The Georgia Federal-State Shipping Point Inspection Service (GFSPIS) has initiated a proposal for new grading equipment and procedures and is soliciting applications from interested parties with the ability to design and fabricate new grading equipment for farmers' stock and re-grade peanuts.
GFSPIS seeks to improve the technology, efficiency and economics of the current grading equipment while resulting in a practical application for the industry. The current equipment and grading procedures have been utilized by GFSPIS for the past 70 years. The grading procedures using the current equipment is an extensive hands-on process which is both very time consuming and labor intensive.
"We believe there is a better way to grade peanuts and we are willing to put forth the resources necessary to find it," said GFSPIS President and CFO T.E. Moye.
A committee of 10 individuals has been appointed by Dr. James Sutton, Director of Operations at the Georgia Department of Agriculture, who serves as the chairman of the GFSPIS Board of Directors. This committee represents all aspects of the peanut industry and will oversee and administer the project. Grady County peanut farmer John Harrell has been named chairman of the New Grading Equipment and Procedures Committee.
"This project will benefit all areas of the peanut industry," Harrell said. "As peanut acreage continues to grow and peanut buying points continue to expand, the need for increased efficiency is warranted to meet the demand."
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