THE VISUAL AIDS ON THE FOLLOWING 

PAGES ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY AND 

NOT INTENDED FOR OFFICIAL USE.

TO PURCHASE OFFICIAL VISUAL AIDS PLEASE CONTACT 

THE SPECIALTY CROPS INSPECTION DIVISION’S 

EQUIPMENT AND FORMS DEPOT 

USDA, AMS, FVP, SCI

831 MITTEN ROAD, ROOM 200

BURLINGAME, CA 94010

PHONE: 650-552-9073

FAX: 650-552-9147

EQUIPMENT CATALOG
ROUND TYPE FILBERTS

LONG TYPE FILBERTS

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY FIL-1-IDENT

OCT 1983
FILBERT KERNELS AFFECTED BY DECAY

DECAY OF FILBERTS

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY FIL-2-IDENT

FEBRUARY 1990 (Previously Nov. 1980)
FILBERT KERNELS AFFECTED BY MOLD

MOLD OF FILBERTS

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY FIL-3-IDENT

FEBRUARY 1990 (Previously Nov. 1980)
SPLIT SHELLS ON FILBERTS

Left: U.S. No. 1 – Crack neither open nor conscicuous.

Center: Lower Limit – U.S. No. 1 -- Crack open but conspicuous portion less than one-fourth of 

circumference of shell.

Right: Not U.S. No. 1 – Crack open and conspicuous.

FIL-CP-1

SPLIT SHELLS ON FILBERTS

APRIL 1991 (Previously January 1969)
FILBERTS (SHRIVELED KERNELS)

*Not Damaged: Kernels may be slightly shrunken, wrinkled or indented. Flesh 

texture is firm and crisp. Kernel on right is considered maximum amount of 

slight wrinkling for not damaged.

*Damage: Kernel is materially shrunken, wrinkled, leathery or tough. A few 

wrinkles may extend deep into kernel.

Serious Damage: Kernel is very severely shrunken, wrinkled or indented. 

Wrinkles or indentations extending deeply into the kernel are very pronounced. 

Flesh is very tough and leathery. There is very little flesh in relation to the size 

of the kernel as a whole. [FOR USE WHEN APPLYING THE OREGON 

STANDARDS FOR FILBERT (HAZELNUT) KERNELS TO IMPORTED AND 

DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED KERNELS]

*No shriveling on opposite side.

This visual aid was developed in cooperation with Oregon Dept. of Agriculture.

FIL-CP-3

SHRIVELING

MARCH 1993
FILBERT DISCOLORATION CHARACTERISTIC OF RANCIDITY

“Noticeably rancid to the taste” means that a portion of the kernel has a distinctly offensive or objectionable taste. It may or 

may not have an offensive odor. If any portion of a filbert kernel is rancid, the whole kernel is classed as rancid. The final 

determination for rancidity is taste, however, rancid kernels also have visible characteristics which indicate that a nut is 

rancid. Normally, kernels that are affected by dark brown or yellow-orange discoloration which extends into the flesh are 

rancid to the taste.

USDA graders are instructed to determine rancidity by taste. However, once graders have established that kernels in a lot 

which are affected by this type of discoloration are noticeably rancid to the taste, they are not required to taste each affected 

kernel in the lot to classify it as rancid.

RANCIDITY OF FILBERTS

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY FIL-4-IDENT

FEBRUARY 1990 (Previously Nov. 1980)
GREENISH-TAN DISCOLORATION AND/OR RIDGING OF FILBERT SHELLS

This defect shall be considered on the basis of appearance – whether it materially detracts from the appearance or marketing 

quality of the individual filbert. The exact cause of the disorder is not known. It may result from sunburn or it may be 

physiological in nature. The disorder was first noted in the 1969 crop and recurred in the ’72 and ’74 crop. The condition may 

occur as greenish-tan discolroation, or as ridges and grooves, or as a combination of both. Therefore, this disorder shall be 

described on the certificate. See “examples” other side.

LOWER LIMIT U.S. NO. 1 LOWER LIMIT U.S. NO. 1

These photographs illustrate the maximum extent of the individual nut may be affected and still grade U.S. 

No. 1 (Assume other side is free from).

FIL-CP-2

DISCOLORATION-RIDGING OF SHELLS

MARCH 1984
GREENISH-TAN DISCOLORATION AND/OR RIDGING OF FILBERT SHELLS

LOWER LIMIT U.S. NO. 1 LOWER LIMIT U.S. NO. 1

These photographs illustrate the maximum extent the appearance of the individual nut may be affected and 

still grade U.S. No. 1 (Assume other side is free from).

EXAMPLES OF CERTIFICATE STATEMENT UNDER “QUALITY AND CONDITION.”

1. 6% damage by greenish-tan discoloration of shells.

2. 6% damage by ridging of shells.

3. 6% damage by greenish-tan discoloration and/or ridging of shells.

FIL-CP-2

DISCOLORATION-RIDGING OF SHELLS

MARCH 1984
LOWER LIMIT U.S. NO. 1 LOWER LIMIT U.S. NO. 1

These photographs illustrate the maximum extent the appearance of the individual nut may be affected and 

still grade U.S. No. 1 (Assume other side is free from).

FIL-CP-2-A

DISCOLORATION-RIDGING OF SHELLS

APRIL 1991 (Previously March 1984)
FILBERTS (SHAPE)

NOT DAMAGED: Not badly misshapen.

DAMAGE: “Badly Misshapen” means that the kernel is so malformed that the 

appearance is materially affected.

This visual aid was developed in cooperation with Oregon Dept. of Agriculture.

FIL-CP-4

SHAPE

MARCH 1993