United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Processed

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Dried Pears

Effective date May 24, 1967
This is the second issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of Dried

Pears published in the FEDERAL REGISTER of May 24, 1967 (32 FR 7575) to become

effective May 24, 1967. This issue supersedes the second issue, which has been in effect

since June 30, 1945.

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 processed fruits and vegetables, 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 standards also serve as a basis for the inspection and grading of commodities by the

Federal inspection service, the only activity authorized to approve the designation of U.S.

grades as referenced in the standards, as provided under the Agricultural Marketing Act

of 1946. This service, available as on-line (in-plant) or lot inspection and grading of all

processed fruit and vegetable products, is offered to interested parties, upon application,

on a fee-for-service basis. The verification of some specific recommendations,

requirements, or tolerances contained in the standards can be accomplished only by the

use of on-line inspection procedures. In all instances, a grade can by assigned based on

final product factors or characteristics.

In addition to the U.S. grade standards, grading manuals or instructions for inspection of

several processed fruits and vegetables are available upon request for a nominal

fee. These manuals or instructions contain detailed interpretations of the grade standards

and provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the Department after careful consideration of all data and

views submitted, and the Department welcomes suggestions which might aid in improving

the standards in future revisions. Comments may be submitted to, and copies of standards

and grading manuals obtained from:

Chief, Processed Products Branch

Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS

U.S. Department of Agriculture

P.O. Box 96456, Rm. 0709, So. Bldg.

Washington, D.C. 20090-6456
United States Standards for Grades of Dried Pears

Section Page No.

§52.5841 Product description. ........................................ 3

§52.5842 Moisture. ................................................ 3

§52.5843 Sizes of dried pears. ....................................... 3

§52.5844 U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy. ................................. 4

§52.5845 U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice. ................................. 4

§52.5846 U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard. ............................... 5

§52.5847 U.S. Grade D or Substandard. ................................ 5

§52.5848 Explanation of terms. ....................................... 5

§52.5849 Worksheet and summary of requirements for dried pears. ........... 8

Authority: Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, Secs. 203, 205, 60 stat. 1087, as

amended, 1090, as amended (U.S.C. 1622, 1624).

......................................................................

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.
3

§52.5841 Product description. 

Dried pears are the halved fruit of the pear tree (Pyrus communis) which may or may not

be cored, from which the external stems and calyx cups have been removed, and from

which the greater portion of the moisture has been removed. Before packing, the dried

fruit is processed to cleanse the fruit and may be sulfured sufficiently to retain a

characteristic color. 

§52.5842 Moisture. 

Federal inspection certificates shall indicate the moisture content of the finished product

which shall be not more than 26 percent by weight.

§52.5843 Sizes of dried pears. 

(a) Federal inspection certificates shall indicate the size or combination of sizes

of halved pears found upon examination.

(b) The various sizes of dried pears are as follows: 

No. 1 Size (Jumbo Size) 1-7/8 inches or more in width.

No. 2 Size (Extra Large Size) 1-3/4 inches to 1-7/8 inches in width.

No. 3 Size (Large Size) 1-1/2 inches to 1-3/4 inches in width.

No. 4 Size (Medium Size) 1-3/8 inches to 1-1/2 inches in width.

No. 5 Size (Small Size) 1-1/8 inches to 1-3/8 inches in width.

No. 6 Size (Extra Small) Less than 1-1/8 inches in width.

(1) Widthmeans the longest measurement obtainable, measured at right

angles to a line running from the stem end to the calyx end.

(2) In determining compliance with size requirements listed above, dried

pears will be considered as of one size if not more than 10 percent by

weight of halves vary from the size range. 
4

§52.5844 U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy. 

(a) U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy dried pears possess similar varietal

characteristics; possess a practically uniform, bright typical color

characteristic of well-matured pears; and are well shaped. No more than 5

percent by weight of the fruit may be of a color described in U.S. Grade B or

U.S. Choice: and none of the fruit may be of a color described in U.S. Grade

C or U.S. Standard.

(b) Not more than a total tolerance of 10 percent by weight may be slabs,

immature, or scraps; may be affected by russet or similar discoloration; may

be damaged by discoloration, sunburn, hailmarks, limb-rubs hard end, black

end, external stems and calyx cups, scab, disease, insect injury, or other

similar defects; or may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live

insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: Provided,

that not more than two-fifths of the total tolerance, or 4 percent by weight

may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are

permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided,

that not more than one-tenth of the total tolerance, or 1 percent by weight,

may be affected by decay.

§52.5845 U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice.

 

 (a) U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice dried pears possess similar varietal

characteristics; possess a reasonably uniform, bright typical color,

characteristic of reasonably well-matured pears; and are reasonably well

shaped. Not more than 10 percent by weight of the fruit may be of a color

described in U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard.

 (b) Not more than a total tolerance of 15 percent by weight may be slabs,

immature, or scraps; may be affected by russet or similar discoloration; may

be damaged by discoloration, sunburn, hailmarks, limb-rub, hard end, black

end,external stems and calyx cups, scabs, disease, insect injury, or other

similar defects; or may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live

insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: Provided,

that not more than one-third of the total tolerance, or 5 percent by weight,

may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are

permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided,

that not more than one-fifteenth of the total tolerance or 1 percent by weight,

may be affected by decay.
5

§52.5846 U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard.

 (a) U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard dried pears possess similar varietal

characteristics; possess a fairly uniform color; characteristic of fairly wellmatured pears; and are fairly well shaped.

 (b) Not more than a total tolerance of 20 percent by weight may be slabs,

immature, or scraps; may be affected by russet or similar discoloration, may

be damaged by discoloration, sunburn, hailmarks, limb-rubs, hard end, black

end, external stems and calyx cups, scab, disease, insect infestation (no live

insects are permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: Provided,

that not more than one-fourth of the total tolerance, or 5 percent by weight

may be affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are

permitted), imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided,

that not more than one-tenth of the total tolerance, or 2 percent by weight,

may be affected by decay.

§52.5847 U.S. Grade D or Substandard.

U.S. Grade D or Substandard dried pears are wholesome and edible fruit

that fails to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard:

Provided, that not more than 5 percent by weight of the total fruit may be

affected by mold, decay, insect infestation (no live insects are permitted),

imbedded dirt, or other foreign material: And further provided, that not

more than 2 percent by weight of the total fruit may be affected by decay.

§52.5848 Explanation of terms. 

(a) Color. 

(1) Practically uniform, bright typical color means that the halves are

bright and translucent, and not darker than pear yellow in color.

(2) Reasonably uniform, bright typical color means that the halves are

reasonably bright and reasonably translucent, and not darker than

pear yellow in color.

(3) Fairly uniform typical color means that the halves are fairly bright

and fairly translucent and are of any normal color not darker than dark

amber.

(b) Damage or other defects. 
6

(1) Affected by russet or similar discoloration means reddish brown

discoloration caused by sunlight when the area so affected is

conspicuous. Russet or other similar skin discoloration is not

considered damaged by discoloration. 

(2) Damage by discoloration means.

(i) Skin discoloration caused by sunburn limb-rubs, hailmarks, or

other means which when light brown in color, exceed in the

aggregate one-eighth of the surface and which, when dark

brown or darker, or hard, tough and leathery, exceed in the

aggregate an area equivalent to one-sixteenth of the outer

surface side of the unit. 

(ii) Flesh discoloration caused by bruising, drought spot, or other

means which are materially darker or lighter than the normal

color of the half and which exceed in the aggregate an area

equivalent to one-sixteenth of the outer surface side of the unit.

(iii) Darkening of otherwise sound fruit characteristic of fruit held in

storage, in keeping with good commercial practice, shall not be

considered as damaged by discoloration unless excessively

darkened.

(3) Damaged by hard end or black end means the light colored areas

at the calyx end of the fruit or similar damage which exceed in the

aggregate an area equivalent to one-eighth of the outer surface.

(4) Damaged by other similar defects means any injury or defect or

group of defects not mentioned herein which materially affect the

appearance, edibility, or keeping quality of the fruit.

(5) Damaged by insect injury means healed or unhealed surface

blemishes, and healed or unhealed blemishes in the flesh which

materially affect the appearance, edibility, or keeping quality of the

fruit but which do not possess evidence of insect infestation.

(6) Affected by insect infestation means that the dried pears show the

presence of insects, insect fragments, or excreta. No live insects are

permitted.

(7) Affected by imbedded dirt means the units have sufficient quantities

of adhering dirt to give the fruit a dirty, smudgy appearance and dirt

which may not be removed readily in washing the fruit.
7

(c) Maturity.

(1) Well-matured means that the pears are fully ripe.

(2) Reasonably well-matured means that the pears are firm and may not

have not reach the fully ripe stage.

(3) Fairly well-matured means that the pears may be hard but not

immature.

(4) Immature means that the pears possess a grayish white or dead

white color indicative of immature fruit.

(d) Shape.

(1) Well shaped means that the pears have been cut longitudinally into

approximately equal halves, and that the halves are practically whole

and symmetrical.

(2) Reasonably well shaped means that the pears have been cut

longitudinally into approximate equal halves, and that the halves may

tend to be oval in shape but are not so irregular as to be misshapen.

(3) Fairly well shaped means that the pears have been cut longitudinally

into approximately equal halves and that any portion of a half is not

less than two-thirds of the apparent original half.

(e) Slabs are pears that have been mashed or mutilated to the extent that they

have lost their normal contour and have become definitely flattened at the

edge or rim. A half that has a slightly torn edge is not considered a slab.

(f) Scraps means any portion of a half that is less than two-thirds of the

apparent original half.
8

§52.5849 Worksheet and summary of requirements for dried pears.

Size of case or package ................................................

Markings ............................................................

Label or brand .......................................................

Net weight ...........................................................

Size or sizes .........................................................

Moisture content ......................................................

A B C D

Color Minimum Requirements

Grade A color ..........................

Grade B color ..........................

Grade C color ..........................

95%

5% 90%

10% 100%

Defects Maximum tolerance

Total defects ...........................

Slabs, immature, or scraps; affected by russet 

or similar discoloration; damaged by

discoloration; sunburn, hailmarks, limb-rub, 10% 15% 20%

hard end, black end, external stems, calyx

cups, scab, disease, insect injury, or other

similar defects; and

10% 15% 20%

But not more than

Affected by mold, decay, insect infestation,

imbedded dirt, or other foreign material ...... 4% 5% 5% 5%

But not more than

Decay ................................ 1% 1% 2% 2%

Grade ..............................................................

Dated: May 16, 1967

G.R. Grange,

Deputy Administrator,

Marketing Services.

Published in the Federal Register of May 24, 1967 (32 F.R. 7575)