United States

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Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

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Fruit and

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Fresh

Products

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United States Standards

for Grades of

Sweet Cherries, for Export

for Sulphur Brining

Effective May 28, 1940

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure comply with the provisions of the 1

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

1

United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Cherries, for Export

for Sulphur Brining 1

Grade

51.4380 U.S. No. 1. 

Size 

51.4381 Size. 

Definitions 

51.4382 Well formed. 

51.4383 Mature. 

51.4384 Doubles. 

51.4385 Damage. 

51.4386 Serious damage. 

51.4387 Diameter.

Grade

§51.4380 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1" consists of sweet cherries of one variety which are well formed, mature, firm, free

from decay, worms, pulled pits, doubles, and free from damage caused by bruises, bird pecks, skin

breaks, hail marks, windwhips, limbrubs, russeting, sunscald, scars, shriveling, foreign material,

disease, mechanical or other means. (See §51.4381.) 

(a) Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more

than 10 percent, by count, of the cherries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this

grade, including therein not more than 5 percent for defects causing serious damage, and

including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for cherries which are affected by decay. 

Size 

§51.4381 Size.

(a) In addition to the statement of grade, the size of the cherries in any lot may be specified in

terms of minimum diameter. 

(b) In order to allow for variations incident to proper sizing, not more than 10 percent, by count,

of the cherries in any lot may be below the size specified. 

Definitions 

§51.4382 Well formed.

"Well formed" means that the cherry has the shape characteristic of the variety. 

§51.4383 Mature.

"Mature" means that the cherries have reached the stage of maturity at which the pit will separate

readily from the flesh. 
2

§51.4384 Doubles.

"Doubles" means cherries which have the appearance of attached twin cherries. 

§51.4385 Damage.

"Damage" means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally objectionable variation

of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which materially

detracts from the quality of the fruit for brining. The following specific defects shall be considered

as damage: 

(a) Bruises, except slight bruises at the stem end; 

(b) Rain cracks and other skin breaks which exceed 1/4 inch in length, except a very thin line

encircling the stem end of the fruit; and, 

(c) Superficial scars, windwhips, limbrubs, russeting, and similar scars when light colored and

covering more than 15 percent of the surface of the cherry; or when dark colored and affecting an

area of more than 1/8 inch in diameter. 

§51.4386 Serious damage.

"Serious damage" means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally objectionable

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

seriously detracts from the quality of the fruit for brining. The following specific defects shall be

considered as serious damage: 

(a) Cherries affected by worms; 

(b) Rain cracks and other skin breaks which exceed 1/2 inch in length; and, 

(c) Any injury which seriously affects or causes discoloration of the flesh. 

§51.4387 Diameter.

"Diameter" means the greatest dimension, measured through the center of the cherry, at right

angles to a line running from the stem to the blossom end.