Standards and grades are used extensively throughout the marketing system.

Grade standards furnish an acceptable common language that buyers and sellers use in trading and that market news reporters use when communicating about market prices and supplies.

Poultry firms that base the price paid to the grower on grade yields will grade the product to USDA standards.

Processors request grading service to enhance their own quality assurance programs and so they may use the official grademark on each bird or package.

The Department of Defense, airlines, grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, hospitals, schools, and other largescale food buyers specify USDA-graded poultry products in their purchasing contracts

Commercial firms use the standards and grades as a basis for their own product specifications, for advertising, and for establishing brand names

Firms participating in the Department’s Export Enhancement Program must use USDA’s grading services.