The grading process is a very important stage. Specially trained technicians (who work for the Processing Tomato Advisory Board, a third party California state administered organization), take a representative sample from each trailer section (the tub of tomatoes on the semi trailer and the tub of tomatoes on the pull trailer), with a pneumatically powered probe. After weighing the bulk of tomatoes (by taking the total weight of the loaded tractor trailer minus the weight of the cab and the empty trailer sets), the tomato truck driver pulls the truck under the probe.
The grading probe.
Technicians perform a battery of tests on the tomato sample to determine the percentage of the total load that is mold, green tomatoes, worms broken, MOT (Material Other than Tomato), and color and sugar content. Each of these categories have California State standards for acceptability, and Morning Star has its own levels. Maintaining strict quality control on the raw tomatoes allowed into the processing facility is extremely important in maintaining the high levels of quality that Morning Star is known for. If the technicians determine that a shipment of tomatoes does not meet the standards of Morning Star, then the load is sent back to the field, where the grower can sort out the bad tomatoes, or simply use the load to fertilize a field for the upcoming season.
Click the "PLAY VIDEO" button below to watch tomatoes being graded.
The video shows PTAB workers taking a representative sample and preparing it to be tested for various attributes.
Once a load passes grade, the tomato trucker takes the load to a main holding area in the processing facility, where a shuttle truck will take the load to the next stage in the process, the unloading station.
Tomatoes ready to be processed.