KENYA STANDARD                KS 788:2016 
     ICS 67.080 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Strawberries-Specification  
  
 
 
   
           
 
  
 
  
 
     KS 01-788: 1987                ©KEBS 
 
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TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION 
 
The following organizations were repr esented on the Technical Committee: 
 Agriculture Food and Fisheries Authorit y — Horticultural Crops Directorate 
Kenya Flower Council (KFC) Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fis heries — State Departm ent of Agriculture 
Rapid Result Agricultural program Consumer Information Network Institute of Packaging Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya Kenya institute of food science and technology. University of Nairobi-Department of Plant science and crop protection 
AAA growers Hortimpact program-SNV Society of crop Agribusiness advisors   Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
 
  
REVISION OF KENYA STANDARDS 
 
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for improvements to published standards, addressed to  the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 
are welcome.    
 
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2016 
  
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Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of St andards may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form 
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 Permission may be conditional on an appropriate royalty payment. 
 
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be clearly identified. 
 
The use of material in print or in electronic form to be used commercially with or without payment or in 
commercial contracts is subject ©KEBS        KS 01-788: 1987  
 
 3 to payment of a royalty  
 
 
KENYA STANDARD                    KS 788:2016 
       ICS 67.080  
  
 
 
  
 Strawberries-Specification            
KENYA BUREAU OF STANDARDS (KEBS) 
 
Head Office: P.O BOX 54974 Nairobi, Te l: (+254 02) 502210-19, 50 2543/45, 603433, 6 02350/1, 603352, 502543/45, Fax: 
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Fax: (+254 011) 472666   Fax: (+254 035) 21814 KS 01-788: 1987                ©KEBS 
 
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Forward 
 
 
This Kenya standard has been prepared by the Horticultural fresh produce technical 
committee and is in accordance with the pr ocedures of the Keny a Bureau of standards. 
  This standard has been developed in recognition of the contribution of the horticultural 
industry towards the Kenyan Economy.It is expect ed that the standard wil l promote trade fair 
practices, safeguard the health and safety of  the consumer and prot ect the environment. 
 In the development of this standard reference has been made to the following standards. 
 . UNECE STANDARD FFV-35-2010 Strawberries 
 
Acknowledgement is made for the assi stance received from these sources. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KENYA STANDARD 
 
Strawbwrries-Specification 
 
  
 
 
 ©KEBS        KS 01-788: 1987  
 
 51. SCOPE 
 
This Kenya standard prescribes requirements for fresh  strawberries of varieties 
(cultivars) grown from the genus  Fragaria  L. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, 
strawberries for industrial processing being excluded.   
 
 
2. Normative References 
 
The following referenced documents are indispens able for the application of this document. 
For  dated references, only the edition cited applie s. For undated references, the latest edition 
of the  referenced document (inc luding any amendments) applies.  
 CAC/RCP 53-2003, Code of hygienic practi ce for fresh fruits and vegetables  
 EAS 38, Labelling of pre-package d foods — Specification  
 ISO 874, Fresh fruits and vegetables – Sampling   ISO 6633, Fruits, vegetables and derived produc ts — Determination of lead content — 
Flameless atomic   ISO 7558, Guide to the prepackaging of fresh fruits and vegetables 
 
 
3. Application 
 
The purpose of the standard is to  define the quality r equirements for strawberries at the 
export-control stage after preparation and packaging. However, if applied at stages following export, products may show in relation to the 
requirements of the standard: i) a slight lack of freshness and turgidity ii) for products graded in classe s other than the “Extra” Class,  a slight deterioration due 
to their development and their tendency to perish. 
 
The holder/seller of products may not display such products or offer them for sale, or 
deliver or market them in any manner other than in conformity with this standard. The 
holder/seller shall be responsible for observing such conformity. 
 
4. Terms and Definitions 
 
In addition to the terms and definitions cont ained in KS 1559, the fo llowing shall apply . 
 4.1 intact  — The fruit with no part removed or suffered damage making it incomplete. KS 01-788: 1987                ©KEBS 
 
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4.2 sound and fresh — Produce free from blemishes such as traces of deterioration or 
decomposition, bruises or cracks. 
 
4.3 clean (but not washed) — Free from dirt, dust, visible t races of fertilizers or chemical 
and other foreign substances.  
 
4.4 damage  — Cuts, scratches depressions, wounds and injuries caused by the blows 
and mechanical action on the surface. 
 4.5 disease  — Any unhealthy condition caused by f ungus, bacterial, virus or other pests. 
 
5.  QUALITY REQUIREMENTS 
 5.1 Minimum requirements  
 In all classes subject to the provisions fo r each class and the tolerances allowed, the 
strawberries must be    5.1.1 intact 5.1.2 Sound; produce affected by rotting or deter ioration such as to  make it unfit for 
Consumption is excluded 5.1.3 Clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter 5.1.4 Fresh in appearance 5.1.5 Free from par chment (hard endoderm) 
5.1.6 Practically free from pests 5.1.7 Practically free from damage caused by pests 5.1.8 Free of abnormal external moisture 5.1.9 Free of any forei gn smell and/or taste. 
5.1.10.  Have the calyx attached. 
 The development and condition of the beans  must be such as to enable them: 
 5.1.10 to withstand tran sportation and handling 
5.1.11 to arrive in satisfactory co ndition at the place of destination 
   
 
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5.2 CLASSIFICATION 
 
Strawberries shall be classified as defined below: 
 5.2.1 “Extra’ Class  —  Strawberries in this class sha ll meet the minimum  requirements in 3 
In addition, they shall be of  superior quality,  bright in appearance typical of the variety ©KEBS        KS 01-788: 1987  
 
 7in colour and shape, and be particularly uni form and regular with respect to degree of 
ripeness, colour and size. 
            They must be free from defects, with the exception of very slight superficial 
defects,provided these do not affect the gener al appearance,the quality, the keeping quality 
and presentation in the package.  Must be practically free from soil 
 
5.2.2 Class 1 — Strawberries in this class shall m eet the minimum requirements  but may 
be slightly less uniform in size and shape,  appearance, colour and degree of ripeness. 
Must be practically free from soil 
 
5.2.3      Class II- This class includes strawberries that  do not qualify for inclusion in the 
higher classes but satisfy the mini mum requirements specified above. 
           The following defects may be allo wed ,provided the strawberries retain their essential 
characteristics as regards the qualit y, the keeping quality and presentation : 
i)Defects in shape ii)A white patch, not exceeding one fifth of  the total surface area of the fruit 
iii)Slight dry bruising not likely to spread iv)Slight traces of soil 
 
 
6. SIZING 
 
 Sizing is determined by the maximum  diameter  of the equatorial sect ion.  Strawberries 
shall be of the following minimum sizes: 
 
      Extra Class  Class 1     class 2 
  Large varieties    30 mm   25 mm       18   Small varieties    20 mm   15 mm         8 
 
 7. TOLERANCES  
7.1 Quality Tolerances — 
            i) .Extra Class : A total tolerance of 5% by  number or weight of  strawberries not 
satisfying the requirements of the class but m eeting those of class 1 is allowed. Within 
this tolerance not more than 0.5 % in to tal may consist of produce satisfying the 
requirements of class ii quality. 
             ii)Class 1  : A total tolerance of 10%,by number or weight of strawberries not satisfying 
the requirements of the class but meeting t hose of class ii is allowed.Within this 
tolerance not more than 2 percent in total may consist of produce satisfying neither the KS 01-788: 1987                ©KEBS 
 
8 requirements of class II quality nor the mini mum requirements of produce affected by 
decay. 
  
           iii) Class II : A total tolerance of 10% by number or weight, of strawberries satisfying 
neither the requirements of t he class nor minimum requirements is allowed. Within this 
tolerance not more than 2 % in total may consist of produce affected by decay. 
  7.2 Size Tolerance — for all classes not more than 10 per  cent by number or by mass of 
fruit per package not conforming to the mini mum size required for the class and size 
group. 
 7.3 Cumulative Tolerances — In no circumstances may tolerances of quality and size 
taken together exceed: 
  - 10 per cent for the ‘extra’ class.   - 15 per cent class 1. 
 
  
Must be practically free from soil 
 
8 Contaminants  
 
8.1 Pesticide residues 
the produce covered by this standard shall comply with the maximum residue limits for 
pesticides established by the codex al imentarius commission for this commodity 
   
8.2 Other contaminants 
 
The produce covered by this standard shall comp ly with the maximum levels of the general 
standard for contaminants and toxins in  food and feed(COD EX STAN 193-1995). 
  
9 HYGIENE 
 
9.1  It is recommended  that the produce cove red by the provisions of this Standard be 
prepared and handled in accordance   with  the appropriate  se ctions  of the General  
Principles  of Food  Hygi ene  (KS CAC/RCP  1-1969), Code of Hygienic Practice for 
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables (KS CAC/RCP 53-2003), and other relevant texts such as 
codes of hygienic practice and codes of practice. 
 9.2  The produce should comply with any microbiol ogical criteria established in accordance 
with the Principles and Gui delines for the Establis hment and Application of 
Microbiological Criteria related to Foods (KS CAC/GL 21-1997). 
 ©KEBS        KS 01-788: 1987  
 
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10.0 Provisions concerning presentation 
 
10.1. Uniformity 
The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only beans of the same origin, 
variety or commercial type, quality and size (if sized). The visible part of the contents of the package must be represent ative of the ent ire contents. 
 
10.2. Packaging 
The package used shall ensure produc t safety and integrity.  The pa ckaging material that is in 
contact with the produce shall be of food grade, clean and of a quality such as to avoid 
causing any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials, 
particularly of paper or stam ps bearing trade specifications is allowed, provided the 
printing or labelling has been d one with non-toxic ink or gl ue. Packages shall be free 
from any foreign matter and t he material shall be recyclable 
 
10.3 labeling 
The following information shall be legibly and i ndelibly marked on the packets containing the 
produce 
i) Name of the produce i.e “strawberries” and/or commercial type if the contents are not visible 
from the outside. 
ii) Class iii) Size code: vi) name and physical address of t he importer/packer/distributor;  
vii) country of origin;  viii) net weight in kilograms;  ix) identification code and/or batch number x) name of the variety or commercial type;  
xi) storage instructions.  xii) GMO status