U Marketing and

Regulatory

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Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Specialty

Crops

Program

Commodity Specification 

for Fresh Citrus

August 2019
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Commodity Specification for Fresh Citrus

Table of Contents

General........................................................................................................................................... 1

U.S. Standards................................................................................................................................. 1

Exceptions to U.S. Standards.......................................................................................................... 1

Product Origin................................................................................................................................. 1

Packing Season ............................................................................................................................... 2

Containers and Packing ............................................................................................................... 2

Primary Containers (Cartons) ......................................................................................................... 2

Palletization Requirements.......................................................................................................... 2

Pallets.............................................................................................................................................. 2

Unitization....................................................................................................................................... 2

Shipping and Delivery .................................................................................................................... 3

Prerequisites.................................................................................................................................... 3

Individual Commodity Specifications......................................................................................... 3

Grapefruit.................................................................................................................................... 3

Lemons........................................................................................................................................ 4

Oranges....................................................................................................................................... 4

Inspection....................................................................................................................................... 4

Requirements .................................................................................................................................. 5

Procedures....................................................................................................................................... 5

Failure to Meet Specifications...................................................................................................... 5
Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2019 Page 1 of 5

GENERAL

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.

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.

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 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.

4. Contractors must provide the domestic origin certification and supporting 

documentation records to representatives of the AMS, Specialty Crops 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 
Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2019 Page 2 of 5

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.

Packing Season

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

specified in the applicable Solicitation/IFB.

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 (this code may be added to the Positive Lot Identification 

(PLI) imprinting method used). In addition to this code, a Pre-stamped Identification Tag 

which contains the Purchase Order Number and the commodity material code will be affixed 

to each pallet or printed on each carton or bag. Containers shall be constructed as to ensure 

acceptance by common carrier or other carrier for safe transportation for domestic shipment.

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

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

PALLETIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Pallets

Products must be on 48 X 40 inch, non-reversible, flush stringer, and partial four- way 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.

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 
Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2019 Page 3 of 5

product must be loaded in the conveyance in such a way that will prevent shifting and damage to 

the containers of product.

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.

Prerequisites

All vendors and/or suppliers providing fresh citrus fruit shall undergo a good agricultural 

practices and good handling practices audit of their operations. The audit must be conducted by 

the USDA, AMS, Specialty Crops Program, SCI Division or licensed Federal-State auditors 

providing services under a cooperative agreement with USDA oversight. The audit conducted 

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

the Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Audit, the Harmonized GAP Plus+, or a 

commodity-specific audit applicable to the commodity being purchased (e.g. Tomato Audit 

Protocol, Mushroom GAPs), whichever is applicable to the commodity being purchased.

The audit must cover all parts of the operation which are applicable to the commodity being 

purchased. For example, an orange purchase would require an audit of the fields, packing 

house, and storage facilities.

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

www.ams.usda.gov/gapghp, or from your local USDA or Federal-State inspection office. A 

listing of USDA and Federal-State inspection offices are also available on the website listed 

above.

INDIVIDUAL COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

All requirements including inspection point location, grade, varieties, and sizes shown 

below may be revised if specified otherwise in the Solicitation/IFB.

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.
Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2019 Page 4 of 5

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 air temperature.

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 air temperature.

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.

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. Product 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 air temperature.

INSPECTION
Commodity Specification Fresh Citrus

Effective Date: August 2019 Page 5 of 5

Requirements

1. Representatives of the AMS, Specialty Crops Program, SCI Division (USDA 

Inspector) must perform the inspection (see 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 (unless otherwise 

specified in the Solicitation/IFB). The number (count) of packages shall be certified 

by Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service (see 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.

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 Re- inspection 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

FAILURE TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS

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.