Support state cooperators and their producers in marketing poultry and EGG products to the public by using USDA grade standards, regulations, specifications, and procedures

The Agricultural Marketing Service awarded the California Department of Food & Agriculture a cooperative agreement valued at $100,000 on October 1, 2025, under the Inspection Grading and Standardization program (CFDA 10.162) to support state-level marketing of poultry and egg products through USDA grade standards, regulations, and procedures.

The recipient will deliver voluntary poultry and shell egg grading and auditing services performed by state-licensed employees, and will conduct mandatory shell egg inspection services. Under the agreement's structure, USDA will bill processing plants for voluntary services and reimburse California for federal trust state overhead costs; for mandatory inspections, USDA will reimburse the state for actual inspection costs. The recipient will provide annual financial records to USDA's Livestock and Poultry Program and Quality Assurance Division.

Services are performed in California. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. No sub-recipients are anticipated under this agreement.

Poultry and shell EGG voluntary grading and auditing services and mandatory shell EGG inspection services will be performed by state licensed employees. Through state cooperators, USDA, AMS, L & P, QAD will provide a broader consumer base with quality poultry and EGG products. For voluntary services (grading and auditing) the federal agency will bill the plant for services provided and reimburse the state in federal trust states. The state agency will bill the plant for services provided and reimburse the federal agency for overhead costs in state trust states. For mandatory services, state employees will perform inspections and the federal agency will reimburse the state agency for costs. The recipient will provide requested financial records to USDA, AMS, L & P annually. Consumers, as well as those involved in the M arketing of agricultural products, benefit from the greater efficiency permitted by the availability and application of grade standards. No subrecipients anticipated.