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United States Standards

for Grades of Almonds in 

the Shell

Effective April 8, 2013
This is the fourth issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of 

Almonds in the Shell published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of March 8, 2013 (78 FR 

14907) to become effective April 8, 2013. This issue supersedes the third issue, which 

has been in effect since March 24, 1997. 

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 and vegetables, 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, grading manuals, handbooks or instructions for inspection of 

several fresh and processed fruits and vegetables are available on the internet and 

upon request at the address below. These manuals or instructions contain detailed 

interpretations of the grade standards and provide step-by-step procedures for grading 

the product. 

Grade standards are issued by the Department after careful consideration of all data 

and views submitted, and the Department welcomes suggestions which might aid in 

improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be submitted to, and 

copies of standards and grading manuals obtained from: 

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240

Washington, D.C. 20250

Phone: (202) 720-5870 Fax: (202) 720-0393

_______________________________________________________________________

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: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, 

and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and 

where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income 

is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity 

conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File 

an Employment Complaint: If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) 

within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. Additional information can be 

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html. To File a Program Complaint: If you wish to file a Civil Rights 

program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may 

also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail 

at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-

9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are deaf, hard of 

hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program 

complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of 

communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 

720-2600 (voice and TDD).
United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell (April 8, 2013)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell

Section Page No. 

Grades 2

§51.2075 U.S. No. 1. 2

§51.2076 U.S. No. 1 Mixed. 2

§51.2077 U.S. No. 2. 3

§51.2078 U.S. No. 2 Mixed. 3

Application of Tolerances 3

§51.2079 Application of tolerances. 3

Determination of Grade 3

§51.2080 Determination of grade. 3

Definitions 3

§51.2081 Similar varietal characteristics. 3

§51.2082 Loose extraneous and foreign material. 3

§51.2083 Clean. 4

§51.2084 Fairly bright. 4

§51.2085 Fairly uniform color. 4

§51.2086 Well dried. 4

§51.2087 Decay. 4

§51.2088 Rancidity. 4

§51.2089 Damage. 4

§51.2090 Serious damage. 5

§51.2091 Thickness. 5
United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell (April 8, 2013)

2

Grades

§51.2075 U.S. No. 1. 

"U.S. No. 1" consists of almonds in the shell which are of similar varietal characteristics 

and free from loose extraneous and foreign material. The shells are clean, fairly bright, 

fairly uniform color, and free from damage caused by discoloration, adhering hulls, 

broken shells or other means. The kernels are well dried, free from decay, rancidity, 

and free from damage caused by insects, mold, gum, skin discoloration, shriveling, 

brown spot or other means.

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the almonds are of a size not less than 28/64 of an 

inch (11.1 mm) in thickness.

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

following tolerances are provided as specified:

(1) For external (shell) defects. 10 percent, by count, for almonds which fail to 

meet the requirements of this grade other than for variety and size;

(2) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, by count, including therein not more than 1 

percent for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;

(3) For size. 5 percent, by count, for almonds which are smaller than the specified 

minimum thickness;

(4) For loose extraneous and foreign material. 2 percent, by weight, including 

therein not more than 1 percent which can pass through a round opening 24/64 

inch (9.5 mm) in diameter: Provided, that such material is practically free from 

insect infestation; and, 

(5) For internal (kernel) defects. 10 percent, by weight, for almonds with kernels 

failing to meet the requirements of this grade: Provided, that not more than onehalf of this tolerance or 5 percent shall be allowed for kernels affected by decay 

or rancidity, damaged by insects or mold or seriously damaged by shriveling: 

And provided further, that no part of this tolerance shall be allowed for live 

insects inside the shell.

§51.2076 U.S. No. 1 Mixed.

"U.S. No. 1 Mixed" consists of almonds in the shell which meet the requirements of U.S. 

No. 1 grade, except that two or more varieties of sweet almonds are mixed.
United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell (April 8, 2013)

3

§51.2077 U.S. No. 2.

"U.S. No. 2" consists of almonds in the shell which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

grade, except that an additional tolerance of 20 percent shall be allowed for almonds 

with shells damaged by discoloration.

§51.2078 U.S. No. 2 Mixed.

"U.S. No. 2 Mixed" consists of almonds in the shell which meet the requirements of U.S. 

No. 2 grade, except that two or more varieties of sweet almonds are mixed.

Application of Tolerances

§51.2079 Application of tolerances.

The tolerances for the foregoing grades are applied to the entire lot of almonds, based 

upon a composite sample drawn from containers throughout the lot.

Determination of Grade

§51.2080 Determination of grade.

In grading the inspection sample, the percentage of loose hulls, pieces of shell, chaff 

and foreign material is determined on the basis of weight. Next, the percentages of nuts 

which are of dissimilar varieties, undersize or have adhering hulls or defective shells are 

determined by count, using an adequate portion of the total sample. Finally, the nuts in 

that portion of the sample are cracked, and the percentage having internal defects is 

determined on the basis of weight.

Definitions

§51.2081 Similar varietal characteristics.

"Similar varietal characteristics" means that the almonds are similar in shape, and are 

reasonably uniform in degree of hardness of the shells, and that bitter almonds are not 

mixed with sweet almonds. For example, hard-shelled varieties, semi-soft shelled 

varieties, soft-shelled varieties and paper-shelled varieties are not mixed together, nor 

are any two of these types mixed under this definition.

§51.2082 Loose extraneous and foreign material.

"Loose extraneous and foreign material" means loose hulls, empty broken shells, pieces 

of shells, external insect infestation and any substance other than almonds in the shell 

or almond kernels.
United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell (April 8, 2013)

4

§51.2083 Clean.

"Clean" means that the shell is practically free from dirt and other adhering foreign 

material.

§51.2084 Fairly bright.

"Fairly bright" means that the shells show good characteristic color.

§51.2085 Fairly uniform color.

"Fairly uniform color" means that the shells do not show excessive variation in color, 

whether bleached or natural.

§51.2086 Well dried.

"Well dried" means that the kernel is firm and brittle, not pliable or leathery.

§51.2087 Decay.

"Decay" means that part or all of the kernel has become decomposed.

§51.2088 Rancidity.

"Rancidity" means that the kernel is noticeably rancid to taste.

§51.2089 Damage.

"Damage" means any defect which materially detracts from the appearance of the 

individual kernel, or the edible or shipping quality of the almond. Any one of the 

following defects or combination thereof, the seriousness of which exceeds the 

maximum allowed for any one defect shall be considered as damage:

(a) Discoloration of the shell which is medium gray to black and affects more than 

one-eighth of the surface in the aggregate. Normal variations of a reddish or 

brownish color shall not be considered discoloration;

(b) Adhering hulls which cover more than 5 percent of the shell surface in the 

aggregate;

(c) Broken shells when a portion of the shell is missing, or the shell is broken or 

fractured to the extent that moderate pressure will permit the kernel to become 

dislodged;
United States Standards for Grades of Almonds in the Shell (April 8, 2013)

5

(d) Insect injury when the insect, web or frass is present or there is definite evidence 

of insect feeding;

(e) Mold, when visible on the kernel, except when white or gray and easily rubbed off 

with the fingers;

(f) Gum, when a film of shiny, resinous appearing substance affects an area 

aggregating more than the equivalent of a circle one-quarter inch (6.4 mm) in 

diameter;

(g) Skin discoloration when more than one-half of the surface of the kernel is 

affected by very dark or black stains contrasting with the natural color of the skin;

(h) Shriveling when the kernel is excessively thin for its size, or when materially 

withered, shrunken, leathery, tough or only partially developed: Provided, that 

partially developed kernels are not considered damaged if more than threefourths of the pellicle is filled with meat. An almond containing two kernels shall 

not be classed as damaged if either kernel has more than three-fourths of the 

pellicle filled with meat; and,

(i) Brown spot which affects an aggregate area on the kernel greater than the area 

of a circle one-eighth inch (3.2 mm) in diameter.

§51.2090 Serious damage.

"Serious damage" means any defect which makes a kernel or piece of kernel unsuitable 

for human consumption, and includes decay, rancidity, insect injury and damage by 

mold. The following defect shall be considered as serious damage: Shriveling when 

the kernel is seriously withered, shrunken, leathery, tough or only partially developed: 

Provided, that partially developed kernels are not considered seriously damaged if more 

than one-fourth of the pellicle is filled with meat.

§51.2091 Thickness.

"Thickness" means the greatest dimension between the two semi-flat surfaces of the 

shell measured at right angles to a plane extending between the seams of the shell.