Historic, archived document

Do not assume content reflects current
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U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
474) By Am NATIONAL "8 Ue vb 'BRARY

Ff |
official grade
standards and
inspection for
fresh fruits

and vegetables

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE
Fruit and Vegetable Division

AMS - 520/ DECEMBER 1963

arise
Pt yact

CONTENTS

U.S. Grade Standards ... Yardsticks
Of Qualifiers exetsyohei whelelercyevere

The Inspection Service... An Aid
TOP BUSIMESSi<e tere lareteretoto eneie etree

It's of Service:
Moy Shilppensiieserstteye.ers sec cie eveceeasters
MovReceiverslacc smite lee crete

To Institutional Buyers and
Government Agencies ......

To Processors and Growers........

Continuous Inspection and

What lf Means? 21.5107. ois 31
Uniform Inspection Maintained.........
INSPECHIOMBREeSaeyerevarersrteteselersrchereleiciore orale

FreentonGnoose ceric aicelenrien is oie noone

Where to Get Inspection .........6.. oe

List of Terminal Market
Inspection: Offices; «,<:<isj/sre,c1<1s

List of Headquarters for Federal-
State Inspection Service....

official grade

standards and

inspection for
fresh fruits

and vegetables

What They Do

Thanks to a highly efficient marketing system,
fruits and vegetables in the United States canbe
grown where climate, soil and geography are
most suitable--and delivered fresh and whole-
some to consumers thousands of miles away.

U.S. grade standards and official inspection
play a vital role in the smooth functioning of this
far-flung marketing system.

Grade standards developed by the U.S. De-
partment of Agriculture serve as a basis for
measuring the quality of fresh fruits, vegetables,
nuts and related commodities. They give the
industry a common trading language for selling
and buying.

Also, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in
cooperation with various State Departments of
Agriculture and other State agencies, makes

2

impartial inspection service on these commodi-
ties available nationwide to growers, processors,
shippers, receivers and other financially in-
terested parties on a fee-for-service basis.

Yardsticks of Quality

U.S, grade standards carefully describe the
quality requirements for each distinct grade of a
commodity. The highest grade represents the
quality that is desired most by the trade. The
lower grades represent quality levels that are
less desirable but are of good value and mer-
chantable under normal market supply con-
ditions.

The number of grades and the grade names
included in a standard vary, depending on the
number of distinct quality gradations that the
industry normally recognizes and its established
usage of grade names for the commodity. Two
or three distinct grades are usually enough to
meet normal trading demands for most fruits
and vegetables. Most grades are designatedU.S.
Fancy, U.S. No. 1, and U.S. No. 2. Some com-
modities, however, lend themselves to separa-
tion into several quality classes. For these, a
greater number of grades are provided,

Many standards also provide for additional
grade names, such as U.S, Extra No. 1, U.S.
Extra Fancy, U.S, Combination, U.S. Commer-
cial and U.S. No. 3. In some cases a modifica-
tion of these grade numbers is used--for
example, U.S. Extra No. 1 Table Grapes, or
U.S. No. 1 Bright grapefruit. A few standards,
designated as Consumer Standards, use alpha-
betical grade names, such as U.S, Grade A,
Bor G.

"Grade Names Used in U.S, Standards for
Farm Products,’ AH-157, lists all of these
grade names by commodities. Single copies are
available from Marketing Information Division,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250.

| The Beginning |

Around the turn of the century, when fertile
new areas of production were opened far from

3

the major markets, a common language for
trading over long distances became urgently
needed. To meet this demand, the U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture began work on developing
grade standards, and issued its first standards
in 1917--for potatoes. Since that time, standards
have been developed for nearly all fresh fruits
and vegetables, a number of nuts and miscella-
neous commodities. These include many stand-
ards which serve as a basis for purchasing
raw commodities for processing. More than 150
standards are now in effect covering 80 different
commodities.

How It’s Done

The standards are developed with the coopera-
tion of the industry and every effort is made to
have them reflect good commercial practice with
full recognition of the needs of growers, proces-
sors, sellers, buyers and consumers. In develop-
ing a standard, a standardization specialist
studies current marketing practices for the
commodity, examines representative samples
and packs, analyzes the physical characteristics
of the commodity, and consults industry mem-
bers and other interested and helpful parties
in drafting the proposed standard. The proposed
standard is then published to give everyone
concerned a chance to study it, and adequate
time is allowed for comments. Often discussion
drafts are sent to industry representatives and
to key personnel of the Inspection Service prior
to publishing as a formal proposal. After the
closing date for submitting views concerning
a proposal, all responses are carefully con-
sidered before the standards are issued in final
form.

Where Can I Get A Copy?

Anyone can get a copy of a standard, free of
charge, on request. Write for the standard or
standards you want, to the Fruit and Vegetable
Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
20250. Also available, from the same source,
is a checklist of the products for which standards
have been developed.

THE INSPECTION SERVICE

.---An Aid to Business

The fresh fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and
peanuts inspected by the Inspection Service
during a year's time would fill about two million
rail cars--enough for a train 22,000 miles long.

=
“
+

0 Inspectors often examine produce right in the

field.

Trained inspectors at shipping points or in
terminal markets will inspect your commodity
and issue a certificate stating its quality or
condition, or whether it complies with a desig-
nated grade or specification. The inspection
certificate can be based on the official U.S.
‘grade: standards, a State grade, or on other
written specifications designated by the buyer or
seller. These certificates are accepted by law as
prima facie evidence in all Federal courts and
in nearly all State courts.

State Cooperation

To provide inspection service nationwide the
U.S, Department of Agriculture has cooperative
inspection agreements in 49 States and Puerto
Rico, with State Departments of Agriculture, or
other cooperating State agencies.

Under these agreements, some _ 3,800
Federally-licensed inspectors perform the in-
spection work at points of origin. Inspectors are
stationed throughout the country to provide fast,

i)

efficient service to shippers, receivers, proces-
sors, repackers and institutions, including gov-
ernment procurement agencies.

The inspection service performed under these
cooperative. agreements is operated jointly by
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service and
cooperating State agencies, and is known as the
Federal-State Inspection Service. The Agri-
cultural Marketing Service establishes basic
inspection policies and procedures and furnishes
overall direction.

Federal inspection service is provided in 78
of the largest terminal markets in the country,
with assistance from the cooperating State
agencies in certain of these markets.

IT’S OF SERVICE...

Shippers of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts
and other miscellanéous products, can get
inspection for quality and condition at shipping
point. This establishes the quality of the com-
modities at time of shipment, for sales purposes
or for verifying compliance with contract terms.
The Federal-State Inspection Service maintains
seasonal or year-round offices in all major
shipping areas, and inspection is available
throughout the country.

Me ty |
CInspecting grapefruit in-a packing plant.

6

To Receivers

Receivers in terminal markets throughout the
country can have shipments of produce inspected
for both quality and condition, or for condition
only. Many receivers use this inspection to
determine whether or not a shipment meets
contract terms at time of arrival, to help them
decide the best use for a particular shipment,
or as an aid in selling. Inspection service on
any shipment is available to all parties with a
financial interest in the commodity.

CJ USDA is often asked to inspect incoming rail

cars at terminal markets.

Receivers, aS a group, or as individuals,
may enter into a special contract with the De-
partment to have their entire volume of railcar
and trucklot receipts inspected. This special
contract service will be granted only when the
anticipated volume of inspections is large enough
to cover inspection costs at reasonable fee rates
and when inspection manpower is available.

To receive service, application should be made
to the nearest terminal market inspection office.

| To Institutional Buyers and
Government Agencies

The Inspection Service will help institutional
buyers draw up specifications--using U.S, grade

7

standards wherever appropriate--to describe
the quality of produce they need, and then
inspect deliveries to assure that they fit the
specifications, Federal, State and local govern-
ments, ship lines, hospitals, schools and other
large feeding establishments make extensive
use of the Federal and Federal-State Inspection
Services with their experienced food quality
specialists.

(1 Ocean liner demands top-quality produce, has it
inspected for contract compliance.

This type of service is available on request
from the nearest Federal or Federal-State
inspection office.

To Processors and Growers

Processors or growers can contract with the
Federal-State Inspection Service for inspection
of their raw commodity deliveries. Trained in-
spectors will then be stationed at their receiving
stations to impartially evaluate the produce as
it is delivered--either on the basis of U.S. grade
standards or on specifications designed to fit the

— — ——

C Inspectors grade incoming loads of tomatoes

for processing.

8

processor's particular needs. The official in-
spection certificate can be used as an equitable
basis for grower payments. Many processors
also find the inspection reports useful in deter-
mining the storage life of the produce, adjusting
their processing to varying qualities and condi-
tions, and deciding the best use for particular
lots of produce.

Inspection of raw products for processing is
available on a contract basis to fit processors'
seasonal schedules and can be obtained from the
nearest Federal-State inspection office in the
State where the service is desired.

| Continuous Inspection and What It Means

Continuous inspection is a special type of
service which is made available to packers at
shipping points and in terminal markets, This
service was originally designed to aid packers
who pack in consumer size containers, but it may
be used by packers who pack in any size
container,

Continuous inspection means that one or more
inspectors are assigned to your packing plant
during the full time packing is conducted. The
inspector observes plant conditions and prepara-
tion and packing of the product. He makes fre-
quent quality checks on the commodity from the
packing lines andexamines samples of the packed
products to determine whether they meet the
U.S. grade or specification for which the com-
modity is being packed.

Also, under this service the inspector gives
the packing house management frequent verbal
and written reports on the quality and condition
of the commodities being packed. On the basis
of these reports management can take immediate
steps to correct problems before they become
serious and thus protect the quality of the pack.

This service is offered only to packers whose
packing plants and facilities meet rigid sanitary
requirements and are suitable for proper han-
dling and packing operations. To receive this
service, the plant and facilities must be in-
spected by a specially qualified USDA or Federal-
State inspector to determine compliance, Ap-
plication and contract for this service must also
be approved by the Agricultural Marketing
Service and in addition, where service is ren-
dered on a Federal-State basis, inspection con-

9

tracts must be approved by the State cooperating
agency.

0 Spinach being packed under continuous USDA
inspection.

Products packed under the continuous inspec-
tion program and in compliance with the inspec-
tion contract, may be labeled with official USDA
marks. These marks include the familiar De-
partment shield with the legend, ''Packed Under
Continuous Inspection of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture" and the appropriate U.S. grade
designation. These marks give assurance that
the commodity was prepared and packed under
sanitary conditions and meets the grade as
marked.

(5. GRADE) PACKED UNDER
CONTINUOUS
INSPECTION
OFTHE
U.S. DEPT OF
SS AGRICULTURE

Uniform Inspection Maintained

To assure uniform application of the grade
standards and inspection procedures, inspectors
are thoroughly trained in every phase of inspec-

10

tion, including the identification of diseases that
affect the commodity. Frequent refresher train-
ing schools are held in all areas and the work
is closely supervised and coordinated. To further
assure that the grade standards mean the same
thing in all parts.of the country, the Inspection
Service provides its inspectors with visual
aids, such as realistic hand-painted models,
color comparators, photographs, sketches, and
color slides to guide the inspector in rating
quality factors.

OD) Plaster models to aid inspectors are cast from
the real thing.

| Inspection Fees |

A fee is charged for services rendered. The
fee is established at rates that will cover, as
nearly as possible, the cost of performing the
service.

Fee rates for terminal market inspections are
outlined in Department regulations governing
the inspection and certification of fresh fruits,
vegetables and other products. For special
contract inspection service, the fee is as speci-
fied in the contract.

For Federal-State inspection service at ship-
ping points, reasonable fee rates to cover costs of
inspection are established by the cooperating
State agency.

Free to Choose

Both the U.S, grade standards and the inspec-

1]

tion service are permissive, and their use is
voluntary.

And In Conclusion

The grade standards and inspection service

work together to:

*,. Help the fruit and vegetable industry do a
better job of preparing and packing to
better satisfy the consumer.

*,. Reduce the risks in trading, thereby in-
creasing the efficiency of the marketing
system.

*_, Provide a basis for contracts between
growers and processors.

*..Help buyers select the grade that will
best suit their customers.

*..Help settle damage claims and disputes
between buyers and sellers.

* , Provide a basis for making incentive
payments for better quality.

*_. Provide guides for appropriate labeling.

*, Serve as the basis for market reporting.

To get inspection service, write:

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Inspection
Fruit and Vegetable Division
Agricultural Marketing Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture -
Washington D.C., 20250

or contact the appropriate Federal or Federal-State In-

spection Service office nearest you. The principle offices
are listed on the following pages.

12

Federal Inspection Offices at Terminal Markets

Contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable
Inspection, at terminal market where you want inspection

ALBANY, GEORGIA
2300 North Slappey Drive

ALBANY, N.Y.
Division of Marketing
State Office Bldg.
21st Floor

ANNA, ILL.
131 West Vienna St.

ASHEVILLE, N.C.
302 Court House Bldg.

ATLANTA, GA.

Room 205,
Administration Bldg.
State Farmers Market
Forest Park, Ga.

AUGUSTA, MAINE
Department of Agriculture
State Office Bldg.

BALTIMORE, MD.
513 Appraiser's Stores Bldg.
103 South Gay St.

BATON ROUGE, LA.
901 State Capitol Bldg.

BELLE GLADE, FLA.
U.S. Highway 441, North

BIRMINGHAM, ALA.
1308 First Avenue, North

BOSTON, MASS,
408 Atlantic Ave.
Room 725

BUFFALO, N.Y.

176 Niagara Frontier
Food Terminal

Room 8

CHARLOTTE, N.C.
711 S. Tryon St.
Room 202

CHICAGO, ILL.
Room 1160

U.S, Custom House
610 S,:Canal St.

CINCINNATI, OHIO

Room 200

Cincinnati Terminal
Warehouse

49 Central Avenue

CLEVELAND, OHIO
2640 E. 37th Street
Suite 5

COLUMBIA, S.C.
Administration Bldg.
State Farmers Market

COLUMBUS, OHIO
State Office Bldg.
Room 710

DALLAS, TEXAS
910 S, Pearl Expressway
Room 220

DENVER, COLO.
429 State Services Bldg.
1525 Sherman St.

DETROIT, MICH.

Detroit Union Produce
Terminal

Rooms 80 & 82
7201 West Fort St.

DOVER, DEL.
Bureau of Markets

Delaware Dept.
of Agriculture

13

DULUTH, MINN.
528 Board of Trade Bldg.

EL PASO, TEXAS
Room 516
U.S. Court House

FARGO, N.D.
State Seed Dept.
University Station

GREAT LAKES, ILL.
Commissary Office,

Bldg. 2023

U.S, Naval Training Center

HARRISBURG, PA.
Bureau of Markets
131 S. Office Bldg., Capitol

HARTFORD, CONN.
650 Main St.
Room 340

HONOLULU, HAWAII
1428 S, King Street

HOUSTON, TEXAS
Houston Produce Terminal
3100 Produce Row

INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
North Street Bldg.
Room 426

632 E. North Street

JACKSON, MISS.
Administration Bldg.
Farmers Market

352 E. Woodrow
Wilson Drive

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
Unit 46
3335 Bright Avenue

KANSAS CITY, MO.
Room 210,
Continental Bldg.
1021 McGee Street

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

294 Wholesale Terminal Bldg.

784 South Central Avenue

LOUISVILLE, KY.
No. 1, Produce Terminal

MEMPHIS, TENN.
Rm, 444 Federal Bldg.
167 N. Main St.

MIAMI, FLA.

Dade County Growers Market
1200 N.W. 21st Terrace
Rocm 5

MILWAUKEE, WIS.
Room 300

U.S. Custom House
628 East Michigan St.

MOBILE, ALA.
Grain Inspection Office
Alabama State Docks

MONTGOMERY, ALA.
411 New Post Office Bldg.

NASHVILLE, TENN.
Hogan Road

NEWARK, N.J.
B-95 Federal Bldg.

NEW ORLEANS, LA.
5027 Federal Office Bldg.
701 Loyola Avenue -

NEW YORK, N.Y.
346 Broadway
Room 306

NORFOLK, VA.
106 West Olney Road

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA.
122 State Capitol

PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Room 239 Produce Bldg.
3301 S. Galloway Street

14

PHOENIX, ARIZ.

Room 107

Produce Center

2202 W. McDowell Road

PITTSBURGH, PA.
504 Victory Building
9th & Liberty Avenue

PORTLAND, ORE,
372 State Office Bldg.
1400 S. W. 5th Street

PROVIDENCE, R.I.
83 Park Street
Room 602

RALEIGH, N.C.
306 State Agriculture Bldg.

RICHMOND, VA.
203 North Governor Street
Room 326

RIVERHEAD, L.I., N.Y.
127 East Main St.

ROANOKE, VA.
3315 Williamson Road, N.E.

ROCHESTER, N.Y.

Genesee Valley
Regional Market

Room 112

900 Jefferson Road

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.
1220 N. Street
Room A-261

HS. LOUIS, MO,
944 U.S. Court &

| Custom House
1114 Market Street

ST. PAUL, MINN.
540 State Office Bldg.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
| State Capitol
~ Room B-45

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Room 244,
Administration Bldg.
1500 S. Zarzamora Street

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
Navy Provisions Pier

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
739 Appraisers Bldg.
630 Sansome Street

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
Edificio Industras, Stop 19
Fernandez Juncos Avenue

Santurce, Puerto Rico

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Room 324

King County Court House
3rd & James Streets

SHREVEPORT, LA.
State Office Bldg.
Rooms 313-315
1237 Murphy Street

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.
Emmerson Bldg.,
State Fairgrounds

SYRACUSE, N.Y.
2100 Park Street
Room 207

TAMPA, FLA.

Tampa Wholesale
Produce Market

Room 58

Hillsboro Ave. & 28th St.

TOPEKA, KANSAS
Room 1030S
State Office Bldg.

TRENTON, N.J.
606 First Trenton National
Bank Building

15

UTICA, N.Y.
Regional Market
9 Wurz St.

WILKES-BARRE, PA.

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
223 U.S. Post Office Bldg.

Veterans Administration Bldg.

19 North Main Street

Headquarters for Federal-State Inspection Service*

* . . 5 . ° . °
Local offices are maintained in major shipping arease Check your

local telephone directory under Federal=State or State department

of agriculturee

ALABAMA
411 New Post Bldg.
Montgomery, Alabama

ARIZONA

Room 107, Produce Center
2202 West McDowell Road
Phoenix, Arizona

ARKANSAS
122 State Capitol Bldg.
Oklahoma City, Okla.

CALIFORNIA
1220 N Street
Room A-261
Sacramento, Calif.

COLORADO

Room 429,

State Services Bldg.
1525 Sherman Street
Denver, Colo.

CONNECTICUT
650 Main Street
Room 340

Hartford, Conn.

DELAWARE

Bureau of Markets

Del. Dept. of Agriculture
Dover, Del.

FLORIDA

103 Florida Citrus Bldg.
550-3rd St. N.W.

Winter Haven, Fla.

(or)
775 Warner St.
Orlando, Fla.

GEORGIA
2300 N. Slappey Dr.
Albany, Ga.

IDAHO
206 State House
Boise, Idaho

ILLINOIS

610 S. Canal Street
Room 1160
Chicago, Il.

INDIANA

North Street Bldg.
Room 426

632 E. North Street
Indianapolis, Ind.

IOWA
Room 540, State Office Bldg.
St. Paul, Minn.

KANSAS

State Marketing Division

Room 1030-S State Office Bldg.
Topeka, Kans.

KENTUCKY
No. 1, Produce Terminal
Louisville, Ky.

LOUISIANA
901 State Capitol Bldg.
Baton Rouge, La.

16

MAINE
20 Herschel Street
Caribou, Maine

MARYLAND

Room 249 Symons Hall
University of Maryland
College Park, Md.

MASSACHUSETTS
408 Atlantic Avenue
Room 725

Boston, Mass.

MICHIGAN

Lewis Cass Bldg., 6th Floor

Lansing, Mich,

MINNESOTA

Room 540, State Office Bldg.

St. Paul, Minn.

MISSISSIPPI
901 State Capitol
Baton Rouge, La.

MISSOURI
122 State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Okla.

MONTANA
206 State House
Boise, Idaho

NEBRASKA
706 W. 27th Street
Scottsbluff, Neb.

NEVADA

State Capitol

Room B-45

Salt Lake City, Utah

NEW HAMPSHIRE
408 Atlantic Avenue
Room 725

Boston, Mass.

NORTH CAROLINA

306 State Agricultural Bldg.

Raleigh, N.C.

NEW JERSEY

Room 239

Produce Building

3301 South Galloway St.
Philadelphia, Pa.

NEW MEXICO

2202 West McDowell Road

Room 107
Phoenix, Ariz.

NEW YORK
Genesee Valley
Regional Market
Administration Bldg,
Room 112
Rochester, N.Y.

NORTH DAKOTA
Room 540

State Office Bldg.
St. Paul, Minn.

OHIO

State Office Bldg.
Room 710
Columbus, Ohio

OKLAHOMA
122 State Capitol Bldg.
Oklahoma City, Okla.

OREGON
113 Agriculture Bldg.
Salem, Oregon

PENNSYLVANIA
131 S. Office Bldg.
Capitol
Harrisburg, Pa.

RHODE ISLAND
Room 602
Veterans Memorial Bldg.
83 Park Street
Providence, R.I.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Room 205
Administration Bldg.
State Farmers Market
Forest Park, Georgia

17

SOUTH DAKOTA __
540 State Office Bldg.
St. Paul, Minn.

TENNESSEE
Hogan Road
Nashville, Tenn.

TEXAS

Room 222

McClendon Bldg.

305 East Jackson Street
Harlingen, Texas

UTAH

State Capitol

Room B-45

Salt Lake City, Utah

VERMONT

408 Atlantic Avenue
Room 725

Boston, Mass.

_.~ VIRGINIA

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, AMS
Fruit & Vegetable Division
Washington, D.C. 20250

WASHINGTON
225 Yakima County Courthouse
Yakima, Washington

WEST VIRGINIA

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, AMS
Fruit & Vegetable Division
Washington, D.C. 20250

WISCONSIN

610 South Canal Street
Room 1160

Chicago, Ill.

WYOMING
706 West 27th Street
Scottsbluff, Nebraska