Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Program

Specialty 

Crops 

Inspection

Division

Commodity Specification 

Fresh Citrus

August 2014
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 2 of 8

Table of Contents

I. GENERAL.............................................................................................................................. 3

A. U.S. Standards....................................................................................................................... 3

B. Exceptions to U.S. Standards................................................................................................ 3

C. Product Origin....................................................................................................................... 3

D. Kosher Products.................................................................................................................... 4

E. Packing Season ..................................................................................................................... 4

F. Palletization Requirements ................................................................................................... 4

G. Shipping and Delivery .......................................................................................................... 5

II. INDIVIDUAL COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS........................................................... 5

A. Grapefruit.............................................................................................................................. 5

B. Lemons.................................................................................................................................. 6

C. Oranges................................................................................................................................. 6

III. INSPECTION......................................................................................................................... 7

A. Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 7

B. Procedures............................................................................................................................. 7

IV. FAILURE TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS ......................................................................... 7
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 3 of 8

I. General

A. U.S. Standards

Fresh citrus (product/commodity) produced under this Commodity Specification must 

meet the requirements specified in the applicable United States Standards (U.S. 

Standards) or Commercial Item Description (CID) effective on the date of the 

Solicitation/Invitation for Bid (IFB). The U.S. Standards and CIDs are published 

separately and are incorporated herein and made a part of this Commodity Specification. 

B. Exceptions to U.S. Standards

Exceptions to the U.S. Standards for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) fresh citrus 

purchases are found in Section II, Individual Product Specifications, of this document. 

Additional exceptions may be specified in the applicable Solicitation/IFB. Any 

exceptions contained in the applicable Invitation shall have precedence over the 

requirements contained herein, for that Solicitation/IFB only. 

C. Product Origin

1. Commodities delivered pursuant to this Commodity Specification shall have 

originated from crops that have been 100 percent grown, processed, and packed in

the United States, its territories or possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 

or the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, (hereinafter referred to as the United 

States). See Section I., F. of the Master Solicitation.

2. If the contractor handles any commodity originating from sources other than the 

United States, the contractor must have a written plan to segregate the commodity. 

This segregation plan will include an identification and record system for all 

commodities to ensure they are completely segregated and cannot be used to fulfill 

purchase orders awarded by USDA. Such segregation plan must be made available, 

within 10 days of purchase order award, to representatives of the Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS). 

3. The contractor must maintain positive written documentation records evidencing 

100 percent domestic origin to the grower level. Contractors must also ensure that 

the documentation provided by any subcontractors demonstrates the same level of 

traceability. The burden of proof of compliance is on the contractor. 

Documentation may include load or warehouse storage receipts for raw product 

(i.e., bin tags), product blend (formulation) records, product coding explanations, 

finished product warehousing records, shipping or payment records, or other 

documentation or evidence that clearly establishes the product's domestic origin. 
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 4 of 8

4. Contractors must provide the domestic origin certification and supporting 

documentation records to representatives of the AMS, Fruit and Vegetable 

Program, Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division when requested. 

The SCI Division will select and review at least one code for each purchase order to 

determine compliance with the Agency's domestic origin requirements. 

5. Such records must be available for review by the Government in accordance with 

FAR 52.214-26. In the event of an audit, AMS auditors will examine as many 

codes as is necessary to verify compliance.

6. Self-certifications by contractors and subcontractors will not be accepted.

7. Failure to observe this requirement may lead to suspension or debarment, purchase 

order termination, and penalties at Title 18, Section 1001 of the U.S. Code 

concerning falsification of information.

D. Kosher Products

Occasionally, purchase units will be identified on Solicitation/IFBs as “Kosher Only” and 

will be so identified in the Solicitation/IFB. Offerors must not bid on these purchase 

units unless they are properly certified to produce Kosher products. Vendors must 

comply with the applicable dietary (KOSHER) laws as established by the “613 

COUNCIL OF KASHRUTH.”

Vendors receiving purchase order items identified as “KOSHER” must contact the Board 

of Jewish Education of Greater New York (BJENY) at telephone 646-472-5365 prior to

submitting a bid to certify compliance with the applicable dietary (kosher) laws.

A rabbinic supervisor will be sent by the BJENY to certify compliance with the 

applicable dietary (KOSHER) laws.

E. Packing Season 

All fresh citrus must be from the current packing season/crop year, unless otherwise 

specified in the applicable Solicitation/IFB. 

F. Containers and Packing

Primary containers (Cartons):

All products shall be packed in new, good, clean, commercially labeled primary 

containers which meet all applicable FDA requirements and contain a code which allows 

traceability of the product in the event of a recall. Containers shall be constructed as to 

ensure acceptance by common carrier or other carrier for safe transportation for domestic 

shipment.
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 5 of 8

In addition to any commercial markings, each primary container shall show the grower or 

shipper name(s) and address, variety, and size by count.

G. Palletization Requirements

1. Pallets

Products must be on 48 X 40 inch, non-reversible, flush stringer, and partial fourway entry. New pallets must be good quality wood. Used pallets must be No.1 

hardwood or its equivalent in new softwood. Broken or damaged pallets are

unacceptable. If pallet exchange is desired, the contractor shall arrange for pallet 

exchange with consignees. USDA is in no way responsible for arrangement of 

pallet exchange.

2. Unitization

Each delivery unit of canned fruit must be unitized. Shipping cases must be stacked 

and secured from top to bottom, so that each container and layer of containers 

becomes an integral part of the pallet. 

Either stretch wrapping with plastic film or “lock ‘n pop” is acceptable. The 

palletized product must be loaded in the conveyance in such a way that will prevent 

shifting and damage to the containers of product. 

H. Shipping and Delivery

Contractor will be allowed a tolerance on the final delivery of plus or minus 50 

cases of product from each shipping point named in the purchase order.

I. Prerequisites: 

1. All vendors and/or suppliers providing fresh vegetables shall undergo a good 

agricultural practices and good handling practices audit of their operations. The 

audit must be conducted by the USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program, SCI 

Division or licensed Federal-State auditors providing services under a cooperative 

agreement with USDA oversight. The audit conducted may be either the USDA 

Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices (GAP&GHP) audit, the 

Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Audit, or the Tomato Audit Protocol audit, 

whichever is applicable to the commodity being purchased. 

2. The audit must cover all parts of the operation which are applicable to the 

commodity being purchased. For example, a tomato purchase would require an 

audit of the fields, packing house, and storage facilities. 

3. A copy of the three acceptable audit standards is available on the USDA website at 

www.ams.usda.gov/gapghp, or from your local USDA or Federal-State inspection 
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 6 of 8

office. A listing of USDA and Federal-State inspection offices are also available on 

the website listed above.

II. Individual Commodity Specifications

A. Grapefruit

1. Grade - U.S. No. 1 or better (en route or destination tolerances apply).

2. Pack and Size Requirement-cartons - minimum size 56; maximum size 32.

3. Grapefruit in each offer unit ordered delivered by USDA shall contain product of 

not more than three (3) adjacent sizes nor originate from more than three locations. 

Each size shall be segregated in the shipment with a minimum of intermingling of 

the sizes. If shipment is by truck, the contractor shall note the location and count of 

each size in the truck (front, center, and tail) on the shipping manifest.

4. Varieties - The grapefruit may be red, pink, or white seedless, but not mixed in 

shipment, and shall not be intermingled on pallets.

5. Must be loaded into a refrigerated trailer capable of holding air temperature not to 

exceed 40 F.

6. Refrigerated shipment at 34 to 40 F.

B. Lemons

1. Grade – U.S. No. 2 or better (en route or at destination tolerances apply).

2. Types of pack and size requirement – cartons – minimum size 165; maximum size

115.

3. Lemons in each offer unit ordered delivered by USDA shall contain product of not 

more than three (3) adjacent sizes nor originate from more than three locations.

Each size shall be segregated in the shipment with a minimum of intermingling of 

the sizes. If shipment is by truck, the contractor shall note the location and count of 

each size in the truck (front, center and tail) on the shipping manifest.

4. Must be loaded into a refrigerator trailer capable of holding air temperature not to 

exceed 40° F.

5. Refrigerated shipment at 34 to 40 F.

C. Oranges

1. Grade - U.S. No. 1 or better (en route or destination tolerances apply). 

2. Types of pack - cartons

3. Size requirement - minimum size 138, maximum size 100. 
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 7 of 8

Oranges in each offer unit ordered delivered by USDA shall contain product of 

not more than three (3) adjacent sizes nor originate from more than three 

locations. Each size shall be segregated in the shipment with a minimum of

intermingling of the sizes. 

If shipment is by truck, the contractor shall note the location and count of each 

size in the truck (front, center, and tail) on the shipping manifest.

4. Varieties – The oranges shall include Navel, Valencia, Pineapple, or Hamlin 

varieties, and shall not be intermingled on pallets.

5. Refrigerated shipment at 34 to 40 F.

Product must be loaded into a refrigerated trailer capable of holding air 

temperature not to exceed 40 F.

III. Inspection

A. Requirements

1. Representatives of the AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program, SCI Division (USDA 

Inspector) must perform the inspection (see section IX. A of the Master 

Solicitation). The cost of inspection, samples taken for inspection, mailing of 

review samples submitted for evaluation, and any chemical analysis required 

for testing shall be for the account of the Contractor.

2. USDA inspection of fresh citrus must be performed at destination. The number 

(count) of packages shall be certified by Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service 

(see section IX. A of the Master Solicitation). The acceptability of the quality and 

packing of the product must be evidenced by certificates issued by the USDA 

Inspector.

3. Representative sample units will be graded according to the Regulations Governing 

Inspection and Certification of Fresh Vegetables and Related Products (7 C.F.R. 

part 51), and United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 C.F.R. 

part 42.140), effective on the date of the Solicitation/IFB.

B. Procedures

The Contractor must give the USDA Inspector at least 72 hours advance notice when 

scheduling inspection service. Contractors are encouraged to submit requests for 

inspection in writing via form FV-237 (Record of Request for Inspection or Reinspection of Food Products) with verifiable receipt notice, such as fax log, to alleviate 

possible miscommunication. Requests can also be made electronically using the 

following link: http://eforms.ams.usda.gov/#CustomersFV

IV. Failure to Meet Specifications
SCI Division Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2014 Page 8 of 8

Any lot which fails applicable specifications prescribed herein will be rejected as not 

acceptable for delivery. If any lot of fresh citrus fails to meet the product or packaging 

requirement, the Contractor may request in writing that USDA accept delivery of the lot. 

USDA may, at its option, accept delivery, provided that the purchase price is the 

Purchase Order price less a discount, to be determined by the Contracting Officer.