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United States Standards

for Grades of Endive, 

Escarole or Chicory

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Endive, Escarole or Chicory 

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

October 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 Endive, Escarole or Chicory

(September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Endive, Escarole or Chicory

Section Page No.

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

§51.3535 General........................................................................................................ 2

Grade.............................................................................................................................. 2

§51.3536 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.3537 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.3538 Tolerances................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.3539 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 2

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 2

§51.3540 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 2

§51.3541 Fresh. .......................................................................................................... 3

§51.3542 Well trimmed................................................................................................ 3

§51.3543 Fairly well blanched. .................................................................................... 3

§51.3544 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.3545 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 3
United States Standards for Grades of Endive, Escarole or Chicory

(September 6, 2016)

2

General

§51.3535 General.

These standards do not apply to French Endive or Chicory marketed for its roots.

Grade

§51.3536 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of plants of endive, escarole or chicory of similar varietal 

characteristics which are fresh, well trimmed and fairly well blanched, and which are 

free from decay and free from damage caused by seedstems, broken, bruised, spotted, 

or discolored leaves, wilting, dirt, disease, insects or other means.

Reserved

§51.3537 Reserved.

Tolerances

§51.3538 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) 10 percent for plants of endive, escarole or chicory 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 2 percent for plants affected by decay.

Application of Tolerances

§51.3539 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 a tolerance of 10 percent individual packages may contain not more than one 

and one-half times the specified tolerance, and for a tolerance of less than 10 

percent individual packages may contain not more than double the specified 

tolerance, except that at least one defective plant may be permitted in any 

package.

Definitions

§51.3540 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the plants in any package are of the 
United States Standards for Grades of Endive, Escarole or Chicory

(September 6, 2016)

3

same type such as curly-leaved endive or broad-leaved escarole.

§51.3541 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the plant as a whole has normal succulence and the outermost 

leaves are not more than slightly wilted.

§51.3542 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed” means that the roots are neatly cut near the point of attachment of the 

outer leaf stems.

§51.3543 Fairly well blanched.

“Fairly well blanched” means that the plant has a yellowish-white to white heart 

formation with a spread averaging not less than four inches in diameter when the head 

is opened as far as possible without breaking the leaves or leaf stems.

§51.3544 Damage.

“Damage” means any defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts 

from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the individual plant or the lot as 

a whole.

§51.3545 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 individual plant or 

the lot as a whole.