Grader - Plant

Potato Grader

Heartland Farms, Inc. is hiring a part-time Potato Grader and provides full on-the-job training for motivated candidates. If you are detail-oriented, dependable, and ready to work in a fast-paced production environment, we encourage you to apply!

The part-time Potato Grader is responsible for inspecting, sorting, and grading potatoes on the processing conveyor line to ensure product quality meets company and customer standards. Duties include sorting green, damaged, or substandard potatoes and removing other waste. This role plays a key part in food safety, quality control, and efficient plant operations.

Core Responsibilities

• Visually inspect potatoes on the production line for size, shape, color, and defects.
• Remove damaged or substandard potatoes according to the grading specifications into proper receptacles.
• Sort potatoes into designated grades and categories.
• Maintain consistent attention to quality, speed, and accuracy.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety procedures.
• Keep the grading area clean and organized.
• Communicate quality concerns or equipment issues to supervisors.
• Assist with other production or plant duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills

• Basic understanding of food safety, hygiene, and sanitation practices in a production environment.
• Familiarity with potato grading standards, including size, color, shape, and defect identification.
• Awareness of workplace safety procedures and proper equipment handling.
• Understanding of production line operations and quality control processes.
• Strong visual assessment skills to identify defective or substandard potatoes.
• Hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity to remove items quickly and accurately.
• Demonstrated skill in performing repetitive tasks efficiently with a high level of attention to detail.
• Clear communication skills for following instructions and reporting quality issues.
• Time management skills to maintain consistent speed and accuracy on the line.
• Proficiency in sorting usable and secondary potato products based on defect classification.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED preferred, but not required.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from work. 
• Ability to read, write, and understand basic instructions.
• No prior grading experience is required—we provide full on-the-job training.
• Prior experience in a production, food processing, or agricultural environment is preferred but not required.
• Experience with sorting, grading, or quality control in a manufacturing or food setting is a plus.
• Previous experience in a fast-paced environment with adherence to standard operating procedures is preferred.
• Proven reliability and a strong work ethic are highly valued.

Physical Requirements & Abilities

• Ability to stand and work on your feet for most of the day, including prolonged standing, bending, and reaching, while identifying and removing defective potatoes from a moving conveyor line.
• Ability to work on a fast-paced production line with sustained focus, hand-eye coordination, and repetitive hand and arm movements to quickly remove potatoes during sorting.
• Ability to visually identify differences in color, size, and condition of potatoes on a moving conveyor line and separate potato product from other foreign material.
• Ability to safely and accurately remove designated items by hand while working around moving equipment and following all safety procedures.
• Ability to frequently lift or move objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects weighing 25–50 pounds.
• Ability to understand basic verbal instructions and safety-related communication in the workplace.
• Ability to work in a plant environment with varying temperatures and noise levels.
• Ability to work on-site across multiple locations and work settings as needed.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Work Schedule

• The part-time Potato Grader position averages approximately 20 hours per week over a 3-5 day work week, though hours may vary depending on the season and customer demand. Some weeks may require up to 30 hours or more.
• Typical hours are 6:30 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m., but end times may vary daily based on product load-out schedules. Some shifts may end earlier or later than usual.
• Applicants must be available to work any day Monday through Sunday, as scheduling varies.
• Heartland Farms operates continuously, including holidays, and employees may be scheduled to work on holidays. Based on product availability, please note that the plant may have scheduled shutdowns during the months of late June through early August.

Compensation

The part-time Potato Grader position offers a competitive pay rate of $17.25 per hour, with on-the-job training provided.

Work Location & Commute

Heartland Farms, Inc. is located at 907 3^rd Avenue, Hancock, WI 54943, in Adams County near the border of Waushara County.

The facility is approximately:

• Less than 20-minutes from Bancroft, Coloma, or Plainfield.
• About 30 minutes from Adams, Almond, Necedah, Nekoosa, Wautoma, Westfield, or Wild Rose.
• About 35-40 minutes from Red Granite, Stevens Point, or Wisconsin Rapids.

This makes Heartland Farms easily accessible for applicants from surrounding communities!

With Heartland Farms Inc. you will work as part of a high-performing agriculture organization where team members collaborate to get the job done and challenge the status quo to find a better way.  We highly encourage hard work, achievement, and reliability and reward people accordingly.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, activities, and responsibilities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. Heartland Farms Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Salary : $17