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United States Standards

for Grades of 

Cauliflower

Effective June 26, 2017
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (82 FR 24095) 

supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since March 15, 1968.

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, DC 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 Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower

Section Page No.

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

§51.540 U.S. No. 1. ...................................................................................................... 2

§51.541 U.S. Commercial............................................................................................. 3

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

§51.542 Reserved. ....................................................................................................... 3

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 3

§51.543 Tolerances. ..................................................................................................... 3

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 4

§51.544 Application of tolerances................................................................................. 4

Standard Sizing ............................................................................................................. 4

§51.545 Standard sizing. .............................................................................................. 4

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 4

§51.546 Clean. ............................................................................................................. 4

§51.547 Compact. ........................................................................................................ 4

§51.548 Diameter. ........................................................................................................ 4

§51.549 Fresh............................................................................................................... 4

§51.550 Closely trimmed. ............................................................................................. 4

§51.551 Fairly clean. .................................................................................................... 5

§51.552 Curd................................................................................................................ 5

§51.553 Soft or wet decay. ........................................................................................... 5

§51.554 Damage. ......................................................................................................... 5

§51.555 Serious damage.............................................................................................. 6

Marking Requirements.................................................................................................. 6

§51.556 Marking requirements. .................................................................................... 6

Metric Conversion Table............................................................................................... 7

§51.557 Metric conversion table................................................................................... 7
United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

2

Grades

§51.540 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of heads of cauliflower which meet the following requirements:

(a) Basic requirements for curds:

(1) Clean;

(2) Compact;

(3) Color -- white, creamy white, or cream, unless otherwise specified;

(4) Size -- not less than 4 inches in diameter, unless marked to a maximum 

diameter of less than 4 inches. Cauliflower curds marked less than four 

inches may not be comingled with cauliflower curds packed to be 4 inches 

and larger. For marking requirements see §51.556.

(b) Basic requirements for jacket leaves:

(1) Fresh;

(2) Closely trimmed, unless otherwise specified;

(3) Fairly clean.

(c) Free from:

(1) Soft or wet decay.

(d) Free from damage caused by:

(1) Bruising;

(2) Cuts;

(3) Discoloration;

(4) Enlarged bracts;

(5) Fuzziness;

(6) Hollow stem;

(7) Insects;
United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

3

(8) Mold;

(9) Riciness;

(10) Wilting; and

(11) Other means.

(e) Free from serious damage by any cause.

(f) For tolerances (see §51.543).

§51.541 U.S. Commercial.

“U.S. Commercial” consists of heads of cauliflower which meet the requirements for 

the U.S. No. 1 grade except for the increased tolerances for defects specified in 

§51.543.

Reserved

§51.542 Reserved.

Tolerances

§51.543 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the 

foregoing grades, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified:

(a) Defects

(1) U.S. No. 1. 10 percent for heads of cauliflower in any lot which fail to

meet the requirements of the grade, but not more than one-half of this 

tolerance, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious 

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

wet decay affecting the curd or butt. (See §51.544.)

(2) U.S. Commercial. 20 percent for heads of cauliflower in any lot which fail 

to meet the requirements of the grade, but not more than one-half of this 

tolerance, or 10 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious 

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

wet decay affecting the curd or butt. (See §51.544.)

(b) For off-size. 5 percent for heads of cauliflower smaller than the specified 

minimum curd size and 5 percent for heads of cauliflower larger than any 

specified maximum curd size. (See §51.544.)
United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

4

Application of Tolerances

§51.544 Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject 

to the following limitations:

(a) A package may contain not more than double any specified tolerance except that 

at least two defective and two off-size specimens may be permitted in any 

package: Provided, That not more than one specimen which is affected by soft 

or wet decay occurring on the curd or butt portion of the head may be permitted 

in any package: And provided further, That the averages for the lot are within the 

tolerances specified for the grade.

Standard Sizing

§51.545 Standard sizing.

(a) Any lot of cauliflower may be designated as meeting the requirements for 

standard sizing provided the variation in diameter of the curd in any individual 

package is not more than 1-1/2 inches.

(b) In order to allow for variations incident to proper packing not more than 10 

percent of the containers in any lot may fail to meet the requirements for 

standard sizing.

Definitions

§51.546 Clean.

“Clean” means that the curd is practically free from dirt or other foreign matter.

§51.547 Compact.

“Compact” means that the flower clusters are closely united and the curd is solid.

§51.548 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension measured in a straight line which would 

pass through the center of the curd.

§51.549 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the jacket leaves are of normal color and are not wilted.

§51.550 Closely trimmed.

“Closely trimmed” means that the butts are smoothly trimmed and jacket leaves do 

not exceed the number and length necessary for protection against bruising, and do not 
United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

5

extend above the crown of the curd. No jacket leaves are required on heads which are 

individually wrapped, or packed with cushions, partitions or other protective means.

§51.551 Fairly clean.

“Fairly clean” means the jacket leaves are not caked or badly smeared with dirt or 

other foreign matter.

§51.552 Curd.

“Curd” means the edible portion of the head exclusive of the butt and any attached 

jacket leaves.

§51.553 Soft or wet decay.

“Soft or wet decay” means any soft or mushy breakdown of the curd, butt, or leaves.

§51.554 Damage.

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

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination 

of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing 

quality of the cauliflower. The following specific defects shall be considered as damage:

(a) Bruising when the size or color of the affected area materially detracts from the

appearance or marketing quality, or when more than a small portion of the curd 

has broken off;

(b) Cuts when materially detracting from the appearance or marketing quality, or 

when any cut exposes the flower stem;

(c) Discoloration when yellow or other abnormal color materially detracts from the 

appearance of the curd, or of the jacket leaves of closely trimmed cauliflower, or 

seriously detracts from the appearance of the jacket leaves of cauliflower not 

closely trimmed;

(d) Enlarged bracts when leaves growing up through and extending above the curd 

materially detract from the appearance of the head;

(e) Fuzziness when more than one-third of the curd surface has a distinct fuzzy 

appearance;

(f) Hollow stem when the opening extends into the curd, or when the opening is 

more than slightly discolored or watersoaked;

(g) Insects when any feeding injury on the curd is evident, or when the curd is more 
United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

6

than slightly infested or the jacket leaves are more than moderately infested with 

aphids or other insects;

(h) Mold when the aggregate area of all spots exceeds that of a circle three-eighths 

inch in diameter, or when the area of any individual spot exceeds that of a circle 

one-eighth inch in diameter. Mold which causes disintegration of the curd is 

considered soft decay; and,

(i) Riciness when causing the surface of the curd to be abnormally rough or 

granular.

§51.555 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any specific defect described in this section, any other 

defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance, or 

the edible or marketing quality of the cauliflower. The following specific defects shall be 

considered as serious damage:

(a) Insects when the curd is more than slightly infested or the jacket leaves badly 

infested with aphids or other insects, or when insect feeding injury seriously 

detracts from the appearance of the head;

(b) Soft or wet decay affecting any portion of the head.

Marking Requirements

§51.556 Marking requirements.

When the product is packed to be less than 4 inches in maximum diameter, 90 percent

or more of the master containers shall be plainly stamped, printed, labeled, or otherwise 

marked with the maximum diameter. The term “maximum,” or its recognized 

abbreviation, when following a diameter size marking, means that the heads are of the 

size marked or smaller.
United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower (June 26, 2017)

7

Metric Conversion Table

§51.557 Metric conversion table.

Inches Millimeters (mm)

1/3 =

1/4=

1/2=

3/4=

1=

1-1/2=

2=

3=

4=

5=

6=

7=

8=

9=

3.2

6.4

12.7

19.1

25.4

38.1

50.8

76.2

101.6

127.0

152.4

177.8

203.2

228.6