Transcription
Marketing onUnited States Standardsfor Grades of SummerSquashEffective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Summer Squash(81 FR 51297) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect sinceJanuary 6, 1984.Voluntary U.S. grade standards are issued under the authority of the Agricultural MarketingAct of 1946, which provides for the development of official U.S. grades to designatedifferent levels of quality. These grade standards are available for use by producers,suppliers, buyers, and consumers. As in the case of other standards for grades of freshand processed fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops these standards are designed tofacilitate orderly marketing by providing a convenient basis for buying and selling, forestablishing quality control programs, and for determining loan values.The U.S. grade standards and inspection instructions for all fresh and processed fruits,vegetables, and specialty crops are available on the internet and upon request at theaddress below. These documents provide detailed interpretations of the grade standardsand provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.Grade standards are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after carefulconsideration of all data and views submitted during rulemaking. The Departmentwelcomes suggestions for improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may besubmitted to, and copies of standards and inspection instructions obtained from:Director, Specialty Crops Inspection DivisionSpecialty Crops Program,USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240Washington, D.C. 20250Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.Note:Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure tocomply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, orwith applicable State laws and regulations.Non-Discrimination Policy: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rightsregulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDAprograms are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including genderexpression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program,political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not allbases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape,American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY)or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available inlanguages other than English.To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online athttp://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint filing cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letterall of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed formor letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 IndependenceAvenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] USDA is an equalopportunity provider, employer, and lender.
United States Standards for Grades of Summer SquashSectionPage No.General . 2§51.4050General. . 2Grades . 2§51.4051U.S. No. 1. . 2§51.4052U.S. No. 2. . 2Reserved . 3§51.4053Reserved. . 3Application of Tolerances . 3§51.4054Application of tolerances. 3Definitions . 3§51.4055Fairly young and fairly tender. . 3§51.4056Fairly well formed. . 3§51.4057Firm. . 3§51.4058Damage. . 4§51.4059Old and tough. . 4§51.4060Serious damage. . 4§51.4061Diameter. . 4§51.4062Length. 4United States Standards for Grades of Summer Squash (September 6, 2016)1
General§51.4050General.(a)These standards apply only to squash which are picked in the immature stagesof development and eaten without the removal of seeds and seed cavity tissue.Squash commonly used in this manner are yellow crookneck, yellowstraightneck, white scallop (patty pan, cymling), zucchini, cocozelle, etc., eachincluding one or more varieties.(b)Because of the size differences between varieties and the difference in sizepreference in various markets, there are no size requirements in the grades.However, if so desired, size may be specified in connection with the grade, interms of minimum or maximum diameter or both, or minimum or maximum lengthor both. When size is specified it shall be stated in terms of inches and quarterinches.Grades§51.4051U.S. No. 1.“U.S. No. 1” consists of squash of one variety or similar varietal characteristics, withstems or portions of stems attached, which are fairly young and fairly tender, fairly wellformed, firm, free from decay and breakdown, and from damage caused bydiscoloration, cuts, bruises and scars, freezing, dirt or other foreign material, disease,insects, mechanical or other means.(a)Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading andhandling, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified:(1)For defects. Ten percent for squash in any lot which fails to meet therequirements of this grade, including therein not more than 5 percent fordefects causing serious damage, and including in this latter amount notmore than 1 percent for squash which is affected by decay or breakdown.(2)For size. Five percent for squash in any lot which is smaller than anyspecified minimum size and 10 percent for squash which is larger thanany specified maximum size.§51.4052U.S. No. 2.“U.S. No. 2” consists of squash of one variety or similar varietal characteristics whichare not old and tough, but are firm, free from decay and breakdown, and free fromdamage caused by freezing, and from serious damage caused by discoloration, cuts,bruises, scars, dirt or other foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or othermeans.(a)Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading andUnited States Standards for Grades of Summer Squash (September 6, 2016)2
handling, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified:(1)For defects. Ten percent for squash in any lot which fails to meet therequirements of this grade, including therein not more than 1 percent forsquash which is affected by decay or breakdown.(2)For size. Five percent for squash in any lot which is smaller than anyspecified minimum size and 10 percent for squash which is larger thanany specified maximum size.Reserved§51.4053Reserved.Application of Tolerances§51.4054Application of tolerances.The contents of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subjectto the following limitations:(a)For a tolerance of 10 percent or more, individual packages in any lot may containnot more than one and one-half times the tolerances specified, except that atleast one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package:Provided, That the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance specified forthe grade.(b)For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, individual packages in any lot maycontain not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at least onedefective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package:Provided, That the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance specified forthe grade.Definitions§51.4055Fairly young and fairly tender.“Fairly young and fairly tender” means a desirable stage of maturity for summersquash. This is indicated by fairly tender skin for the variety, fairly tender undevelopedseeds, and firm, moist seed cavity tissue.§51.4056Fairly well formed.“Fairly well formed” means that the shape of the squash is characteristic of the varietyor type, and that it is not so badly twisted, grooved or otherwise misshapen by anycause as to damage the appearance of the squash.§51.4057Firm.United States Standards for Grades of Summer Squash (September 6, 2016)3
“Firm” means that the squash does not yield appreciably to slight pressure, and is notnoticeably wilted.§51.4058Damage.“Damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equallyobjectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combinationof defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketingquality of the squash. The following specific defects shall be considered as damage:(a)Discoloration caused by scars, bruises or other means which materially damagesthe appearance of the squash.(b)Cuts, bruises, or scars which penetrate materially into the squash.(c)Insects. Worms or other insects present inside the squash. Worm holes whichare unhealed, or more than three-eighths of an inch in depth, or more than one ina squash. Superficial insect injury which materially detracts from the appearanceof the squash.§51.4059Old and tough.“Old and tough” means too far advanced in maturity to be suitable for use as summersquash. The skin is tough for the variety and the seeds are tough.§51.4060Serious damage.“Serious damage” means any defect, or any combination of defects, which seriouslydetracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the squash. Thefollowing specific defect shall be considered as serious damage:(a)Insects, when worms or other insects are present in the squash, or when wormholes are more than three-eighths of an inch in depth, or when there are morethan three worm holes in a squash.§51.4061Diameter.“Diameter” means the greatest dimension of the squash measured at right angles to aline running from the stem to the blossom end.§51.4062Length.“Length” means the greatest dimension of the squash measured from the blossom endto the stem end, or in the case of crooknecks, to the curved surface farthest from theblossom end.United States Standards for Grades of Summer Squash (September 6, 2016)4
Squash commonly used in this manner are yellow crookneck, yellow straightneck, white scallop (patty pan, cymling), zucchini, cocozelle, etc., each including one or more varieties. (b) Because of the size differences between varieties and the difference in size preference in vario
