United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Apples for Processing

Effective June 1, 1961

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Compliance with the provisions of these standard shall not excuse failure to 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 Apples for Processing 1

Grades 

51.340 U.S. No. 1. 

51.341 U.S. No. 2. 

51.342 U.S. Cider. 

Culls 

51.343 Culls. 

Size 

51.344 Size. 

Application of Standards 

51.345 Application of standards. 

Tolerances 

51.346 Tolerances. 

Application of Tolerances 

51.347 Application of tolerances. 

Definitions 

51.348 One variety. 

51.349 Overripe. 

Grades 

§51.340 U.S. No. 1. 

"U.S. No. 1" consists of apples of one variety, unless designated as mixed varieties, which are not

overripe, which are free from decay, worm holes, freezing injury and internal breakdown and free

from any other defect, or combination of defects, the removal of which in the usual commercial

preparation for use will cause a loss of more than 5 percent, by weight, of the apple. 

§51.341 U.S. No. 2. 

"U.S. No. 2" consists of apples of one variety, unless designated as mixed varieties, which are not

overripe, which are free from decay, worm holes, freezing injury and internal breakdown and free

from any other defect, or combination of defects, the removal of which in the usual commercial

preparation for use will cause a loss of more than 12 percent, by weight, of the apple. 

§51.342 U.S. Cider. 

"U.S. Cider" consists of apples which are free from decay, worm holes and internal breakdown. 

Culls 

§51.343 Culls. 

"Culls" consist of apples which fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Cider Grade. 

Size 

§51.344 Size. 
2

(a) The minimum and maximum sizes or range of sizes shall be determined as agreed upon by

buyer and seller. 

(b) Unless otherwise specified, the minimum and maximum sizes or range of sizes shall be

determined by the use of an approved sizing chain of the exact dimension specified in the

agreement between buyer and seller. 

(c) Size is the dimension of the apples determined by the smallest opening through which it will

pass. 

Application of Standards 

§51.345 Application of standards. 

(a) When a lot of apples is required to meet a specific U.S. grade, the tolerances as set forth in

§51.346 shall apply. When packed in closed packages the application of tolerances in §51.347

shall apply. The application of tolerances shall not apply to apples in open or bulk containers. 

(b) In the application of these standards to determine the percentage of the lot which meets the

requirements of each of the grades, tolerances shall not apply. 

Tolerances 

§51.346 Tolerances. 

When a lot of apples is required to meet one of the U.S. grades, the apples shall not be further

advanced in maturity than generally firm ripe, and the following tolerances, by weight, shall apply: 

(a) For defects. 10 percent for apples which fail to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided,

That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the

defects listed: 

(1) 2 percent for apples which are affected by decay; 

(2) 2 percent for apples which are affected by internal breakdown; and, 

(3) 5 percent for apples which are affected by worm holes. 

(b) For off-size. 5 percent for apples which are smaller than any specified minimum size, and 10

percent for apples larger than any specified maximum size. 

Application of Tolerances 

§51.347 Application of tolerances. 

Apples in closed packages are subject to the following limitations provided the averages for the

entire lot are within the tolerances specified for the grade: 

(a) For a tolerance of 10 percent, individual packages shall have not more than one and one-half

times the tolerance specified. For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, individual packages shall

have not more than double the tolerances specified. 

Definitions 

§51.348 One variety. 

"One variety" within the meaning of these standards shall include all bud sports and strains of the

specified variety. 

§51.349 Overripe. 

"Overripe" means apples which are dead ripe, and with flesh very mealy or soft.