Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

Specialty

Crops

Program

Specialty

Crops

Inspection

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of Berries for 

Processing

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Berries for Processing

(81 FR 51297) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since 

June 2, 1947.

Voluntary U.S. grade standards are issued under the authority of the Agricultural 

Marketing Act of 1946, which provides for the development of official U.S. grades to 

designate different levels of quality. These grade standards are available for use by 

producers, suppliers, buyers, and consumers. As in the case of other standards for 

grades of fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, and specialty crops these 

standards are designed to facilitate orderly marketing by providing a convenient 

basis for buying and selling, for establishing quality control programs, and for 

determining loan values.

The U.S. grade standards and inspection instructions for all fresh and processed fruits,

vegetables, and specialty crops are available on the internet and upon request at the 

address below. These documents provide detailed interpretations of the grade standards 

and provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after careful 

consideration of all data and views submitted during rulemaking. The Department 

welcomes suggestions for improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be 

submitted to, and copies of standards and inspection instructions obtained from:

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Specialty Crops Program,

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240

Washington, D.C. 20250

__________________________________________________________________________

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

Note: 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.

Non-Discrimination Policy: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, 

political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all 

bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 

American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) 

or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in 

languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter 

all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 

or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
United States Standards for Grades of Berries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Berries for Processing

Section Page No.

Grades............................................................................................................................ 2

§51.860 U.S. No. 1. ...................................................................................................... 2

§51.861 U.S. No. 2. ...................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 2

§51.862 Reserved. ....................................................................................................... 2

Size................................................................................................................................. 2

§51.863 Size................................................................................................................. 2

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 3

§51.864 Dried. .............................................................................................................. 3

§51.865 Undeveloped................................................................................................... 3

§51.866 Distinctly immature.......................................................................................... 3

§51.867 Damage. ......................................................................................................... 3

§51.868 Well colored. ................................................................................................... 3

§51.869 Diameter. ........................................................................................................ 3
United States Standards for Grades of Berries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

2

Grades

§51.860 U.S. No. 1.

U.S. No. 1 shall consist of berries of similar varietal characteristics which are free from 

caps (calyxes), mold or decay, and from dried, undeveloped and distinctly immature 

berries and from damage caused by overmaturity, crushing, shriveling, dirt, or other 

foreign matter, hail, sunscald, moisture, birds, disease, insects, mechanical or other 

means. At least 85 percent, by weight, of the berries in the lot shall be well colored. 

(See §51.863.)

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, not more than 10 

percent, by weight, of the berries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of 

this grade, including not more than 3 percent for distinctly immature berries. No 

part of any tolerance shall be allowed to reduce the percentage of well colored 

berries required in the grade, and no part of any tolerance shall be allowed for 

berries infested with worms.

§51.861 U.S. No. 2.

U.S. No. 2 shall consist of berries which meet the requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade 

except for color and except for the increased tolerance for defects specified below. At 

least 75 percent, by weight, of the berries in the lot shall be well colored. (See 

§51.863.)

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, not more than 20 

percent, by weight, of the berries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of 

this grade, including not more than 5 percent for distinctly immature berries. No 

part of any tolerance shall be allowed to reduce the percentage of well colored 

berries required in the grade, and no part of any tolerance shall be allowed for 

berries infested with worms.

Reserved

§51.862 Reserved.

Size

§51.863 Size.

In view of the size variations in different producing sections and size variations of 

different types and varieties of berries, no size requirements are specified in these 

standards. However, the size may be specified in terms of minimum diameter or length.

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

by weight, of the berries in any lot may fail to meet the size specified.
United States Standards for Grades of Berries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

3

Definitions

§51.864 Dried.

“Dried” means appreciably lacking in juice. Dried berries are excessively seedy and 

often shriveled.

§51.865 Undeveloped.

“Undeveloped” means lack of development, due to frost or insect injury, lack of 

pollination or other means, which causes the berry to be dwarfed or badly misshapen.

§51.866 Distinctly immature.

“Distinctly immature” means that the berries are light red, whitish, or green in the 

case of types or varieties which are characteristically blue or black when well ripened; 

and that the berries are whitish or green in the case of types or varieties which are 

characteristically red when well ripened.

§51.867 Damage.

“Damage” means any injury or defect which materially affects the berries for 

processing purposes. The following shall be considered as damage:

(a) Overmaturity, when the drupelets of the berry have lost their luster and are 

excessively soft. Such berries usually disintegrate when washed under pressure.

(b) Crushing, when more than one-fourth of the drupelets of the berry have been 

crushed.

(c) Shriveling, when the berry is materially shriveled as evidenced by drying or undevelopment of more than one-fourth of the drupelets of the berry.

(d) Dirt, when it cannot be removed from the berry in the ordinary washing process.

§51.868 Well colored.

“Well colored” means that the berry has the color characteristic for a well ripened 

berry of the type or variety.

§51.869 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension of the berry measured at right angles to a 

line running from the stem end to the blossom end.