In the food distribution process, a grader is typically used to determine the quality of products at the **wholesale** step. Here's a breakdown of the steps in food distribution and where a grader is commonly utilized:
1. **Harvesting:** This is the initial step where crops are harvested or animals are slaughtered for food production. Graders are not typically used at this stage.
2. **Packing and Processing:** After harvesting, the food products undergo processing and are packed for distribution. Graders may not be involved at this stage either, as the focus here is on preparing the products for market.
3. **Wholesale:** In this step, food products are sold in large quantities to retailers, restaurants, and other bulk purchasers. Graders play a crucial role here by inspecting and evaluating the quality of the products before they are distributed further. Graders assess factors like freshness, size, color, and overall quality to ensure that only high-quality products reach the market.
4. **Retail:** At the retail level, food products are sold directly to consumers. Graders are not typically involved in this final stage of distribution, as the focus is on displaying products for sale to customers.
Therefore, in the food distribution process, the wholesale step is where a grader is commonly used to assess and determine the quality of products before they reach retailers and ultimately consumers.
