United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

Fruit and Vegetable

Division

Processed Products 

Branch

Grading Manual for

Canned Blackberries

and

Other Similar Berries

Effective June 1977

Reprinted February 1994

This manual is designed for Processed Products Branch Personnel of the U.S.Department

of Agriculture. Its purpose is to give background information and guidelines to assist in the
Canned Blackberries

June 1977

Reprinted February 1994

uniform application and interpretation of U.S. grade standards, other similar specifications

and special procedures.

The citation of any data, criteria, techniques, illustrations, copyrighted material, or pictorial

representation accredited to private authorship is used with the permissionof the individuals

or sources cited. Unless a specific reference is cited, the information in this manual has been

compiled or developed from sources available to the public as well as from technical

knowledge of personnel in the Department.

Following the suggested guidelines inthis manualdoes notexcuse failure to comply with the

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or any other applicable Federal or State laws or

regulations.

Exceptfor officialUSDA inspectionaids ordevicesand colorguides (or standards) produced

under license of the Department, the mentionof anysupplier,patented device,product, brand

name or equipment does not imply endorsement by the Department over any other similar,

or equally effective material.

Address inquires to:

Chief, Processed Products Branch

Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 0709, South Building

Washington, DC 20090-6456
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GENERAL INFORMATION

Cultivated blackberries, dewberries, boysenberries, and loganberries are grown primarily in

thePacificCoastStates. Other blackberry producing states are: Texas, Michigan, Arkansas,

and Oklahoma.

Blackberries,dewberries,boysenberries,loganberries, and other similarberriesarecovered

by the same U.S. standards. These berries are referred to collectively as "cane berries."

The difference between blackberries and dewberries is as follows:

Blackberries.

1. Grow on an upright cane;

2. Tightly structured berries; and

3. Resist loss of drupelets during handling and canning.

Dewberries.

1. Grown on a trailing cane;

2. Loose structured drupelets; and

3. Disintegrate easily during handling and canning.

Hybrids.

Blackberry-dewberry hybrids differ in drupelet-structure characteristics of either parent.

Blackberries are harvested starting approximately May 20 in the Southwest; June 1 to June

15 in the Southern States; July 15 to August 1 in Michigan; and August 1 to September 15 in

the Pacific Northwest.

Machine harvesting (shaking) is replacing hand-picked fruit. Only good quality fresh berries

produce good quality canned berries. Overmature berries are soft, break down during

handling, and are unsuitable for canning. Immature berries are firm, partially red, and

sour. Ripe berries have plump drupelets, and a velvety appearance. Because blackberries

do not ripen uniformly, machine harvested berries containfruitof all stages of maturity-- ripe,

immature, and overmature.

VARIETAL TYPES

Blackberries.

Evergreen (Black Diamond).

1. Erect bush and berries retain a firm character.
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Thornless Evergreen.

1. Late-season sport of the Evergreen; and 

2. Large, firm, sweet berries.

Lawton (New Rochelle).

1. Bush has long thorns; and

2. Long sweet, soft berries.

Eldorado (Stuart).

1. Firm, sweet, medium to large size berries.

Loganberries.

1. Hybrid trailing variety;

2. Tightly structured drupelets; and

3. Large, long, dark-red to reddish-purple, acid, highly flavored berries.

Boysenberries.

1. Similar in appearance but slightly more acid than youngberries; 

2. Loosely structured drupelets; and

3. Large, long (about 1-1/4 X 1 inch), light-red to dark, deep, reddish-purple

berries.
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VARIETAL TYPES - (CONTINUATION)

Youngberries.

1. Sweeter than loganberries or boysenberries; 

2. Loosely structured drupelets; and

3. Sweet, deep, wine-colored berries.

Nectaberries.

1. Trailing bush and intermediate in appearance between boysenberries and

youngberries; and

2. Loosely structured drupelets.

Marionberries.

1. A dewberry-olallieberry cross;

2. Trailing cane; and

3. Bright, reddish-black, medium to large berries.

Olallieberries.

1. A loganberry - youngberry cross;

2. Trailing cane;

3. Tightly structured drupelets; and

4. Firm, small-seeded berries.

FDA policy guide for identification of varieties.

"Certainvarieties of blackberries are known by specific names. The Standards of Identity for

canned berries designates blackberries, boysenberries, dewberries, loganberries, and

youngberries as the names of varieties of berries."
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VARIETAL TYPES - (CONTINUATION)

FDA policy guide for identification of varieties (continued).

"Botanically, blackberries are divided into two general classes of varieties, the first class

being those which grow with erect canes and are commonly known as blackberries, and the

second being those whichgrowwith trailing canes and as a class are sometimes referred to

as dewberries. Three varieties of the second class are commonly known as boysenberries,

loganberries, and youngberries, and the other varieties of thatclass are commonly known as

dewberries."

"The term "dewberries" is considered the specific common usual name for varieties of

blackberries that are obtained from trailing canes. Olallieberries should be designated as

"dewberries," when used in __________, and canned berries. However, we have not

objected to the use of the specific name "Olallieberries." The term "olallie blackberries"

should not be used since it may be misleading for berries which are now specifically

designated as dewberries."

The term "blackberries" is considered an acceptable commonor usualname for the labeling

of any variety of blackberries obtained from erect canes."
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QUALITY FACTORS

Similar varietal characteristics.

Canned blackberries are usually of similar varietal characteristics. If mixed varietal types

occur, and seriously detract from the overall appearance of the sample unit, classify as

Substandard. If mixed varieties occur, and do not seriously detract from the overall

appearance,whether intentionally or accidentallymixed,considerasmeeting the requirement

of similar varietal characteristics.

Flavor and odor.

Normalflavor and odor is a pleasing, ripe, berry flavor. Classify any flavor other thannormal,

but edible, as Substandard. Inedible flavor is "worse-than-a-deviant." Consider "deviants"

to normal flavor with other quality factors (collectively) and allow in accordance with the

"Regulations."

Color.

Consider both intensity of color and uniformity of color. Uniformity of color is the most

important. Generally, the color of the packing media reflects the ripeness of the berries.

Withinasingle variety, the packing liquid is more highly colored from well-ripened berries than

from less mature berries. Mechanically harvested blackberries contain ripe, overripe, and

immature berries. The harvester is not selective and harvests all berries from the canes that

can be shaken off. Mold growth attacks well-ripened berries in hot, humid growing areas.

To keepberrieswithinacceptable mold tolerance limits, processorsmayadvisetheirgrowers

to time harvest dates so that predominately reasonably well-ripened berries are

harvested. These berries are recognized by the light-red color appearance of the fruit and

packing media. Berries at this stage of maturity should not be scored higher than Grade B,

although the color may be uniform.

Canned berries packed in high-density sirups are more lustrous than those packed in

light-sirup,juice,or water. Judge brightness of color without allowing the brightness created

by the sirup to influence the color score.

Insect infestation causes full-growth berries to stay opaque-red and never ripen. Insect

damage ranges from a single black drupelet on a red berry to a black berry with a single red

drupelet. Allow 5 percent, by count, of all of the berries to vary from overall color appearance

of the mass in Grade A color.
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QUALITY FACTORS - (CONTINUATION)

Uniformity of size.

Consider overall appearance in addition to variation in size. The U.S. standards specify the

variation in size permitted in each grade classification. Percentage restrictions for size in

Grades A and B apply only to canned blackberries. Other varietal types are judged on the

basis of overall appearance.

There is no restriction for size ofcanned blackberries and other similar berries in the Grade

C classification. Do not apply the limiting rule indicated in the standards or score

sheets.

Defects.

Harmless extraneous material.

HEM is a problem due to increased use of mechanicalharvesting equipment. A large

amount of HEM mixed with the berries at harvest increases the chance of this material

getting into the market container. Dead berry canes usually float during the washing

operation. Green berry canes and leaves are difficult to remove.

Grit, sand, or silt.

If sand or grit is present inthe berries, it usually is present in the packing media. After

the berries are removed from the grading tray, slowly decant the packing liquid from

the tray. Sand and grit present in the liquid collects in the bottom corner of the tray. A

heavy rain immediately before harvest increases the chance of sand and grit. Berry

drupelets are difficult to clean of sand and grit.

Doubles.

Do not score "doubles" or "clusters" as defects. If a portion of the double cluster is

defective, count it as one defect.

Foreign material.

Larva, worms, insects, and mold are natural and unavoidable defects in canned

berries. See Branch instructions for foreign material.
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QUALITY FACTORS - (CONTINUATION)

Damage.

1. Slug damage or bird pecks;

2. Deformed berries;

3. Hail damage;

4. Bruise;

5. Hard, seedy ends; and

6. Blight damage.
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Allowance For Defects

Each 40 ounces net weight (sample average)

GRADE

HEM (leaves,

caps, sepal

bracts, etc.)

measurable

by area

Stems 1/2 inch

or less in

length

Stems over 1/2

inch in length

Small pieces

HEM (weeds,

grass) not

measurable by

area

Damaged

berries

(by count)

Sand, silt

and grit

A 1/4 sq in 2 1 or 1 small piece 4% Practically

free May slightly affect appearance or eating quality

B 1/2 sq in 4 2 or 2 small pieces 8% Reasonably

free May materially affect appearance or eating quality

C 1 sq in 8 4 or 4 small pieces 15% Fairly free

May materially affect appearance or eating quality

SStd Fails requirements of Grade C

Character.

Consider the following conditions in evaluation of character: firmness; degree of disintegration;

seediness; crushed berries; and accompanying packing liquid.

The color of certain varieties of blackberries does not have a direct bearing on the character of

the berries. Taste the berry to determine if it is ripe.

Separate percentages, by weight, of crushed berries are permitted in Grades A and B for

blackberries, as one category, and other similar berries as a separate category. Blackberries

and other similar berries are included in the same category in Grade C. The more restrictive

allowance applies to blackberries because the tightly structured drupelets of the blackberries are

expected to hold their shape better during processing.

Consider detached seed cells in the accompanying packing liquid inGrades A and B. This is not

a requirement of Grade C.