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United States Standards 

for Grades of Beet Greens

Effective December 26, 2008
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United States Standards for Grades of Beet Greens1

General 

51.2860 General. 

Grades 

51.2861 U.S. No. 1. 

Reserved 

51.2862 [Reserved]. 

Application of Tolerances

51.2863 Application of tolerances. 

51.2864 Basis for calculating percentages. 

Definitions

51.2865 Similar varietal characteristics. 

51.2866 Fresh. 

51.2867 Fairly clean. 

51.2868 Fairly tender. 

51.2869 Well trimmed. 

51.2870 Damage. 

51.2871 Diameter. 

51.2872 Serious damage. 

General

§51.2860 General. The standards contained in this subpart are applicable to beet greens 

consisting of either plants (with or without attached roots) or cut leaves, but they shall not be 

applicable to a mixture of plants and cut leaves in the same container. The standards apply only 

to the common red-rooted table varieties of beets (Beta vulgaris) but not to mangel wurzel 

varieties primarily grown for stock feed, or to sugar beets (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera). 

Grades

§51.2861 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1" consists of beet greens of similar varietal characteristics which are fresh, fairly 

clean, fairly tender, well trimmed and which are free from decay, weeds, grass, other kinds of 

leaves or other foreign material, and from damage caused by discoloration, freezing, disease, 

insects or mechanical or other means. 

(a) In the case of beet greens with roots attached, the roots shall be free from damage by any 

cause, and the maximum diameter of the root shall not be larger than five-eighths inch. 

(b) The leaf blades of beet greens shall not be longer than 6-1/2 inches. 

(c) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following 

tolerances shall be permitted (see §§51.2863 and 51.2864): 

(1) For over-size roots. 5 percent for beet greens with roots in any lot which are larger than 

 

 1

Packing of the product in conformity with the requirements of these standards shall not excuse failure to 

comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act.
3 

five-eighths inch in diameter; 

(2) For over-size leaf blades. 3 percent for beet leaves in any lot which are longer than 6-1/2 

inches; 

(3) For mixtures of whole plants, clusters and leaves. Not more than 10 percent of the beet 

greens may consist of cut leaves in a lot consisting of plants, and not more than 3 percent of the 

beet greens may consist of whole plants and clusters in a lot consisting of cut leaves; (4) For 

leaves other than beet leaves, weeds, grass or other foreign material. Not more than 3 pieces 

in a 1 pound sample; and, 

(5) For other defects. Not more than a total of 10 percent, but not more than one-half of this 

tolerance, or 5 percent shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including therein not 

more than 1 percent for decay. 

§51.2862 [Reserved].

Application of Tolerances

§51.2863 Application of tolerances.

(a) The contents of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject to the 

following limitations: Provided, That the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances 

specified for the grade: 

(1) For a tolerance of 10 percent or more, individual packages in any lot may contain not more 

than one and one-half times the tolerance specified; and, 

(2) For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, individual packages in any lot may contain not more 

than double the tolerance specified. 

§51.2864 Basis for calculating percentages.

Percentages shall be calculated on the basis of weight or an equivalent basis, except that the 

amount of leaves other than beet leaves, blades of grass, weeds or parts of weeds or other foreign 

material shall be calculated on the basis of count, using 1 pound of beet greens as the sample. In 

inspecting the sample, the unit shall be the plant or leaf exactly as it occurs in the sample. A 

plant or portion of plant shall not be broken to remove the defective portion, but shall be 

considered as a unit. 

Definitions

§51.2865 Similar varietal characteristics.

"Similar varietal characteristics" means that the beet greens in any container are similar in color 

and type. 

§51.2866 Fresh.

"Fresh" means that the beet greens are not more than slightly wilted. 

§51.2867 Fairly clean.

"Fairly clean" means that the individual leaf or plant is reasonably free from dirt or other foreign 

material and that the general appearance of the beet greens in the container is not materially 

affected. 

§51.2868 Fairly tender.

"Fairly tender" means that the beet greens are not tough or excessively fibrous. 

§51.2869 Well trimmed.

"Well trimmed," in the case of cut leaf beet greens, means that the length of leaf stem or petiole 

is not more than the length of the leaf blade and that the overall length of the leaf including blade 

and petiole is not more than 11 inches. 
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§51.2870 Damage.

"Damage" means any defect which materially affects the appearance, or the edible or shipping 

quality of the individual beet leaf or plant, or the general appearance of the beet greens in the 

container. Any one of the following defects, or any combination of defects the seriousness of 

which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, shall be considered as damage: 

(a) Discoloration when the appearance of the individual leaf or plant is materially affected by 

yellowing, spotting or any other type of discoloration, except that leaves showing a reddish 

color, often caused by cold weather, shall not be considered as damaged by discoloration. Plants 

which have small dried, withered or slightly yellowed leaves at the base of the plant shall not be 

considered as damaged by discoloration unless the general appearance of the plant or of the 

plants in the container is materially affected, and, 

(b) Mechanical damage when the individual leaf is badly crushed, torn or broken. 

§51.2871 Diameter.

"Diameter" means the greatest dimension of the root measured at right angles to a line from the 

center of the crown to the base of the root. 

§51.2872 Serious damage.

"Serious damage" means any defect which seriously affects the appearance or the edible or 

shipping quality of the individual beet leaf or plant, or the general appearance of the beet greens 

in the container. Any one of the following defects, or any combination of defects the seriousness 

of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, shall be considered as serious 

damage: 

(a) Discoloration when the individual leaf or plant is badly discolored; 

(b) Insects when the individual leaf or plant is noticeably infested or when it is seriously 

damaged by them; and, 

(c) Decay.