#### § 52.3184 Grades of dried prunes.

(a) “U.S. Grade A” or “U.S. Fancy” is the quality of dried prunes that, except for mixed types, possess similar varietal characteristics; that are fairly uniform in size and average 85 prunes or less per pound; that meet the applicable moisture limits in Table IV of this subpart but regardless of size and kind of packaging are reasonably uniform in moisture; and that do not exceed the total allowances and limitations for defects shown in Table I of this subpart.

(b) “U.S. Grade B” or “U.S. Choice” is the quality of dried prunes that, except for mixed types, possess similar varietal characteristics; that are fairly uniform in size; that meet the applicable moisture limits in Table IV of this subpart but regardless of size and kind of packaging are reasonably uniform in moisture; and that do not exceed the total allowances and limitations for defects shown in Table II of this subpart.

(c) “U.S. Grade C” or “U.S. Standard” is the quality of dried prunes that, except for mixed types, possess similar varietal characteristics; that are fairly uniform in size; that meet the applicable moisture limits in Table IV of this subpart but regardless of size and kind of packaging are reasonably uniform in moisture; and that do not exceed the total allowances and limitations for defects shown in Table III of this subpart

(d) “Substandard” is the quality of dried prunes that meet the applicable moisture limits in Table IV of this subpart but regardless of size and kind of packaging are reasonably uniform in moisture; and that may fail to meet other requirements for U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard, but not more than 5 percent, by weight, of the dried prunes may be affected by mold, dirt, foreign material, insect infestation, or decay: *Provided,* That not more than 1 percent, by weight, of the dried prunes may be affected by decay.

Table I—U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy; Allowances for Defects

| Total allowance | | Limitations | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 6 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 3 percent, by weight, may be affected by: | Not more than 1 percent, by weight, may be affected by: |
| Off-color. | Poor texture. | Mold. | Decay. |
| Poor texture. | End cracks. | Dirt. | |
| End cracks. | Skin or flesh | Foreign material. | |
| Skin or flesh damage.2 | damage.2 Fermentation. | Insect infestation. Decay. | |
| Fermentation. | Scars. | | |
| Scars. | Heat damage. | | |
| Heat damage. | Insect injury. | | |
| Insect injury. | Other means. | | |
| Other means. | Mold. | | |
| Mold. | Dirt. | | |
| Dirt. | Foreign material. | | |
| Foreign material. | Insect infestation. | | |
| Inset infestation. | | | |
| Decay. | Decay. | | |

Table II—U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice: Allowances for Defects

| Total allowance | | Limitations | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Not more than a total of 15 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 8 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 4 percent, by weight, may be affected by: | Not more than 1 percent, by weight, may be affected by: |
| Off-color. | Poor texture. | Mold | Decay. |
| Poor texture. | End cracks. | Dirt. | |
| End cracks. | Skin or flesh. | Foreign material. | |
| Skin or flesh | damage.2 | Inset infestation. | |
| damage.2 | Fermentation. | Decay. | |
| Fermentation. | Scars. | | |
| Scars. | Heat damage. | | |
| Heat damage. | Inset injury. | | |
| Insect injury. | Other means. | | |
| Other means. | Mold. | | |
| Mold. | Dirt | | |
| Dirt. | Foreign material. | | |
| Foreign material. | Insect infestation. | | |
| Insect infestation. | Decay. | | |
| Decay. | | | |

Table III—U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard Allowances for Defects

| Total allowance | | Limitations | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Not more than a total of 20 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 10 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 8 percent, by weight, may be damaged or affected by: | Not more than 5 percent, by weight, may be affected by: |
| Off-color. | End cracks.1 | Skin or flesh | Mold. |
| Poor texture. | Skin or flesh | damage.2 | Dirt. |
| End cracks.1 | damage.2 | Fermentation. | Foreign material. |
| Skin or flesh damage.2 | Fermentation. Scars. | Scars. Heat damage. | Insect infestation. Decay. |
| Fermentation. | | | |
| Scars. Heat damage. Insect injury. | Heat damage. Insect injury. Other means. | Insect injury. Other means. Mold. | *Provided,* That not more than 1 percent, by weight, may be affected by decay. |
| Other means. | Mold. | Dirt. | |
| Mold. | Dirt. | Foreign material. | |
| Dirt. | Foreign material. | Insect infestation. | |
| Foreign material. | Insect infestation. | Decay. | |
| Insect infestation. | Decay. | | |
| Decay. | | | |
| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Except that each 1 percent of end cracks to, and including, 8 percent, by weight, shall be considered as 1/2 percent damaged by end cracks; and any additional end cracks shall be calculated as true percentage, by weight. | | | |
| 2 Not applicable to “Whole Pitted” style. | | | |

Table IV—Moisture Allowances for Dried Prunes

[Non-hermetically sealed containers; 10 pounds or more]

| Grades | Maximum moisture limits (percent) | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Counts averaging 60 or less per pound | Counts averaging 61 or more per pound |
| U.S. Grade A or U.S. fancy | 25 | 24 |
| U.S. Grade B or U.S. choice | 25 | 24 |
| U.S. Grade C or U.S. standard | 25 | 24 |
| Substandard | 25 | 24 |

[[21 FR 8177](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/21-FR-8177), Oct. 25, 1956, as amended at [30 FR 11596](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/30-FR-11596), Sept. 10, 1965. Redesignated at [42 FR 32514](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/42-FR-32514), June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at [46 FR 63203](https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/46-FR-63203), Dec. 31, 1981]