U Marketing and

Regulatory

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Specialty

Crops

Program

Commodity Specification 

for Concentrated Fruit 

Juices for Manufacturing

April 2019
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i

Commodity Specification for Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Table of Contents

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

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

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

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

Kosher Products.............................................................................................................................. 2

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

Grades of Concentrated Fruit Juice for Manufacturing .................................................................. 2

Fill of Container.............................................................................................................................. 2

Packing, Labels and Packaging....................................................................................................... 3

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

Concentrated Orange Juice for Manufacturing: Tanker Trucks................................................. 3

Concentrated Orange Juice for Manufacturing: Drums.............................................................. 4

Payments........................................................................................................................................ 5

Palletization Requirements.......................................................................................................... 5

Pallets.............................................................................................................................................. 5

Unitization....................................................................................................................................... 5

Inspection and Checkloading....................................................................................................... 5

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

Certification .................................................................................................................................... 6

Procedures....................................................................................................................................... 6

Failure to Meet Specifications...................................................................................................... 6

Exhibits.......................................................................................................................................... 7

Exhibit 1.......................................................................................................................................... 7

Exhibit 2 – Symbols for Kosher Products..................................................................................... 10
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing 

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 1 of 10 

GENERAL

U.S. Standards

Concentrated fruit juice (product/commodity) produced under this Commodity Specification 

must meet the requirements specified in the applicable United States Standards for Grades of 

Concentrated Juice for Manufacturing (U.S. Standards) effective on the date of the Solicitation 

Invitation for Bid (IFB). The U.S. Standards 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) concentrated fruit 

juice 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 Solicitation/IFB shall have precedence over the requirements 

contained herein, for that Invitation 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 contracts awarded by 

USDA. Such segregation plan must be made available, within 10 days of contract 

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 sub-contractors 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 Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCI) Division (USDA Inspector) when requesting 

inspection service. USDA Inspector will select and review at least one code for each 
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 2 of 10

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 sub-contractors will not be accepted.

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

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

falsification of information.

Kosher Products

Occasionally, USDA solicits offers to sell KOSHER products. Such products are identified on

the solicitation with the letter “K” incorporated into the WBSCM material descriptions. These 

products shall comply with applicable dietary (kosher) laws as established by the “613 Council

of Kashruth.” Manufacturing plants shall be certified for compliance with the aforementioned

requirement by contacting the Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York (BJENY) at

646-472-5366. At no cost to the vendor, a rabbinic supervisor will be sent to certify compliance 

of the manufacturing plant with the dietary (kosher) laws. Vendors must not bid on these 

purchase units unless they can be properly certified.

For other products, when commercial Kosher certification is requested in the solicitation, 

products must bear one of the Kosher certification symbols illustrated in Exhibit 2. 

Packing Season

All concentrated fruit juice for manufacturing must be from the current packing 

season/crop year, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Invitation.

Grades of Concentrated Fruit Juice for Manufacturing

Concentrated fruit juice for manufacturing must be U.S. Grade A (as defined in the U. S. 

Standards) unless otherwise specified in Section II, Individual Product Specifications, herein or 

the applicable Solicitation/IFB.

Fill of Container

1. Contractor must meet the fill of container for the product as specified in the applicable 

U.S. Standard unless otherwise indicated herein. Each container must be filled as full as 

practicable. The product must occupy at least 90 percent of the container.

2. The average net weight must meet the net weight as printed on the label and the 

Individual Commodity Specification, Section II.
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing 

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 3 of 10 

Packing, Labels and Packaging 

The containers, labels and case markings shall meet the United States Standards for Condition of 

Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42).

Storage of concentrated fruit juice for manufacturing will be at 0 degrees or below. No 

acceptance of product will be made at destination above 30 degrees F. 

Frozen products shall be packed in primary containers of food grade quality in 

Compliance with the Food Additives Regulations of the Federal Food and Drug 

Administration. 

The primary containers must be suitably code-marked so that the product can be 

identified with related inspection certificates.

INDIVIDUAL COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS

Grade – The grade of concentrated orange juice for manufacturing delivered under this 

Announcement shall meet the descriptions of U.S. Grade A, unsweetened, concentrated 

orange juice for manufacturing. 

Concentrated Orange Juice for Manufacturing: Tanker Trucks 

1. Style – Unsweetened

2. Color – Minimum 37 score point 

3. Flavor – Minimum 37 score points 

4. Brix Value/Acid Ratio – Minimum 14.0:1 / Maximum 19.5:1 

5. Fill Requirement – Minimum 31,200 pounds solid, Maximum 32,000 pounds solid (62.5 

– 65.5 degrees brix) 

6. Recoverable Oil – Minimum 0.015 (% by Volume) 

7. Unit Size – Minimum of 31,200 pounds Solids (if dissolved at 16,800 pounds of water = 

48,000 pounds a tanker) 

Inspection: USDA in-plant inspection required.

Certification: AMS Certificate of Quality and Condition for each tanker. Tanker seals shall be 

used in accordance with USDA procedures. Substitutions at reconstruction processing plants 

must be inspected and certified by USDA to meet the Commodity Specifications for quality 

requirements.
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 4 of 10

Concentrated Orange Juice for Manufacturing: Drums 

1. Style – Unsweetened

2. Color – Minimum 37 score points

3. Flavor – Minimum 37 score points

4. Brix Value/Acid Ratio – Minimum 14.0:1 / Maximum 19.5:1 

5. Fill Requirement – 371 Pounds Solids per Drum (62.5 – 65.5 degrees brix)

6. Recoverable Oil – Minimum 0.015 (% by Volume)

7. Unit Size – Truck: 26,712 Pounds Solids (72 drums @ 371 plus (+) or minus (-) 1 pound 

solids).

8. Insert two polyethylene liners 2 millimeter thickness. New or reconditioned drums and 

lids required.

9. Labeling – 

a. Requirements of Drum Tags

i. Name and Address of Company

ii. Drum Number

iii. Brix Value /Acid Ratio (Brix to nearest tenth of a degree)

iv. Grade and Date Packed

v. Net Weight

vi. Tare

vii. Gross Weight

b. Printed Tag Labeled, “Concentrated Orange Juice for Manufacturing”

c. Copy of Drum Tag is to be inserted inside Drum showing identical Information 

shown above.

Inspection: USDA in-plant inspection required.
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 5 of 10

Certification: AMS Certificate of Quality and Condition for each tanker. Tanker seals shall be 

used in accordance with USDA procedures. Substitutions at reconstruction processing plants 

must be inspected and certified by USDA to meet the Commodity Specifications for quality 

requirements.

Reconditioned drums are acceptable.

The construction of shipping containers shall be adequate to with-stand normal refrigerated 

shipping and cold storage and acceptable by common carriers for safe transportation to 

destinations.

PAYMENTS

Both tanker and drum trucks will be paid on a pounds per solid basis. Payments will be based on 

a brix/volume delivered basis, i.e. assuming a 65-degree brix. 

Example: Payment for delivery of 48,000 lbs delivered would be calculated as follows:

48,000 ÷ 10.977 (Pounds per U.S. gallon in air @ 20 degrees Celsius) = 4,372.78 gallons

4,372.78 x 7.135 (lbs of sucrose per gallon in air) = 31,199.78 lbs of solids

31,999.78 x Quoted Price Per Lb of Solids = Amount Payable

PALLETIZATION REQUIREMENTS (For drums only)

Pallets

Product must be on 40 X 48 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 concentrated fruit juice for manufacturing in drums must be unitized. 

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

shifting and damage to the containers of the product. The pallet shall be banded to secure the 

drums.

INSPECTION AND CHECKLOADING

Requirements

Tankers are to be inspected on the day of shipping.
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 6 of 10

Drums – USDA inspection shall be made during on-line production of the product.

For Drums Only – Representatives of the AMS, Specialty Crops Program, SCI Division (USDA 

Inspector) must perform the inspection and checkloading. 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. 

Inspection of concentrated fruit juice for manufacturing (drums) must be performed not more 

than 90 days prior to shipment. Whether each lot offered meets the product and container 

requirements of the contract must be determined on the basis of representative sample units. 

Representative sample units will be graded according to the Regulations Governing Inspection 

and Certification of Frozen Fruits and Vegetables and Related Products (7 C.F.R. part 52), and 

United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 C.F.R. part 42.140), effective on 

the date of the Solicitation/IFB

Certification

Subject to the Master Solicitation, the acceptability of the quality, weight, packaging, and 

checkloading of the product must be evidenced by certificates issued by the USDA Inspector.

No product shall be shipped unless the USDA Inspector informs the Contractor that a 

designated lot is acceptable. Notice by the USDA Inspector that a designated lot scheduled

for shipment does not meet requirements of the contract shall constitute rejection of such lot.

Contractors may request in writing that the USDA accept delivery of a lot shipped without 

certification. The USDA, at its option, may accept delivery, provided that the lot passes 

inspection by a USDA Inspector at the point of destination. If the USDA exercises this option, 

the contractor will be assessed a 10 percent liquidated damages and cost of inspection.

Procedures

The Contractor must give the USDA Inspector at least 7 days advance notice when scheduling 

inspection service. Prior to sampling, the Contractor must furnish the USDA Inspector with a 

list of codes and the approximate number of cases per code.

Contractors are encouraged to submit requests for inspection in writing with verifiable receipt 

notice, such as fax log, to alleviate possible mis-communication.

FAILURE TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS

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

for delivery. If any lot of frozen concentrated fruit juice 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 contract price less a 

discount, to be determined by the Contracting Officer.
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 7 of 10

EXHIBITS

Exhibit 1

Degrees 

Brix or 

% by

Weight 

Sucrose

Apparent 

Specific 

Gravity 

20°/20°C

Weight 

(g) per

Liter in

Air 20°C

Grams of 

Sucrose 

Per Liter

in Air

Weight (lbs)

per

U.S. Gallon in 

Air at 20°C.

Pounds of 

Sucrose

per Gallon

in Air

60.0 1.28908 1285.4 771.27 10.727 6.436

.1 .28966 1286.0 772.90 .732 .450

.2 .29025 1286.6 774.54 .737 .464

.3 .29084 1287.2 776.18 .742 .477

.4 .29143 1287.8 777.82 .747 .491

.5 .29203 1288.4 779.47 .752 .505

.6 .29262 1289.0 781.12 .757 .519

.7 .29321 1289.6 782.77 .762 .533

.8 .29380 1290.2 784.41 .767 .546

.9 .29439 1290.8 786.06 .772 .560

61.0 1.29498 1291.3 787.71 10.777 6.574

.1 .29559 1291.9 789.37 .781 .587

.2 .29618 1292.5 791.02 .786 .601

.3 .29677 1293.1 792.68 .791 .615

.4 .29736 1293.7 794.33 .796 .629

.5 .29796 1294.3 795.99 .801 .643

.6 .29855 1294.9 797.65 .806 .656

.7 .29915 1295.5 799.21 .811 .670

.8 .29975 1296.1 800.97 .816 .684

.9 .30034 1296.7 802.64 .821 .698

62.0 1.30093 1297.3 804.31 10.826 6.712

.1 .30153 1297.9 805.97 .831 .726

.2 .30212 1298.5 807.64 .836 .740

.3 .30273 1299.1 809.31 .841 .754

.4 .30334 1299.7 810.99 .846 .768

.5 .30393 1300.3 812.66 .851 .782

.6 .30453 1300.9 814.34 .856 .796

.7 .30513 1301.5 816.01 .861 .810

.8 .30573 1302.1 817.69 .866 .824

.9 .30633 1302.7 819.37 .871 .838
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 8 of 10

63.0 1.30694 1303.3 821.05 10.876 6.852

.1 .30754 1303.9 822.73 .881 .866

.2 .30815 1304.5 824.42 .886 .880

.3 .30875 1305.1 826.10 .891 .894

.4 .30936 1305.7 827.79 .896 .908

.5 .30994 1306.3 829.47 .901 .922

.6 .31055 1306.9 831.16 .906 .936

.7 .31117 1307.5 832.85 .911 .950

.8 .31117 1308.1 834.55 .916 .964

.9 .31237 1308.7 836.24 .921 .979

64.0 1.31297 1309.3 837.93 10.926 6.993

.1 .31359 1309.9 839.83 .931 7.007

.2 .31418 1310.5 841.33 .936 7.021

.3 .31479 1311.1 843.03 .941 7.035

.4 .31540 1311.7 844.73 .946 7.049

.5 .31600 1312.3 846.43 .951 7.063

.6 .31661 1312.9 848.13 .956 7.078

.7 .31723 1313.5 849.84 .961 7.092

.8 .31784 1314.1 851.55 .967 7.107

.9 .31845 1314.7 853.26 .972 7.121

65.0 1.31905 1315.3 854.96 10.977 7.135

.1 .31966 1315.9 856.68 .982 .149

.2 .32028 1316.5 858.39 .987 .164

.3 .32089 1317.1 869.11 .992 .178

.4 .32150 1317.8 861.82 .997 .192

.5 .32210 1318.4 863.54 11.002 .206

.6 .32271 1319.0 865.25 11.007 .210

.7 .32332 1319.6 866.97 11.012 .235

.8 .32393 1320.2 868.69 11.017 .249

.9 .32455 1320.8 870.42 11.022 .263

66.0 1.32516 1321.4 872.14 11.027 7.278

.1 .32577 1322.0 873.86 .033 .293

.2 .32638 1322.6 875.58 .038 .307

.3 .32699 1323.3 877.31 .043 .322

.4 .32759 1323.9 879.03 .048 .336

.5 .32820 1324.5 880.77 .053 .350

.6 .32884 1325.1 882.50 .058 .365

.7 .32945 1325.7 884.24 .063 .379

.8 .33007 1326.3 885.98 .068 .393

.9 .33068 1326.9 887.71 .073 .408
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 9 of 10

67.0 1.33129 1327.6 889.44 11.079 7.423

.1 .33192 1328.2 891.19 .084 .437

.2 .33254 1328.8 892.94 .089 .452

.3 .33315 1329.4 894.68 .094 .466

.4 .33377 1330.0 896.42 .099 .481

.5 .33438 1330.6 898.17 .104 .495

.6 .33500 1331.3 899.92 .110 .510

.7 .33562 1331.9 901.67 .115 .525

.8 .33625 1332.5 903.43 .120 .539

.9 .33686 1333.1 905.18 .125 .554

68.0 1.33748 1333.7 906.93 11.130 7.568

.1 .33810 1334.3 908.68 .135 .583

.2 .33872 1335.0 910.44 .140 .597

.3 .33935 1335.6 912.20 .146 .613

.4 .33997 1336.2 913.96 .151 .627

.5 .34059 1336.8 915.72 .156 .642

.6 .34121 1337.4 917.48 .161 .656

.7 .34183 1338.1 919.24 .166 .671

.8 .34245 1338.7 921.01 .172 .686

.9 .34309 1339.3 922.78 .177 .701

69.0 1.34371 1339.9 924.55 11.182 7.716

.1 .34433 1340.6 926.32 .187 .730

.2 .34495 1341.2 928.09 .192 .756

.3 .34558 1341.8 929.86 .198 .760

.4 .34621 1342.4 931.64 .203 .775

.5 .34684 1343.1 933.41 .208 .790

.6 .34746 1343.7 935.19 .213 .804

.7 .34809 1344.3 936.97 .218 .819

.8 .34871 1344.9 938.75 .224 .834

.9 .34934 1345.5 940.53 .229 .849

R = 95%
Commodity Specification Concentrated Fruit Juices for Manufacturing

Effective Date: April 2019 Page 10 of 10

Exhibit 2 – Symbols for Kosher Products