United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of

Celery

Effective April 7, 1959

(Reprinted - January 1997)
 Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the 1

Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or with applicable State laws and regulations.

1

United States Standards for Grades of Celery 1

Grades

51.560 U.S. Extra No. 1. 

51.561 U.S. No. 1. 

51.562 U.S. No. 2. 

Unclassified

51.563 Unclassified. 

Count

51.564 Requirements as to count. 

Application of Tolerances

51.565 Application of tolerances. 

Definitions

51.566 Stalk. 

51.567 Similar varietal characteristics. 

51.568 Well developed. 

51.569 Well formed. 

51.570 Clean. 

51.571 Well trimmed. 

51.572 Compact. 

51.573 Damage. 

51.574 Green. 

51.575 Fairly well blanched. 

51.576 Mixed blanch. 

51.577 Average midrib length. 

51.578 Branch. 

51.579 Length of stalk. 

51.580 Fairly well developed. 

51.581 Fairly well formed. 

51.582 Fairly compact. 

51.583 Reasonably well developed. 

51.584 Reasonably well formed. 

51.585 Fairly well trimmed. 

51.586 Serious damage. 

51.587 Diameter. 

51.588 Length of seedstem. 
2

Grades 

§51.560 U.S. Extra No. 1. 

"U.S. Extra No. 1" consists of stalks of celery of similar varietal characteristics which are well

developed, well formed, clean, well trimmed, compact, and which are free from blackheart, brown

stem, soft rot, doubles and free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, horizontal cracks,

pithy branches, seedstems, suckers, wilting, blight, other disease, insects or mechanical or other

means. Stalks shall be green unless specified as fairly well blanched, or mixed blanch. 

(a) The average midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall be not less than 7 inches. 

(b) Unless otherwise specified in connection with the grade, stalks shall be of such length as to extend

from one side, end or bottom of the container to within 1-1/2 inches of the corresponding opposite

side, end or top of the container. Such measurement shall not include the bulge. In any container

when stalk length is specified, it shall be the minimum length in terms of whole inches of even

number, as 12 inches, 14 inches, etc., in accordance with the facts. 

(c) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances

shall be permitted: 

(1) For defects. 10 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the requirements of the

grade, including therein not more than 2 percent for soft rot; 

(2) For off-length stalks. 5 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the minimum

length required or specified; and, 

(3) For off-length midribs. 5 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the

requirements as to average midrib length.

§51.561 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1"consists of stalks of celery of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly well

developed, fairly well formed, well trimmed, fairly compact, and which are free from blackheart and

soft rot and free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, horizontal cracks, pithy branches,

seedstems, suckers, dirt, doubles, wilting, blight, other disease, insects or mechanical or other means.

Stalks shall be green unless specified as fairly well blanched, or mixed blanch. 

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the average midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall be not

less than 6 inches. 

(b) Unless otherwise specified in connection with the grade, stalks shall be of such length as to extend

from one side, end or bottom of the container to within 1-1/2 inches of the corresponding opposite

side, end or top of the container. Such measurement shall not include the bulge. In any container

when stalk length is specified, it shall be the minimum length in terms of whole inches of even

number, as 12 inches, 14 inches, etc., in accordance with the facts. 

(c) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances

shall be permitted: 

(1) For defects. 10 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the requirements of the

grade, including therein not more than 2 percent for soft rot; 

(2) For off-length stalks. 5 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the

minimum length required or specified; and, 

(3) For off-length midribs. 5 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the

requirements as to average midrib length. 
3

§51.562 U.S. No. 2.

"U.S. No. 2"consists of stalks of celery of similar varietal characteristics which are reasonably well

developed, reasonably well formed, fairly well trimmed and are free from blackheart and soft rot and

free from serious damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, horizontal cracks, pithy branches,

seedstems, dirt, doubles, wilting, blight, other disease, insects or mechanical or other means. Stalks

shall be green unless specified as fairly well blanched, or mixed blanch. 

(a) Unless otherwise specified, the average midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall be not

less than 4 inches. 

(b) Unless otherwise specified in connection with the grade, stalks shall be of such length as to extend

from one side, end or bottom of the container to within 1-1/2 inches of the corresponding opposite

side, end or top of the container. Such measurement shall not include the bulge. In any container

when stalk length is specified, it shall be the minimum length in terms of whole inches of even

number, as 12 inches, 14 inches, etc., in accordance with the facts. 

(c) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances

shall be permitted: 

(1) For defects. 10 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the

requirements of the grade, including therein not more than 2 percent for soft rot; 

(2) For off-length stalks. 5 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the minimum

length required or specified; and, 

(3) For off-length midribs. 5 percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the

requirements as to average midrib length. 

Unclassified

§51.563 Unclassified.

"Unclassified"consists of stalks of celery which have not been classified in accordance with any of the

foregoing grades. The term "unclassified" is not a grade within the meaning of these standards but

is provided as a designation to show that no grade has been applied to the lot. 

Count

§51.564 Requirements as to count.

(a) The number of stalks of celery in the container may be specified by numerical count or in terms

of dozens or half-dozens. Variations from the number specified shall be permitted as follows:

Provided, That the average for the lot is not less than the number specified:

Variations

permitted

Specified number per in individual

package: packages

24 stalks or less ............... 1 stalk variation.

25 to 50 stalks, inclusive ........ 3 stalk variation.

51 to 70 stalks, inclusive ........ 4 stalk variation.

More than 70 stalks ............ 5 stalk variation.

Application of Tolerances

§51.565 Application of tolerances.
4

(a) 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: 

(1) For packages which contain 20 specimens or more and a tolerance of 10 percent or more is

provided, individual packages in any lot may contain not more than one and one-half times the

tolerance specified. For packages which contain 20 specimens or more and a tolerance of less than

10 percent is provided, individual packages may contain not more than double the

tolerance specified except that at least one defective and one off-size specimen may be

permitted in any package; and, 

(2) For packages which contain less than 20 specimens, individual packages in any lot may

contain not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at least one defective and one offsize specimen may be permitted in any package: Provided, That for packages which contain 6

specimens or less, individual packages in any lot are not restricted as to the percentage of defects:

And provided further, That not more than one specimen which is affected by decay or otherwise

seriously damaged and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package. 

Definitions 

§51.566 Stalk.

"Stalk" means an individual plant. 

§51.567 Similar varietal characteristics.

"Similar varietal characteristics" means that the stalks in any package have the same general

appearance and character of growth. 

§51.568 Well developed. 

"Well developed" means that the branches are of good width and thickness in relation to the length

of midribs and type of celery and that the heart branches are of reasonable number, length and

stockiness. 

§51.569 Well formed.

"Well formed" means that the branches are fairly straight and not more than slightly curved or

twisted. 

§51.570 Clean.

"Clean" means that the stalk is practically free from dirt or other foreign material. Stalks shall be

permitted to have a small amount of dirt on the inside of the branches or in the heart branches which

cannot be removed by good commercial methods of washing. 

§51.571 Well trimmed.

"Well trimmed" means that not more than 2 relatively thin, short or spindly, or coarse and fibrous

outer branches remain; that the main root has been cut off so as not to extend more than 1-1/2

inches below the point of attachment of the lowest outer branch; that secondary rootlets are not of

such number or length as to materially affect the appearance of the stalk; and, that the appearance is

not materially affected by the presence of discolored leaves or by excessive removal of leaves or

portions of leaves. 

§51.572 Compact.

"Compact" means that the branches on the stalk are fairly close together throughout most of their

length. 
5

§51.573 Damage.

"Damage", unless otherwise specifically defined in this section, means any defect which materially

affects the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the celery stalk or the general appearance

of the stalks in the container. Any one of the following defects, or any combination of defects the

seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, shall be considered as

damage: 

(a) Growth cracks when more than 2 branches are affected by growth cracks which are over one-half

inch in length, or when more than 6 branches have growth cracks; 

(b) Horizontal cracks when more than 3 branches have horizontal cracks which are over one-half inch

in length, or when more than 6 branches have horizontal cracks; 

(c) Pithy branches when more than 2 are pithy in that portion of the midrib between a point

1-1/2 inches above the point of attachment to the base and the first node, or between a point

1-1/2 inches below the first node and the point of attachment to the base, or when pith occurs at both

ends of the midrib and more than a total of 1-1/2 inches is affected: Provided, That stalks having 6

outer branches or less shall have not more than one-third of the outer branches affected by pith as

described above; 

(d) Seedstems when the length of seedstem exceeds twice the diameter of the stalk or 8 inches in

length (see §§51.587 and 51.588); 

(e) Dirt when there is caked dirt on the stalk, or when dirt is present between the branches to the

extent that the appearance is materially affected; 

(f) Doubles when not separated and the appearance is materially affected, or when separated and

either of the stalks is badly curved; 

(g) Disease: (1) Brown stem, cracked stem and crater blotch when materially affecting more than 2

branches, or when the aggregate area exceeds two-thirds of a square inch on the branches; and, 

(2) Discoloration when each of more than 2 branches or 1/4 of the branches of the stalk, whichever

is less, has more than 3 distinct hair-like lines more than 3 inches long occurring on the outer side of

the branch or an aggregate area of more than 1/4 by 1 inch of blotch or solid type discoloration

occurring on the inner side; 

(h) Insects when worms are present, or when insect injury occurs on heart branches, or when insect

injury affects the midrib portion of more than 2 branches, or when injury on other portions materially

affects the appearance of the stalk; and, 

(i) Mechanical injury when the root has been cut off too closely leaving the branches without support;

when more than 2 branches are materially scuffed or bruised; when the branches have been broken

above the first node to an extent which materially affects the appearance; or when more than 2

branches are broken below the first node except that all branches may be cut below the first node

provided the stalk is of the length specified. 

§51.574 Green. 

"Green" means that the middle portions of the outer branches on the stalk are generally green to light

green color. 

§51.575 Fairly well blanched. 

"Fairly well blanched" means that the midrib portions of the outer branches on the stalk are generally

of a creamy white to pale green color. 
6

§51.576 Mixed blanch. 

"Mixed blanch" consists of green and fairly well blanched stalks of celery in the same container. 

§51.577 Average midrib length. 

"Average midrib length" means the average length of all the branches in the outer whorl measured

from the point of attachment at the base to the first node. 

§51.578 Branch.

"Branch" means the leaf of a stalk and consists of the edible stem-like portion and the tops or leaf

blades. 

§51.579 Length of stalk.

"Length of stalk" means the distance from where the root is cut off to a point which represents the

average length of the longest branches. 

§51.580 Fairly well developed.

"Fairly well developed" means that the branches are of fairly good width and thickness in relation to

the length of midribs and type of celery and that there is not excessive open space in the center of the

stalk. 

§51.581 Fairly well formed. 

"Fairly well formed" means that the branches are reasonably straight and not more than moderately

curved or twisted. 

§51.582 Fairly compact. 

"Fairly compact" means that the branches on the stalk are reasonably close together throughout most

of their length. 

§51.583 Reasonably well developed. 

"Reasonably well developed" means that the branches are of reasonable width and thickness in

relation to the length of midribs and type of celery. 

§51.584 Reasonably well formed. 

"Reasonably well formed" means that the branches are not crooked, curved or twisted to the extent

that the appearance of the stalk is seriously affected. 

§51.585 Fairly well trimmed.

"Fairly well trimmed" means that the main root has been cut off so that it does not extend more than

3 inches below the point of attachment of the lowest outer branch, and that secondary rootlets are

not of such number or length as to seriously affect the appearance of the stalk. 

§51.586 Serious damage. 

"Serious damage", unless otherwise specifically defined in this section, means any defect which

seriously affects the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the celery stalk or the general

appearance of the stalks in the container. Any one of the following defects, or any combination of

defects the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, shall be

considered as serious damage: 

(a) Growth cracks when more than 4 branches are affected by growth cracks which are over one-half

inch in length, or when more than 8 branches have growth cracks; 

(b) Horizontal cracks when more than 5 branches have horizontal cracks which are over one-half inch

in length, or when more than 8 branches have horizontal cracks; 

(c) Pithy branches when more than 4 are pithy in that portion of the midrib between a point 1-1/2

inches above the point of attachment to the base and the first node, or between a point 1-1/2 inches
7

below the first node and the point of attachment to the base, or when pith occurs at both ends of the

midrib and more than a total of 1-1/2 inches is affected: Provided, That stalks having 6 outer

branches or less shall have not more than one-half of the outer branches affected by pith as described

above; 

(d) Seedstems when the length of seedstem exceeds 3 times the diameter of the stalk (see §§51.587

and 51.588); 

(e) Dirt when dirt is badly caked on the stalk; 

(f) Doubles when the inner branches are not fairly well protected; 

(g) Disease: (1) Brown stem, cracked stem and crater blotch when seriously affecting more than 4

branches, or when the aggregate area exceeds 1 square inch on the branches; and, 

(2) Discoloration when each of more than 5 branches or 1/2 of the branches of the stalk, whichever

is less, has more than 3 distinct hair-like lines more than 3 inches long occurring on the outer side of

the branch or an aggregate area of more than 1/4 by 1 inch of blotch or solid type discoloration

occurring on the inner side; 

(h) Insects when worms are present, or when insect injury affects the midrib portion of more than 4

branches, or when injury on other portions seriously affects the appearance of the stalk; and, 

(i) Mechanical injury when the root has been cut off too closely leaving the branches without support;

when more than 4 branches are materially scuffed or bruised; when the branches have been broken

above the first node to an extent which seriously affects the appearance; or when more than 4

branches are broken below the first node except all branches may be cut below the first node provided

the stalk is of the length specified. 

§51.587 Diameter. 

"Diameter" means the greatest dimension of the stalk measured at a point 2 inches above the point

of attachment of the lowest outer branch to the base. 

§51.588 Length of seedstem. 

"Length of seedstem" means the distance from the base of the outer branches of the stalk to the top

of the actual seedstem, exclusive of any leaves or leafstems attached to the top of the seedstem. 
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18