• Ability to explain scoring defects and tolerances, container marking requirements, and laws pertaining to interstate, intrastate, and export shipments of agricultural commodities to the industry.
• Ability to deal courteously and effectively with others in complex situations concerning the certification of agricultural products.
• Ability to organize assigned work, analyze inspection and grading problems, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to assign, train, and/or instruct personnel.
• Ability to conduct on-the-job training programs and to address groups.
• Ability to prepare factual 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.
• Ability to understand and convey USDA requirements for the receipt, storage, and use of federal funds.
• 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, and 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 definition and 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.