Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

Specialty

Crops

Program

Specialty

Crops

Inspection

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of 

Greenhouse Leaf 

Lettuce

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Leaf Lettuce

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

September 1, 1964.

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 Greenhouse Leaf Lettuce (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Leaf Lettuce

Section Page No.

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

§51.3455 U.S. Fancy................................................................................................... 2

§51.3456 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.3457 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 2

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 2

§51.3458 Tolerances................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.3459 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 2

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

§51.3460 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 3

§51.3461 Well grown................................................................................................... 3

§51.3462 Well trimmed................................................................................................ 3

§51.3463 Fairly well trimmed....................................................................................... 3

§51.3464 Injury............................................................................................................ 3

§51.3465 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.3466 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 3
United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Leaf Lettuce (September 6, 2016)

2

Grades

§51.3455 U.S. Fancy.

“U.S. Fancy” consists of plants of leaf lettuce of similar varietal characteristics which 

are well grown, well trimmed and free from decay and which are free from injury caused 

by coarse stems, bleached or discolored leaves, sprayburn, dirt, wilting, freezing, 

disease, insects, or other means.

§51.3456 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of plants of leaf lettuce of similar varietal characteristics which are 

well grown, fairly well trimmed and free from decay and which are free from damage 

caused by coarse stems, bleached or discolored leaves, sprayburn, dirt, wilting, 

freezing, disease, insects, or other means.

Reserved

§51.3457 Reserved.

Tolerances

§51.3458 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following 

tolerances by count, shall be permitted in any lot:

(a) U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 1 grades. 10 percent for plants of leaf lettuce which 

fail to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That included in this 

amount not more than 5 percent shall be allowed for defects causing serious 

damage, including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for plants 

affected by decay.

Application of Tolerances

§51.3459 Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual packages 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 for the grade:

(a) For packages which contain more than 15 plants, and a tolerance of 10 percent 

or more is provided, individual packages in any lot shall have not more than one 

and one-half times the tolerance specified.

(b) For packages which contain more than 15 plants and a tolerance of less than 10 

percent is provided, and for packages which contain 15 plants or less, individual 

packages in any lot shall have not more than double the tolerance specified, 

except that at least 1 defective plant may be permitted in any package.
United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Leaf Lettuce (September 6, 2016)

3

Definitions

§51.3460 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the plants in any container are of the 

same general type.

§51.3461 Well grown.

“Well grown” means that the plant is not stunted or poorly developed.

§51.3462 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed” means that the stem is trimmed off to within three-fourths inch of the 

point of attachment of the first whorl of leaves and that leaves which are more than 

slightly bleached or discolored have been removed.

§51.3463 Fairly well trimmed.

“Fairly well trimmed” means that the stem is trimmed off to within three-fourths inch of 

the point of attachment of the first whorl of leaves and that leaves which are materially 

bleached or discolored have been removed.

§51.3464 Injury.

“Injury” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally objectionable 

variation of this defect, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which noticeably 

detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the lettuce. The 

following specific defect shall be considered as injury:

(a) Stems when more than 2-1/2 inches in length, measured from the end of the butt 

to the point of attachment of the last whorl of leaves.

§51.3465 Damage.

“Damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally 

objectionable variation of this defect, any other defect, or any combination of defects, 

which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the 

lettuce. The following specific defect shall be considered as damage:

(a) Stems when more than 3-1/2 inches in length, measured from the end of the butt 

to the point of attachment of the last whorl of leaves.

§51.3466 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously 

detracts from the appearance or the edible or shipping quality of the lettuce.