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United States Standards

for Grades of Common 

Green Onions

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Common Green Onions 

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

June 20, 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 Common Green Onions (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Common Green Onions

Section Page No.

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

§51.1055 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.1056 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 3

§51.1057 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 3

Size................................................................................................................................. 3

§51.1058 Size.............................................................................................................. 3

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 3

§51.1059 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 3

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

§51.1060 Fairly well formed. ....................................................................................... 3

§51.1061 Fairly clean. ................................................................................................. 3

§51.1062 Damage....................................................................................................... 4

§51.1063 Well trimmed................................................................................................ 4

§51.1064 Fresh. .......................................................................................................... 4

§51.1065 Good green color......................................................................................... 4

§51.1066 Diameter...................................................................................................... 4

§51.1067 Not badly misshapen. .................................................................................. 5

§51.1068 Fairly young and tender............................................................................... 5

§51.1069 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 5

§51.1070 Fairly well trimmed....................................................................................... 5

§51.1071 Fairly good green color................................................................................ 5
United States Standards for Grades of Common Green Onions (September 6, 2016)

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Grades

§51.1055 U.S. No. 1.

U.S. No. 1 shall consist of green onions which are fairly well-formed, firm, young and 

tender, fairly clean, free from decay, and from damage caused by seedstems, roots, 

foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. The bulbs shall be well 

trimmed. The tops shall be fresh, of good green color, free from damage caused by 

broken or bruised leaves, or by clipping. When all the tops of the onions have been 

evenly clipped back in accordance with good commercial practice, they shall be 

specified as “Clipped Tops” in connection with the grade.

(a) Over-all length. Unless otherwise specified, the over-all length (roots excepted) 

of the onions shall be not more than 24 inches nor less than 8 inches and the 

onions shall be not less than one-fourth of an inch or more than one inch in 

diameter.

(b) Tolerance for defects. In order to allow for variations, other than size, incident 

to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of 10 percent, by count, of 

the onions in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, but not more 

than 5 percent shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including 

not more than 2 percent for onions affected by decay.

(c) Tolerance for size. Not more than a total of 10 percent, by count, of the onions 

in any lot may fail to meet the requirements as to the specified length, minimum 

diameter or maximum diameter, but not more than 5 percent shall be allowed for 

any one of the requirements for size.

§51.1056 U.S. No. 2.

U.S. No. 2 shall consist of green onions which are not badly misshapen, and which are 

fairly firm, fairly young and tender, fairly clean, free from decay and from serious 

damage caused by seedstems, roots, foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or 

other means. The bulbs shall be fairly well trimmed. The tops shall be fresh, of fairly 

good green color, and free from serious damage caused by broken or bruised leaves, or 

by clipping. When all the tops of the onions have been evenly clipped back in 

accordance with good commercial practice, they shall be specified as “Clipped Tops” in 

connection with the grade.

(a) Over-all length. Unless otherwise specified, the over-all length (roots excepted) 

of the onions shall be not less than 8 inches and the onions shall be not less than 

one-fourth of an inch or more than one and one-half inches in diameter.

(b) Tolerance for defects. In order to allow for variations, other than size, incident 

to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of 10 percent, by count, of 

the onions in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including not 

more than 2 percent for onions affected by decay.
United States Standards for Grades of Common Green Onions (September 6, 2016)

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(c) Tolerance for size. Not more than a total of 10 percent, by count, of the onions 

in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the specified length, minimum or 

maximum diameter, but not more than 5 percent shall be allowed for any one of 

the requirements for size.

Reserved

§51.1057 Reserved.

Size

§51.1058 Size.

The following terms and definitions are provided for describing the diameters of any lot:

“Small” means less than 1/2 inch.

“Medium” means 1/2 to 1 inch, inclusive.

“Large” means over 1 inch.

Application of Tolerances

§51.1059 Application of tolerances.

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

subject to the following limitations, provided the averages for the entire lot are 

within the tolerances specified:

(1) When a tolerance is 10 percent or more, individual containers in any lot 

shall have not more than one and one-half times the tolerance specified, 

except that at least one defective and one off-size specimen may be 

permitted in any container.

(2) When a tolerance is less than 10 percent, individual containers in any lot 

shall have not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at 

least one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any 

container.

Definitions

§51.1060 Fairly well formed.

“Fairly well formed” means that the onion is not more than slightly curved, angular, 

crooked, lopsided or otherwise slightly misshapen.

§51.1061 Fairly clean.

“Fairly clean” means that the appearance of the onion is not materially injured by dirt.
United States Standards for Grades of Common Green Onions (September 6, 2016)

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§51.1062 Damage.

“Damage” means any injury or defect which materially affects the appearance, or the 

edible or shipping quality.

(a) Seedstems. An onion with a seedstem shall be considered as damaged if the 

seedstem has been broken at a point other than at the top, or is coarse, fibrous, 

hollow or soft, or has separated naturally from the sheath or skin. Onions often 

show flower buds while the seedstem is still tender. Such onions are not 

objectionable if the flower buds have been removed, or if present, are not 

noticeably protruding; however, an onion with a seedstem which, after the flower 

bud has been removed, exceeds the length of the longest leaves of the plant, 

shall be considered as damaged.

(b) Clipping. The tops of onions are sometimes clipped or pinched back to remove 

discolored or otherwise injured leaves. An individual plant shall not be 

considered as damaged when not more than the tips of all the leaves have been 

clipped or pinched back; or when not more than half the leaves have been 

clipped or pinched back to a greater extent but not to the extent that the

appearance is materially injured; or when the tops of all the onions have been 

evenly clipped back in accordance with good commercial practice and the 

designation “Clipped Tops” is specified in connection with the grade.

§51.1063 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed” means that the bulb is not broken above the point of root attachment 

and is practically free from dead, discolored or slick outer skins. Fresh, clean, loose 

skins which do not materially affect the appearance of the individual onion or the bunch 

are permitted.

§51.1064 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the tops are not withered or badly wilted.

§51.1065 Good green color.

“Good green color” means that the tops have a normal green color characteristic of 

healthy plants. A slight discoloration of the extreme tips and slight scarring caused by 

thrips are not objectionable.

§51.1066 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension of the onion taken at right angles to the 

longitudinal axis.
United States Standards for Grades of Common Green Onions (September 6, 2016)

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§51.1067 Not badly misshapen.

“Not badly misshapen” means that the onion is not badly curved or crooked.

§51.1068 Fairly young and tender.

“Fairly young and tender” means that the onion is not tough, stringy, or advanced to 

the stage where the neck is flabby.

§51.1069 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any injury or defect which seriously affects the appearance, 

or the edible or shipping quality.

(a) Seedstems which are excessively coarse or fibrous shall be considered as 

serious damage.

(b) Badly broken or badly bruised tops shall be considered as serious damage.

(c) Clipping. The tops of onions are sometimes clipped or pinched back to remove 

discolored or otherwise injured leaves. An individual plant shall not be 

considered as seriously damaged when not more than the tips of all the leaves 

have been clipped or pinched back; or when not more than half the leaves have 

been clipped or pinched back to a greater extent but not to the extent that the

appearance is seriously injured; or when the tops of all the onions have been 

evenly clipped back in accordance with good commercial practice and the 

designation “Clipped Tops” is specified in connection with the grade.

§51.1070 Fairly well trimmed.

“Fairly well trimmed” means that the bulb is not broken above the point of root 

attachment and is reasonably free from dead, discolored or slick outer skins. Fresh, 

fairly clean, loose skins which do not seriously affect the appearance of the individual 

onion or the bunch are permitted.

§51.1071 Fairly good green color.

“Fairly good green color” means that the tops are pale or yellowish green or 

otherwise slightly discolored.