NAICS 115114

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the production‑oriented standard used by U.S. statistical programs to classify establishments for collecting, analyzing, and publishing economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s INEGI, NAICS replaced the SIC in 1997; U.S. statistical programs are transitioning to the 2022 NAICS vintage. ¹
U.S. industry 115114 covers services performed on crops after harvest to ready them for market or further processing, including cleaning, sun drying, shelling, fumigating, curing, sorting, grading, packing, and cooling. It explicitly excludes cotton ginning; artificial fruit/vegetable dehydration; tobacco stemming/redrying; and wholesaling functions, which are classified elsewhere. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Crop cleaning (e.g., removing field debris, pre‑market washing). ²
• Sun drying of harvested crops (distinct from artificial dehydration). ²
• Shelling and related preparatory handling (e.g., nuts, peas). ²
• Fumigating and curing harvested crops prior to sale or processing. ²
• Sorting and grading to buyer or market specifications. ²
• Packing and cooling of fruits, vegetables, and other crops for shipment. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Distinguishing from adjacent services

• Packaging and labeling for client‑owned non‑agricultural goods falls in 561910; packing and crating services for agricultural products are covered by 115114. ³
• Warehousing or storage services (including refrigerated storage beyond preparatory cooling) are classified in 493110, 493120, or 493130, not 115114. ⁵
• Buying farm products for resale to other wholesalers or retailers is not postharvest support; those establishments are classified in 424480. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities qualify under NAICS 115114?
  Postharvest services that prepare crops for market or processing, such as cleaning, sun drying, shelling, fumigating, curing, sorting, grading, packing, and cooling. Activities must occur after harvest and before sale or processing. ²

• Is refrigeration or cold storage included in 115114?
  Preparatory cooling is included, but warehousing or storage functions are categorized under Warehousing and Storage (e.g., 493110, 493120, 493130), not under 115114. ⁵

• How does 115114 differ from Packaging and Labeling Services 561910?
  561910 covers packaging client‑owned materials generally; agricultural packing and crating are directed to 115114. When packaging is combined with warehousing/logistics, classification generally shifts to Warehousing and Storage. ³

• Is cotton ginning part of 115114?
  No. Cotton ginning is classified in 115111. ²

• Are manual harvesting crews included here?
  No. Mechanical harvesting is 115113, while supplying labor crews is 115115. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 115114 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (transition to 2022 vintage). ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — 2017 NAICS Manual (industry definitions and cross‑references). ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census guidance: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 vintage context). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau, The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau, North American Industry Classification System: United States, 2017 (industry definitions and cross‑references). https://www2.census.gov/library/reference/naics/publications/2017-NAICS-Manual.pdf
3. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS 561910 Packaging and Labeling Services (cross‑references to 115114 and Warehousing and Storage). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect56.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census 2022 Guidance — NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS Warehousing and Storage (includes 493130 Farm Product Warehousing and Storage). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect48-49.html