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United States Standards

for Grades of Beets

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Beets (81 FR 51297) 

supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since August 1, 1955.

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 Beets (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Beets

Section Page No.

Styles.............................................................................................................................. 2

§51.375 Bunched beets................................................................................................ 2

§51.376 Beets with short-trimmed tops. ....................................................................... 2

§51.377 Topped beets.................................................................................................. 2

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

§51.378 U.S. No. 1. ...................................................................................................... 2

§51.379 U.S. No. 2. ...................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 2

§51.380 Reserved. ....................................................................................................... 2

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 3

§51.381 Tolerances. ..................................................................................................... 3

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

§51.382 Application of tolerances................................................................................. 3

Standard Bunching ....................................................................................................... 4

§51.383 Standard bunching.......................................................................................... 4

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

§51.384 Well trimmed................................................................................................... 4

§51.385 Firm................................................................................................................. 4

§51.386 Fairly smooth. ................................................................................................. 4

§51.387 Fairly well shaped. .......................................................................................... 4

§51.388 Fairly clean. .................................................................................................... 5

§51.389 Damage. ......................................................................................................... 5

§51.390 Fresh............................................................................................................... 5

§51.391 Diameter. ........................................................................................................ 5

§51.392 Excessively rough........................................................................................... 5

§51.393 Seriously misshapen....................................................................................... 5

§51.394 Serious damage.............................................................................................. 6
United States Standards for Grades of Beets (September 6, 2016)

2

Styles

§51.375 Bunched beets.

“Bunched beets” means beets which are tied in bunches. The tops shall be full length 

or removed to not less than 6 inches.

§51.376 Beets with short-trimmed tops.

“Beets with short-trimmed tops” means, unless otherwise specified, beets showing 

leafstems ranging to not more than 4 inches in length.

§51.377 Topped beets.

“Topped beets” means beets with tops removed to not more than one-half inch in 

length.

Grades

§51.378 U.S. No. 1.

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

well trimmed, firm, fairly smooth, fairly well shaped, fairly clean and free from soft rot 

and free from damage caused by cuts, freezing, growth cracks, disease, rodents or 

insects, or mechanical or other means. Bunched beets or beets with short-trimmed tops

shall have tops which are fresh and free from decay and free from damage caused by

discoloration, freezing, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means.

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each beet shall be not less than 1-1/2 

inches. (See §51.381.)

§51.379 U.S. No. 2.

“U.S. No. 2” consists of beets of similar varietal characteristics, the roots of which are

well trimmed, firm, not excessively rough, not seriously misshapen and which are free

from soft rot and free from serious damage caused by cuts, dirt, freezing, growth cracks,

disease, rodents or insects, or mechanical or other means. Bunched beets or beets

with short-trimmed tops shall have tops which are fresh and free from decay and free 

from damage caused by discoloration, freezing, disease, insects, or mechanical or other

means.

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each beet shall be not less than 1-1/2 

inches. (See §51.381.)

Reserved

§51.380 Reserved.
United States Standards for Grades of Beets (September 6, 2016)

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Tolerances

§51.381 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following 

tolerances shall be permitted:

(a) For bunched beets

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

to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than onehalf of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing 

serious damage, including therein not more than 1 percent for soft rot;

(2) For defects of tops. 10 percent, by count, for bunches with tops in any 

lot which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, including therein not 

more than 5 percent for decay;

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

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

for roots which are larger than any specified maximum diameter; and,

(4) For off-length tops. 5 percent, by count, for bunches with tops in any lot 

which fail to meet the requirements of the style.

(b) For beets with short-trimmed tops or topped beets

(1) For defects of roots. 10 percent, by weight, for roots in any lot which fail 

to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than onehalf of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing 

serious damage, including therein not more than 1 percent for soft rot;

(2) For defects of tops. 10 percent, by weight, for roots with tops in any lot 

which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, including therein not 

more than 5 percent for decay;

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

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

for roots which are larger than any specified maximum diameter; and,

(4) For off-length tops. 10 percent, by weight, for beets with tops in any lot 

which fail to meet the requirements of the style specified.

Application of Tolerances

§51.382 Application of tolerances.

(a) The contents of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are 
United States Standards for Grades of Beets (September 6, 2016)

4

subject to the following limitations: Provided, That 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 and one off-size 

specimen shall be permitted in any 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 and off-size: 

Provided, That not more than one beet which is frozen or affected by soft 

rot may be permitted in any package.

Standard Bunching

§51.383 Standard bunching.

(a) Standard bunches of beets shall be fairly uniform in size and each bunch of beets 

shall weigh not less than 1 pound and contain at least 3 beets.

(b) Not more than 10 percent of the bunches in any lot may fail to meet the 

requirements for “Standard Bunching.”

Definitions

§51.384 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed” means that unattractive secondary rootlets have been removed and 

that any objectionably long or coarse tail-like part of the root has been cut off.

§51.385 Firm.

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

§51.386 Fairly smooth.

“Fairly smooth” means that the root is not rough or ridged to the extent that the 

appearance is materially affected. Very slight roughness over the crown or very slight

pitting caused by the shedding of dead leaves shall not be considered as materially 

affecting the appearance.

§51.387 Fairly well shaped.

“Fairly well shaped” means that the root is not misshapen to the extent that the

appearance is materially affected.
United States Standards for Grades of Beets (September 6, 2016)

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§51.388 Fairly clean.

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

foreign matter, and that the general appearance of the roots in the container is not more 

than slightly affected.

§51.389 Damage.

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

shipping quality of the individual beet root, or the general appearance of the beet roots 

in the container, or causes a loss of more than 5 percent, by weight, in the ordinary 

preparation for use, or which materially affects the appearance or shipping quality of the

tops. 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 when not shallow and not smooth or when the appearance is 

materially affected; and,

(b) Discoloration when yellowing or other discoloration of the tops materially affect 

the appearance of the bunch. The appearance of bunches with tops having slight

discoloration such as yellowing, browning, or other abnormal color affecting a few 

leaves shall not be considered materially affected.

§51.390 Fresh.

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

§51.391 Diameter.

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

running from the crown to the base of the root.

§51.392 Excessively rough.

“Excessively rough” means that the root is rough or ridged to the extent that the 

appearance is seriously affected.

§51.393 Seriously misshapen.

“Seriously misshapen” means that the root is misshapen to the extent that the

appearance is seriously affected.
United States Standards for Grades of Beets (September 6, 2016)

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§51.394 Serious damage.

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

edible or shipping quality of the individual beet, or the general appearance of the beets

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

preparation for use.