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Grading is an important step in the processing of potato crops.

Potato grading operative

A potato grading operative helps grade the potato crop to ensure the farm produces a crop that meets the customer's requirements.

Also known as potato grader, potato sorter, potato packer, or potato farm worker.

Grading is an important step in the processing of potato crops.

This profile highlights the skills and knowledge associated with the role. However, jobs will have varying responsibilities depending on level of the role and the size or type of the business. Find advice on searching for roles like this inside our Employment Toolkit

Once potatoes are lifted out of the soil by a harvesting machine, they are then moved to the grading area. Some farms grade potatoes again when they go into storage and once more when they are about to go out to customers at other times of the year.

Harvest is usually between July and October, but exact times depend on where you are in the country because of differences in weather and soil.

As a potato grading operative, you’ll check the potatoes on the grading area conveyor belt. To ensure the potatoes sold meet customer quality standards, you’ll pick out any clods of soil, stones, stalks, and any damaged, cut, or rotten potatoes. You might also need to use machines to help wash the potatoes and separate them into different sizes.

Grading is an essential role in the potato business. If potatoes aren’t graded properly, customers could reject them, meaning the farm business loses money.

You’ll work in a busy team, supervised by a team supervisor, farm manager, or owner. Depending on the size of the farm, you might also be asked to do other jobs at different times of the year.

Your working hours will depend on the size and type of farm and the season. You might also need to take on some overtime and work on weekends during busy periods.

Full-time, part-time, and casual opportunities are available.

You may need your own transport to get to work.

As a potato grading operative, your responsibilities might include:

Knowing about and spotting different types of crop
Using farm machinery safely
Spotting and removing damaged potatoes, pests and diseases
Working to meet production targets
Following the farm’s health and safety rules
Making sure you follow procedures and best practice to produce potatoes efficiently

To work as a potato grading operative, you should:

Enjoy working with others, but also be able to work independently
Be able to work quickly, calmly, and with confidence
Be reliable and hardworking
Have good attention to detail
Be good at organising and planning your time
Have a responsible attitude, especially in matters of health and safety
Be flexible when asked to carry out different jobs

You don't need a formal qualification to become a potato grading operative. However, you must be interested in farming, be flexible in your approach to work, and be keen to learn.

You can also gain experience by volunteering on a farm or smallholding.

If you live in a city or urban area, you could volunteer on a local city farm, community garden, or allotment. You can find some of these in your area on the Social Farms and Gardens website.

There are also apprenticeships available, where you can learn and earn at the same time.

As a potato grading operative, you’ll have competencies in relation to grading potatoes to meet industry and customer standards. You will:

Follow relevant health and safety standards, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
Follow farm procedures to meet targets and quality standards
Follow farm procedures for potato washing for better productivity
Grade potatoes properly before they are stored
Work well within your team
Use appropriate technology, machinery, and equipment safely

The salary for a potato grading operative is in the region of £24,000 to £25,000 per year.

This figure is for a full-time permanent position for workers over 21 years of age, depending on level of experience, business type and location. Workers below 21 years of age can be paid a lower hourly rate.

This role though is often advertised as casual, self-employed, part-time or hourly with a salary that is reflective of the full-time rate of pay.

As a potato grading operative you may, in some instances, be paid for travel time and receive support in travelling to your place of work.

Within the agriculture and horticulture sectors there are often many associated benefits that are not reflected in the headline salary. These include accommodation being provided or subsidised, travel pay, profit shares, vehicle use and production bonuses.

As a potato grading operative, you may choose to develop your career further by exploring other areas of horticulture or arable work. For example, you could move into protected planting or work with other types of crops.

When you’ve gained experience and qualifications, you could move to a supervisor role, such as an assistant farm manager or a production technician.