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Specialty

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United States Standards

for Grades of Carrots 

with Short Trimmed 

Tops

Effective July 24, 2020
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed 

Tops (85 FR 37820) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since

September 18, 1954.

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 How to File a 

Program Discrimination Complaint 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 Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops (July 24, 2020)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops

Section Page No.

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

§51.2485 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.2486 U.S. No. 1 Color. ......................................................................................... 2

§51.2487 U.S. Commercial. ........................................................................................ 3

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

§51.2488 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 3

Standard Sizing ............................................................................................................. 4

§51.2489 Standard sizing............................................................................................ 4

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 4

§51.2490 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 4

§51.2491 Firm. ............................................................................................................ 4

§51.2492 Fairly clean. ................................................................................................. 4

§51.2493 Fairly well colored........................................................................................ 4

§51.2494 Fairly smooth............................................................................................... 4

§51.2495 Well formed. ................................................................................................ 4

§51.2496 Damage....................................................................................................... 4

§51.2497 Diameter...................................................................................................... 5

§51.2498 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 5
United States Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops (July 24, 2020)

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Grades

§51.2485 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of carrots of similar varietal characteristics the roots of which are 

firm, fairly clean, fairly well colored, fairly smooth, well formed, and which are free from 

soft rot and free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, sunburn, pithiness, 

woodiness, internal discoloration, oil spray, dry rot, other disease, insects or mechanical 

or other means. The carrots shall have leafstems which are free from decay and free 

from damage caused by freezing, seedstems, yellowing or other discoloration, disease, 

insects or mechanical or other means. The leafstems shall be cut back to not more 

than 4 inches in length.

(a) Size. Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each carrot shall be not less 

than three-fourths inch.

(b) Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and 

handling the following tolerances shall be permitted:

(1) For defects of roots. 10 percent, by count, for carrot roots in any lot 

which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, other than for size: 

Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall 

be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including therein not more 

than 1 percent for carrot roots affected by soft rot;

(2) For defects of leafstems. 10 percent, by count, for carrots in any lot 

which have leafstems which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, 

including therein not more than 5 percent for leafstems affected by decay;

(3) For off-size roots. 5 percent, by count, for carrot roots in any lot which 

are smaller than the specified minimum diameter, and 10 percent, by 

count, for carrot roots which are larger than any specified maximum 

diameter; and,

(4) For off-length leafstems. 10 percent, by count, for carrots in any lot 

which have leafstems longer than the specified maximum length.

§51.2486 U.S. No. 1 Color.

“U.S. No. 1 Color” consists of carrots which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

except for fairly well colored. All roots must show good characteristic color, which 

means the root has a uniform characteristic color for the variety over practically the 

entire surface. Roots may be comingled with varieties of different colors, provided roots 

are of the same type.
United States Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops (July 24, 2020)

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§51.2487 U.S. Commercial.

“U.S. Commercial” consists of carrots which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

except for increased tolerance for defects of the roots specified below:

(a) Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and 

handling the following tolerances shall be permitted:

(1) For defects of roots. 20 percent, by count, for carrot roots in any lot 

which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, other than for size; 

Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 10 percent, shall 

be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including therein not more 

than 1 percent for carrot roots affected by soft rot;

(2) For defects of leafstems. 10 percent, by count, for carrots in any lot 

which have leafstems which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, 

including therein not more than 5 percent for leafstems affected by decay;

(3) For off-size roots. 5 percent, by count, for carrot roots in any lot which 

are smaller than the specified minimum diameter and 10 percent, by 

count, for carrot roots which are larger than any specified maximum 

diameter; and,

(4) For off-length leafstems. 10 percent, by count, for carrots in any lot 

which have leafstems longer than the specified maximum length.

Application of Tolerances

§51.2488 Application of tolerances.

(a) The contents of individual packages 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 for the grade.

(1) For packages which contain more than 5 pounds and a tolerance of 10 

percent or more is provided, individual packages in any lot shall have not 

more than one and one-half times the tolerance specified. For packages 

which contain more than 5 pounds and a tolerance of less than 10 percent 

is provided, individual packages in any lot shall have not more than double 

the tolerance specified except that at least one defective specimen shall 

be permitted in a package; and, 

(2) For packages which contain 5 pounds or less, individual packages in any 

lot are not restricted as to the percentage of defects: Provided, That not 

more than one carrot which is frozen or affected by soft rot may be 

permitted in any package.
United States Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops (July 24, 2020)

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Standard Sizing

§51.2489 Standard sizing.

(a) Carrots in packages of 2 pounds or less may be certified as “Standard Sizing,”

provided the variation in diameter of the carrots in any individual package is not 

more than three-eighths inch and the variation in length is not more than 2-1/2 

inches.

(b) Not more than 20 percent of the packages in any lot may contain carrots which 

fail to meet the requirements for “Standard Sizing.”

Definitions

§51.2490 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the carrots in any lot are of the same 

general type. For example, carrots with a short, but blunt growth, like the Oxheart 

variety, shall not be mixed with long or half-long carrots, like the Imperator or Danvers 

varieties.

§51.2491 Firm.

“Firm” means that the carrot is not soft, flabby or shriveled.

§51.2492 Fairly clean.

“Fairly clean” means that the individual carrot is reasonably free from dirt, stain or 

other foreign matter and that the general appearance of the carrots in the lot is not more 

than slightly affected.

§51.2493 Fairly well colored.

“Fairly well colored” means that the carrot has an orange, orange red, or orange 

scarlet color, but not a pale orange or distinct yellow color.

§51.2494 Fairly smooth.

“Fairly smooth” means that the carrot is not rough, ridged, or covered with secondary 

rootlets to the extent that the appearance is materially affected.

§51.2495 Well formed.

“Well formed” means that the carrot is not forked, or misshapen to the extent that the 

appearance is more than slightly affected.

§51.2496 Damage.

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

shipping quality of the individual carrot root or the general appearance of the carrot root 
United States Standards for Grades of Carrots with Short Trimmed Tops (July 24, 2020)

5

or the general appearance of the roots in the container, or causes a loss of more than 3 

percent, by weight, in the ordinary preparation for use, or which materially affects the 

appearance or shipping quality of the leafstems. 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) Growth cracks which are not shallow or not smooth, or which materially affect 

the appearance of the carrot;

(b) Sunburn which causes a loss of more than 3 percent, by weight, in the ordinary 

preparation for use, except that superficial light green color at the stem end 

which does not materially affect the appearance of the root shall be permitted; 

and,

(c) Yellowing or other discoloration or injury to the leafstems when the appearance 

of the leafstems is materially affected.

§51.2497 Diameter.

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

longitudinal axis.

§51.2498 Serious damage.

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

edible or shipping quality of the individual carrot or the general appearance of the 

carrots in the container, or causes a loss of more than 20 percent, by weight, in the 

ordinary preparation for use.