Citrus Health Inspector (Quarantine) - Texas Department of Agriculture - Houston, TX
(2026-08)
Hours per week: 40
- Check citrus trees in nurseries and commercial groves for regulated pests and diseases.
- Search for unregistered or illegal plant nurseries.
- Collect leaf, twig, soil, or insect samples for lab testing.
- Map and track seed source trees to ensure safe propagation.
- Issue stop-sale notices, rejection notifications, and seizure orders for diseased stock.
- Enforce state and federal agricultural quarantine rules.
- Audit business and nursery sales records and collect licensing fees.
- Write detailed compliance and case investigation reports.
- Issue official phytosanitary certificates for compliant plants cleared for transport or export.
- Talk with growers and the public to explain agricultural laws.
- Log travel mileage, field data, and administrative records using agency software.
- Investigate public or grower complaints regarding non-compliance.
Soil Conservationist - USDA-NRCS - Poplarville, MS
(2024-07 - 2025-12)
Series: 0457. Hours per week: 40. Assisting with developing conservation plans or contracts in compliance with laws and regulations; Making recommendations to landowners regarding farming and ranching practices; and Using computer software to input and extract data for reports or presentations. Using appropriate resource conservation techniques on various soil and land types.
- Developing conservation plans or contracts in compliance with laws and regulations.
- Making recommendations to landowners regarding farming and ranching practices.
- Taking measurements and field notes to assist with land surveys.
Quality assurance tech - Niagara Water Bottling Company - Lancaster, TX
(2023-07 - 2024-06)
Hours per week: 50
- Ensure all parameters of food safety and quality are being adhered to and maintained throughout the facility.
- Collect in-process and finished product samples.
- Conduct standardized qualitative and quantitative testing to ensure it meets specifications.
- Follow protocols for documenting testing results.
- Recognize deficiencies and initiate proper follow-up.
- Identify and isolate product that does not meet standards.
- Aid in troubleshooting deficiencies and non-conformances.
- Review food safety and quality records.
- Actively participate in plant teams (HACCP, Safety, etc.)
Quality Assurance Clerk/ Specialist - The Kroger Company - Lancaster, TX
(2023-03 - 2023-06)
Hours per week: 40
- Provide assurance that all incoming products conform to written and approved quality specifications.
- Perform inspections on inbound product following company guidelines and written specifications.
- Communicate with buyers and the Merchandising department on inventory levels, short-dated product, shrink and other quality-related issues on a timely basis.
- Check Brix, pressure levels and pulp temperatures on inbound produce.
- File claims on out-of-spec product that stays in the distribution center (DC) and follow company guidelines and procedures for filing and recording claims.
- Communicate claims to Merchandising, Procurement and vendors.
- Reject product that is out of temperature or dating guidelines.
- Communicate that information to immediate supervisor, Merchandising and Procurement.
- Work with the vendor community and WESCO in identifying/correcting any quality issues.
- Keep inspection area sanitized and thermometers/scales calibrated.
- Perform short date surveillances daily on most volatile products and once per week on longer shelf life products.
- Direct drivers or warehouse services (WSS) to pull random samples throughout the truck on straight loads in accordance with company guidelines.
- Take samples to be inspected to the Quality Assurance (QA) area.
- Maintain ground beef log and temperature logs to provide information on any food borne illness's point of origin.
- Identify improperly rotated product and correct the rotation issue with the help of the supervisor.
Quality Management & Inventory specialist - Target Corp - Quality Management & Inventory - Upper Marlboro, MD
(2022-08 - 2022-12)
Hours per week: 40
- Ensure incoming product meets target and USDA quality standards by performing physical inspection on all fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Perform temperature verification on all products and temperature checks on all incoming produce.
- Perform random audits of each cooler to maintain the quality of all product and ensure the facility is in compliance according to FDA specifications.
- Process and document damaged, expired, and rejected products on the receiving dock.
- Communicate with the merchandising team for disposition of compromised product.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by management which may include special projects and training in other departments for the purpose of backup coverage.
- Manage all activities related to banana handling and ripening, including conducting quality inspections, forecasting, and planning ripening cycles to account for demand, actual ripening, managing banana inventory, and supervising post-ripening handling.
- Determine banana maturity and develop schedule to manage successful ripening cadence for each delivery.
- Provide clear direction and supervision for FDC Inbound and Outbound teams for proper loading and unloading of rooms.
- Plan daily room selection-staging and room return.
- Provide two room confirmation checks to determine next ripening action, properly documented, at the front end and back end of each workday.
Agriculture Commodity Grader - USDA-FGIS - Destrehan, LA
(2015-06 - 2022-08)
Series: 1980 - Grade: GS-7. Hours per week: 60. Determines the grade of grain, pulses, rice, and related commodities and makes independent decisions on difficult and borderline grade determinations. Performs agency services in support of grain, rice, and related commodity markets.
- Perform original inspection and weighing of grain; permissive inspection, weighing and check-loading of rice, pulses, processed grain products, and other assigned commodities.
- Perform technical supervision (oversight, reporting, and review) of grain and commodity inspection and weighing activities performed by licensed or contracted non-Federal inspectors.
- Ensure accurate weights and accurate determinations of events that support the official weight certification.
- Perform visual inspection and mechanical measurements to assist in establishing the kind and/or class and quality of grain/rice/pulses and related commodities to be processed.
- Prepare samples for inspection and file sample retention by dividing gross samples of grain/rice/pulses or related commodities to obtain official work and file sample portions.
- Perform the full range of laboratory analytical and physical tests found in assigned field office.
- Monitor grain collected by mechanical (diverter-type) samplers during export loading operations.
- Conduct stowage examinations in ship-holds, barges, hopper cars, and other containers to ensure cleanliness and acceptability of storage handling facilities.
- Select representative samples from the product lots in accordance with prescribed sampling and plans.
- Inspect products to determine the quality, condition, and/or compliance with U.S. Grade Standards or stated contract specifications.
- Prepare and maintain a variety of reports related to production data and grading results.
- Make observations to determine if plant facilities, operating methods, processing equipment and personnel are following SCI sanitation requirements and FDA regulations.
- Observe raw product material to establish the suitability for processing and advise plant management of the results.
- Perform the full range of grading and/or inspection tasks involved in supplying grading services to producers or members of the trade in the commodity specialization.
- Serve as technical expert, performing final grading on reviews, making appeal determinations, resolving controversies, or providing broad technical guidance.
- Review records, observe plant operations and conduct hands-on verification to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Prepare detailed documentation (Non-Compliance Records) of non-compliance with regulatory requirements.
Internship - Natchez Farmer's Market - Natchez, MS
(2009-05 - 2009-07)
Hours per week: 40
- Sell and set prices for produce.
- Take money, give change, and assist customers in finding items as needed.
- Stock shelves with new inventory.
- Operate and ring up sales for customers.
- Help farmers load and unload produce.
- Paid farmers there profit and gains from their produce.
