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United States Standards

for Grades of Collard 

Greens or Broccoli 

Greens

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Collard Greens or Broccoli 

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

April 16, 1953.

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 Collard Greens or Broccoli Greens

(September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Collard Greens or Broccoli Greens

Section Page No.

General........................................................................................................................... 2

§51.520 General........................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.521 U.S. No. 1. ...................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.522 Reserved. ....................................................................................................... 2

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 2

§51.523 Application of tolerances................................................................................. 2

§51.524 Basis for calculating percentages. .................................................................. 2

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

§51.525 Similar varietal characteristics. ....................................................................... 3

§51.526 Fresh............................................................................................................... 3

§51.527 Fairly tender.................................................................................................... 3

§51.528 Fairly clean. .................................................................................................... 3

§51.529 Well trimmed................................................................................................... 3

§51.530 Damage. ......................................................................................................... 3

§51.531 Serious damage.............................................................................................. 4
United States Standards for Grades of Collard Greens or Broccoli Greens

(September 6, 2016)

2

General

§51.520 General.

These standards are applicable to collard greens or broccoli greens, or mixtures of the 

two which may consist of leaves, or parts of leaves, plants or mixtures of leaves and 

plants.

Grades

§51.521 U.S. No. 1.

U.S. No. 1 consists of collard greens or broccoli greens, of similar varietal 

characteristics which are fresh, fairly tender, fairly clean, well trimmed, and of 

characteristic color for the variety or type; which are free from decay and free from 

damage caused by coarse stalks and seedstems, discoloration, freezing, foreign 

material, disease, insects or mechanical or other means.

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

than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the units in any lot, may fail to meet the 

requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, 

or 5 percent, shall be allowed for serious damage by any cause, and including 

therein not more than 2 percent for decay. (See §51.524.)

Reserved

§51.522 Reserved.

Application of Tolerances

§51.523 Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual containers in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject 

to the following limitations: Provided, That the averages for the entire lot are within the 

tolerances specified:

(a) 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.

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

have not more than double the tolerance specified: Provided, That at least one 

specimen which does not meet the requirements may be permitted in any 

container.

§51.524 Basis for calculating percentages.

Percentages shall be calculated on the basis of weight or an equivalent basis. In 

sorting or grading the sample, the unit shall be the plant, the leaf, or a portion of the leaf 

or plant exactly as it occurs in the sample. A plant or portion of plant shall not be 
United States Standards for Grades of Collard Greens or Broccoli Greens

(September 6, 2016)

3

broken to remove the defective portion, but shall be considered as a unit.

Definitions

§51.525 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the collard greens or broccoli greens 

shall be of the same general color and character of growth. No mixture of varieties or 

types shall be permitted which materially affects the appearance of the lot.

§51.526 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the greens are not more than slightly wilted.

§51.527 Fairly tender.

“Fairly tender” means that the greens are not tough, or excessively fibrous.

§51.528 Fairly clean.

“Fairly clean” means that the appearance of the greens is not materially affected by 

the presence of dirt, dust, or other foreign material.

§51.529 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed”, as applied to plants, means that the main stem shall not extend more 

than one inch below the point of attachment of the first leaf.

§51.530 Damage.

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

shipping quality of the individual unit, or the lot as a whole. 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) Coarse stalks or seedstems when they are woody and tough and more than 

3-1/2 inches in length, or when they are fairly tender or tender and are more than 

one-third the length of the entire plant. The length of the plant shall be measured 

from the base of the main stem to the tip of the leaf extending the greatest 

distance from the base of the main stem;

(b) Discoloration when the appearance of the unit is materially affected by yellowing 

or any other type of discoloration; and,

(c) Mechanical damage when the unit is badly crushed, torn, or broken.
United States Standards for Grades of Collard Greens or Broccoli Greens

(September 6, 2016)

4

§51.531 Serious damage.

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

edible or shipping quality of the individual unit, or the lot as a whole. 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 serious damage:

(a) Insects when the unit is noticeably infested, or when it is seriously damaged by

them;

(b) Discoloration when the unit is badly discolored; and,

(c) Decay.