115114 - Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning)

When it comes to preparing crops for market or further processing, NAICS code 115114 plays a critical role in the agricultural supply chain. This code covers a wide range of postharvest activities—everything from sorting and grading to drying and packing crops, excluding cotton ginning. Understanding this NAICS classification can help businesses, contractors, and government agencies navigate opportunities in the agriculture sector efficiently.

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What is NAICS Code 115114?

NAICS 115114 – Postharvest Crop Activities (except Cotton Ginning) includes establishments primarily engaged in postharvest handling of crops to prepare them for sale or further processing. These activities generally happen after the crop is harvested and include operations such as cleaning, sorting, grading, packing, drying, and fumigation.

This category importantly excludes cotton ginning, which is classified separately.

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Sector: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting

NAICS 115114 falls under the broader Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting sector. This sector encompasses businesses engaged in growing crops and raising animals, as well as those involved in related support activities such as postharvest processes. Postharvest crop activities form an essential bridge between farming and food processing, ensuring fresh produce arrives at markets in optimal condition.

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Typical Business Activities Under NAICS 115114

Businesses operating under this NAICS code carry out varied postharvest functions, including but not limited to:

• Cleaning, Sorting, and Grading
  Fruit and vegetable packing and sorting facilities prepare crops to meet market and quality standards.

• Drying and Curing
  Operations such as corn drying, potato curing, and sun drying of fruits and vegetables preserve crops for storage and sale.

• Packing and Packaging
  Facilities package fresh or farm-dried produce to maintain freshness and protect during transit.

• Specialized Processes
  Activities like banana ripening, fumigating and irradiation of grains, nut hulling and shelling, seed cleaning for propagation, and waxing of fruits and vegetables.

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Size Standard for NAICS 115114

For government contracting and SBA purposes, the size standard for NAICS code 115114 is $34 million in average annual receipts. Companies with receipts equal to or less than this threshold are considered small businesses, potentially qualifying them for set-aside contracts in the agricultural postharvest domain.

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Examples of Businesses in NAICS 115114

Businesses primarily fitting this classification include:

• Fruit and Vegetable Packing and Sorting Facilities
  Enterprises that sort fresh produce and prepare it for shipment to markets.

• Postharvest Handling and Storage Services
  Companies that manage the storage, cooling, and grading of crops to extend shelf life and guarantee produce quality.

• Crop Cleaning and Grading Operations
  Facilities dedicated to cleaning harvested grains, nuts, beans, and seeds to prepare them for sale.

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Detailed Code Activities Table

Postharvest Crop Activity	Description
Almond hulling and shelling	Removing hulls and shells from almonds
Banana ripening	Controlled ripening process for bananas
Bean cleaning	Removing impurities from harvested beans
Corn drying	Drying corn to reduce moisture content
Corn shelling	Removing kernels from corn cobs
Crop cleaning	General cleaning of harvested crops
Decorticating flax	Removing woody outer layers from flax
Delinting cottonseed	Removing fibers from cottonseeds (not ginning)
Filbert hulling and shelling	Processing hazelnuts
Fruit precooling	Cooling fruit before shipment
Fruit sorting, grading, and packing	Quality control and packaging of fruit
Fruit sun drying	Drying fruit products under the sun
Fruit vacuum cooling	Cooling fruit using vacuum methods
Fumigating grain	Treating grains with fumigants for pests
Grain cleaning	Removing impurities from grain
Grain drying	Lowering moisture of grains
Grain fumigation	Pest control via fumigation of grains
Grain grinding (except custom grinding for animal feed)	Milling grains for various uses
Hulling and shelling of nuts	Removing shells/hulls from nuts
Irradiation of fruits and vegetables	Using radiation to preserve produce
Nut hulling and shelling	Processing nuts postharvest
Packaging fresh or farm-dried fruits and vegetables	Packaging produce for sale or distribution
Packing fruits and vegetables	Preparing produce for shipping
Peanut shelling	Removing shells from peanuts
Pecan hulling and shelling	Processing pecans postharvest
Potato curing	Treating potatoes to extend storage life
Retting flax	Softening flax by soaking
Rice drying	Reducing moisture in harvested rice
Seed cleaning, seed processing, postharvest for propagation	Preparing seeds for replanting
Sorting, grading, cleaning, and packing of fruits and vegetables	Quality control and preparation for market
Sun drying of dates, prunes, raisins, and olives	Drying specific fruit crops using natural sunlight
Sun drying of fruits and vegetables	Preserving crops by sun drying
Sun drying of tomatoes	Drying tomatoes for preservation
Sweet potato curing	Curing sweet potatoes for storage
Tobacco grading	Sorting tobacco leaves by quality
Vegetable precooling	Cooling vegetables before storage or sale
Vegetable sorting, grading, and packing	Quality control and packaging of vegetables
Vegetable sun drying	Preserving vegetables with sun drying
Vegetable vacuum cooling	Cooling vegetables using vacuum technology
Walnut hulling and shelling	Processing walnuts postharvest
Waxing, fruits or vegetables	Applying wax coatings to produce for appearance and shelf life

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does NAICS 115114 cover?

NAICS 115114 covers businesses performing postharvest activities on crops, such as cleaning, sorting, grading, drying, curing, packing, and fumigation, excluding cotton ginning.

Which sector does this NAICS code belong to?

It falls under the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting sector.

What is the small business size standard for NAICS 115114?

The size standard is $34 million in average annual receipts.

Can cotton ginning businesses fall under this code?

No, cotton ginning is excluded and classified under a different NAICS code.

What types of businesses use NAICS 115114?

Examples include fruit and vegetable packing facilities, postharvest storage and handling services, and crop cleaning and grading operations.

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Optimizing your government contracting search or agriculture business plan? Keep NAICS 115114 in mind—this code encompasses vital postharvest operations that ensure crops reach consumers in their best condition, supporting the backbone of the agricultural market.