Digital picture = thousand words, inspection certificate

As I put together a story this week about the trend of decling number of terminal market inspections, here are a few things I've heard yesterday. These are not verbatim, but rather the gist of the conversations..

When I got into the business, you could get an inspection for $23, now it can be several hundred if you have multiple lots.

More receivers have their own q/c, sometimes former USDA inspectors.

I think digital pictures have changed things a lot. You can even send a video clip without too much trouble. A picture is worth a thousand words and often you don't need to get an inspection after seeing images from a buyer

Fewer offices where USDA inspectors are based makes paying for mileage to get them to a DC more expensive than in the day when everybody was at the terminal market.

While Wal-Mart was given props by one shipper who said they don't hold it against shippers who call for an inspection, there is a feeling that some buyers do hold it against the shipper when they call for an appeal inspection.

Another thought is that appeal inspections very rarely reverse a rejection.

Other thoughts out there on this issue... drop me a comment or leave me an email.