United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Programs

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Watermelons

Effective March 23, 2006
 1

Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or with applicable State laws and regulations.

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United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons1

Grades 

51.1970 U.S. Fancy. 

51.1971 U.S. No. 1. 

51.1972 U.S. No. 2. 

Tolerances

51.1973 Tolerances. 

Application of Tolerances

51.1974 Application of tolerances. 

Sample for Grade and Size Determination

51.1975 Sample for grade and size determination. 

Size

51.1976 Size. 

Definitions

51.1977 Mature. 

51.1978 Fairly well formed. 

51.1979 Similar varietal characteristics. 

51.1980 Overripe. 

51.1981 Badly misshapen.

51.1982 Seedless Watermelons

51.1983 Damage.

51.1984 Serious damage.

51.1985 Permanent defects.

51.1986 Condition defects.

51.1987 Classification of defects.

Optional Internal Quality Requirements

51.1988 Optional internal quality requirements. 

Grades

§51.1970 U.S. Fancy.

"U.S. Fancy" consists of watermelons which meet the following requirements:

(a) Basic requirements:

(1) Mature;

(2) Similar varietal characteristics;

(3) Fairly well formed;

(4) Not overripe;

(b) Free from:
 2

Shipping points, as used in these standards, means the point of origin of the shipment in the producing area or at

port of loading for ship stores for overseas shipments, or, in the case of shipments from outside of the continental

United States, the port of entry into the United States.

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(1) Anthracnose;

(2) Decay;

(3) Sunscald;

(4) Whiteheart; 

(c) Free from damage by any means. See §51.1983.

(d) For tolerances see §51.1973.

§51.1971 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1" consists of watermelons which meet the following requirements: 

(a) Basic requirements:

(1) Mature;

(2) Similar varietal characteristics;

(3) Fairly well formed;

(4) Not overripe;

(b) Free from:

(1) Anthracnose;

(2) Decay;

(3) Sunscald;

(c) Free from damage by any means. See §51.1983.

(d) For tolerances see §51.1973.

§51.1972 U.S. No. 2.

"U.S. No. 2" consists of watermelons which meet the following requirements: 

(a) Basic requirements:

(1) Mature;

(2) Similar varietal characteristics;

(3) Not overripe;

(4) Not badly misshapen;

(b) Free from:

(1) Anthracnose;

(2) Decay;

(3) Sunscald;

(c) Free from serious damage by any means. See §51.1984.

(d) For tolerances see §51.1973.

Tolerances

§51.1973 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the foregoing

grades, the following tolerances, by count, shall be permitted in any lot:

(a) U.S. Fancy. 

(1) For defects at shipping point.2

 8 percent for watermelons which fail to meet the

requirements of this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 4 percent shall

be allowed for defects causing serious damage: And provided further, That included in this
 2

Shipping point, as used in these standards, means the point of origin of the shipment in the producing area or at

port of loading for ship stores for overseas shipments, or, in the case of shipments from outside of the continental

United States, port of entry into the United States.

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latter amount not more than 1 percent shall be allowed for watermelons which are affected by

Whiteheart, Sunscald, Anthracnose or decay.

(2) En route or at destination. 10 percent for watermelons which fail to meet the requirements

of this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages

shall be allowed for defects listed:

(i) 8 percent for watermelons having permanent defects including therein not more than 4

percent for permanent defects causing serious damage.

(ii) 8 percent for watermelons having condition defects including therein not more than 4 percent

for condition defects causing serious damage and included in this latter amount not more than 2

percent shall be allowed for watermelons affected by Whiteheart, Sunscald, Anthracnose or

decay.

(b) U.S. No. 1.

(1) For defects at shipping point.2

 10 percent for watermelons which fail to meet the

requirements of this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 5 percent shall

be allowed for defects causing serious damage: And provided further, That included in this

latter amount not more than 3 percent shall be allowed for watermelons affected by Anthracnose

and not more than 1 percent shall be allowed for watermelons affected by decay.

(2) En route or at destination. 12 percent for watermelons which fail to meet the requirements

of this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages

shall be allowed for defects listed:

(i) 10 percent for watermelons having permanent defects including therein not more than 5

percent for permanent defects causing serious damage.

(ii) 10 percent for watermelons having condition defects including therein not more than 5

percent for Anthracnose or other condition defects causing serious damage and included in this

later amount not more than 2 percent shall be allowed for watermelons affected by decay.

(c) U.S. No. 2.

(1) For defects at shipping point.2

 10 percent for watermelons which fail to meet the

requirements of this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 6 percent shall

be allowed for watermelons affected by Anthracnose and not more than 1 percent shall be

allowed for watermelons affected by decay.

(2) En route or at destination. 12 percent for watermelons which fail to meet the requirements

of this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 2 percent shall be allowed

for watermelons affected by decay.

Application of Tolerances

§51.1974 Application of tolerances.

In order to meet the requirements of a specified grade the average percentage of defective

watermelons in the lot, based on sample inspection, shall be within the tolerance specified, and

the number of defective watermelons in individual samples in the lot shall be within the
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limitations set forth in the following table:

Table I -- Maximum Number of Defective Watermelons Permitted in Any Sample

Lot tolerance, percent Total1

12........................................................................................

10........................................................................................

8.........................................................................................

6.........................................................................................

5.........................................................................................

4.........................................................................................

3.........................................................................................

2.........................................................................................

1.........................................................................................

5

4

3

3

2

2

2

1

1

1

Number of watermelons per 20 count sample.

Sample for Grade and Size Determination

§51.1975 Sample for grade and size determination.

Each sample shall consist of 20 watermelons. When individual containers contain at least 20

watermelons, the sample is drawn from one container; when individual containers contain less

than 20 watermelons, a sufficient number of adjoining containers are opened to form a 20 count

sample.

Size

§51.1976 Size.

Size may be specified in terms of average weight, minimum weight or minimum and maximum

weight.

(a) When the size of the watermelons is stated in terms of average weight, unless otherwise

specified, the melons in any lot averaging less than 30 pounds (13.6 kgs.) shall not vary more

than 3 pounds (1.4 kgs.) above or below the stated average, and the melons in any lot averaging

30 pounds (13.6 kgs.) or more shall not vary more than 5 pounds (2.3 kgs.) below the stated

average.
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Table II

Average Weight Minimum weight 

(unless otherwise

specified)

Tolerances permitted

for melons below the

minimum weight

(percent)

Pounds Kilograms

Pounds Kilograms

20

22

24

26

28

30

32

34

36

38

40

42

9.1

10.1

10.9

11.8

12.7

13.6

14.5

15.4

16.3

17.2

18.1

19.0

17

19

21

23

25

25

27

29

31

33

35

37

7.7

8.6

9.5

10.4

11.3

11.3

12.2

13.2

14.1

15.0

15.9

16.8

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

(b) In order to allow for variations incident to proper sizing, not more than 5 percent, by count,

of the watermelons in any lot may be below the minimum size requirements: Provided, That

when minimum and maximum weights are specified, not more than 5 percent, by count, may be

below the specified minimum weight and not more than 5 percent, may be above the specified

maximum weight.

Definitions

§51.1977 Mature.

“Mature” means that the watermelon has reached the stage of development at which the flesh is

at least fairly sweet and shows characteristic color of a mature watermelon for the variety. 

§51.1978 Fairly well formed.

“Fairly well formed” means that the watermelons have characteristic shape but not necessarily

the perfect type of the variety. They may be tapered at the ends or slightly constricted.

§51.1979 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the watermelons are similar in shape and color.

§51.1980 Overripe.

“Overripe” means that a watermelon has reached such an advanced stage of maturity that the

flesh becomes mealy, less juicy or has an insipid taste. 

§51.1981 Badly misshapen.

“Badly misshapen” means that the watermelons are bottlenecks or gourdnecks. 

§51.1982

“Seedless watermelons” are watermelons which have 10 or less mature seeds, not to include

pips/caplets, on the face of the melon which has been cut into four equal sections (one

lengthwise cut and one crosswise cut).

§51.1983 Damage.
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The following defects are considered serious damage when present in any degree: Sunscald, immaturity,

Anthracnose, overripe and decay.

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“Damage” means any specific defect described in §51.1987, Table III, or an equally

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of

defects which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the

watermelons.

§51.1984 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any specific defect described in §51.1987, Table III, or an equally

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of

defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the

watermelons. 

§51.1985 Permanent defects.

“Permanent defects” means defects which are not subject to change during shipment or storage;

including, but not limited to scars, hollow heart or immature watermelons.

§51.1986 Condition defects.

“Condition defects” means defects which are subject to change during shipment or storage,

including but not limited to decay, Anthracnose or sunburn.

§51.1987 Classification of defects.

Table III

Factor Damage Serious damage1

Sunburn.......................

Hail, rind worm injury scars and

other similar defects except

Anthracnose.

Area exceeds 9 sq. in. (58 sq. cm)

of greenish-yellow sunburn of a

25-lb. (11.3 kg) watermelon.

Aggregating more than 5 sq. in. (32

sq. cm) on a 25-lb. (11.3 kg) 

watermelon.

Area exceeds 12 sq. in. (77 sq. cm)

of greenish-yellow sunburn on a

25-lb. (11.3 kg) watermelon.

Aggregating more than 12 sq. in.

(77 sq. cm) on a 25-lb. (11.3 kg)

watermelon.

Whiteheart.................... A hard white streak of flesh

extending through the heart of the

watermelon exceeding a circle 1/4

in. (6 mm) in diameter.

A hard white streak of flesh

extending through the heart of the

watermelon exceeding a circle 1/2

in. (13 mm) in diameter.

Hollow heart.......................... Cracks aggregating more than 1-

1/4 in. (33 mm) in width on a

25-lb. (11.3 kg) long-type

watermelon or the aggregate width

exceeds 2 in. (51 mm) on a 25-lb.

(11.3 kg) round-type watermelon.

Cracks aggregating more than 1-

1/2 in. (38 mm) in width on a

25-lb. (11.3 kg) long-type

watermelon or the aggregate width

exceeds 2-1/2 in. (64 mm) on a

25-lb. (11.3 kg) round-type

watermelon.
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Internal rind spot.............. Aggregate area exceeds a circle 1

in. (25 mm) in diameter.

Aggregate area exceeds a circle of

1-1/2 in. (38 mm) in diameter or

when any spot penetrates the flesh.

Soft ends...................... End yields readily to slight

pressure applied by palm of the

hand or shriveling is associated

with the soft end.

Transit rubs................... Aggregating more than 5 sq. in. (32

sq. cm) of medium brown

discoloration on a 25-lb. (11.3 kg)

watermelon.

Aggregating more than 12 sq. in.

(77 sq. cm) of medium brown

discoloration on a 25-lb. (11.3 kg)

watermelon.

Bruises......................... Side bruises over 3 in. (76.2 mm)

in diameter and sunken.

End bruises over 2 in. (50.8 mm) in

diameter and sunken.

Over 5 in. (127 mm) in diameter

and sunken or soft and springy with

underlying flesh water-soaked.

Over 2 in. (50.8 mm) in diameter

with underlying flesh

water-soaked.

1

The following defects are considered serious damage when present in any degree: Sunscald, immaturity,

Anthracnose, overripe and decay.

Optional Internal Quality Requirements

§51.1988 Optional internal quality requirements.

The following internal quality requirements may be specified in connection with the grade.

(a) “Very good internal quality” means that the combined juice from the edible portion of a

sample of watermelons selected at random contains not less than 10 percent soluble solids as

determined by an approved refractometer.

(b) “Good internal quality” means that the combined juice from the edible portion of a sample of

watermelons selected at random contains not less than 8 percent soluble solids as determined by

an approved refractometer.
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