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United States Standards

for Grades of

Blueberries for 

Processing

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Blueberries for Processing 

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

August 5, 1950.

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 Blueberries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Blueberries for Processing

Section Page No.

General........................................................................................................................... 2

§51.2025 General........................................................................................................ 2

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

§51.2026 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.2027 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 2

§51.2028 U.S. No. 3.................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 3

§51.2029 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 3

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

§51.2030 Other kinds of berries. ................................................................................. 3

§51.2031 Clusters. ...................................................................................................... 3

§51.2032 Large stems................................................................................................. 3

§51.2033 Other foreign material.................................................................................. 3

§51.2034 Distinctly immature berries. ......................................................................... 3

§51.2035 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.2036 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 4

§51.2037 Very serious damage caused by shriveling. ................................................ 4
United States Standards for Grades of Blueberries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

2

General

§51.2025 General.

These standards apply to species of the genus Vaccinium which contain numerous 

small seeds that are barely noticeable and not to the true huckleberries of the genus 

Gaylussacia which contain 10 large seeds with bony coverings.

Grades

§51.2026 U.S. No. 1.

U.S. No. 1 shall consist of blueberries which internally are free from worms, and are 

free from other kinds of berries, clusters, large stems, leaves and other foreign material, 

distinctly immature berries, and free from damage caused by visible mold and decay, 

shriveling, dirt, overmaturity, or other means.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, the following 

tolerances shall be permitted for grade defects in a half-pint cup sample:

(b) Not more than a total of 5 leaves and other foreign material, not more than a total 

of 20 distinctly immature berries, clusters and large stems, and not more than 3 

berries other than blueberries. No tolerance shall be allowed for large pieces of 

foreign material.

§51.2027 U.S. No. 2.

U.S. No. 2 shall consist of blueberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

grade except that the blueberries shall be free from serious damage caused by 

shriveling, overmaturity, and except for the increased tolerances specified in this 

section.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, the following 

tolerances shall be permitted for grade defects in a half-pint cup sample:

(1) Not more than a total of 15 leaves and other foreign material, not more 

than a total of 40 distinctly immature berries, clusters, and large stems, 

and not more than 5 berries other than blueberries. No tolerance shall be 

allowed for large pieces of foreign material.

§51.2028 U.S. No. 3.

U.S. No. 3 shall consist of blueberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

grade except that the blueberries shall be free from serious damage caused by 

overmaturity and from very serious damage caused by shriveling and except for the 

increased tolerances specified in this section.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, the following 
United States Standards for Grades of Blueberries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

3

tolerances shall be permitted for grade defects in a half-pint cup sample:

(1) Not more than a total of 20 leaves and other foreign material, not more 

than a total of 70 distinctly immature berries, clusters and large stems, and 

not more than 12 berries other than blueberries. No tolerance shall be 

allowed for large pieces of foreign material.

Reserved

§51.2029 Reserved.

Definitions

§51.2030 Other kinds of berries.

“Other kinds of berries” means bunchberries, cranberries, or any other berries not of 

the genus Vaccinium.

§51.2031 Clusters.

“Clusters” means three of more capstems, with or without berries, attached to a main 

stem. Capstems are those small stems by means of which the individual berry is 

attached to the main stem.

§51.2032 Large stems.

“Large stems” means stems other than capstems which are over 1/4 inch in length.

§51.2033 Other foreign material.

“Other foreign material” means sticks, stones, moss or other extraneous material 

except dirt and leaves.

§51.2034 Distinctly immature berries.

“Distinctly immature berries” means that the berries are green, or whitish due to 

immaturity.

§51.2035 Damage.

“Damage” means any injury or defect which materially affects the appearance, or the 

processing quality of the blueberries. The following shall be considered as damage:

(a) Shriveling, when more than one-fourth of the blueberries in any lot, by volume, 

are badly wilted, withered or shriveled.

(b) Dirt, when it cannot be removed from the blueberries in the ordinary washing 

process.
United States Standards for Grades of Blueberries for Processing (September 6, 2016)

4

(c) Overmaturity, when the appearance and processing quality of the lot of 

blueberries is materially affected by berries which have a dull appearance and 

are sticky from leaking berries.

§51.2036 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any injury or defect which seriously affects the appearance, 

or the processing quality of the blueberries. The following shall be considered as 

serious damage:

(a) Shriveling, when more than one-third of the blueberries in any lot, by volume, 

are badly wilted, withered or shriveled.

(b) Overmaturity, when the appearance and processing quality of the lot of 

blueberries is seriously affected by blueberries which have a dull appearance 

and are sticky from leaking berries.

§51.2037 Very serious damage caused by shriveling.

“Very serious damage caused by shriveling” means that more than one-half of the 

blueberries in any lot, by volume, are badly wilted, withered or shriveled.