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United States Standards

for Grades of Garlic

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Garlic (81 FR 51297) supersedes 

the previous issue which has been in effect since September 4, 1944.

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 Garlic (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Garlic

Section Page No.

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

§51.3880 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.3881 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.3882 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 2

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

§51.3883 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 2

§51.3884 Mature and well cured. ................................................................................ 3

§51.3885 Compact. ..................................................................................................... 3

§51.3886 Well filled and fairly plump........................................................................... 3

§51.3887 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.3888 Diameter...................................................................................................... 4
United States Standards for Grades of Garlic (September 6, 2016)

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Grade

§51.3880 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of garlic of similar varietal characteristics which is mature and well 

cured, compact, with cloves well filled and fairly plump, free from mold, decay, shattered 

cloves, and from damage caused by dirt or staining, sunburn, sunscald, cuts, sprouts, 

tops, roots, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. Each bulb shall be fairly 

well enclosed in its outer sheath. Unless otherwise specified, the minimum diameter of 

each bulb shall be not less than 1-1/2 inches.

(a) Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and 

handling, the following tolerances, by weight, are provided as specified:

(1) For defects. Ten percent for garlic in any lot which fails to meet the 

requirements of this grade, including therein not more than 2 percent for 

garlic which is affected by decay.

(2) For size. Five percent for garlic in any lot which fails to meet any 

specified size.

Reserved

§51.3881 Reserved.

Application of Tolerances

§51.3882 Application of tolerances.

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

following limitations:

(a) For a tolerance of 10 percent or more, individual packages in any lot may contain 

not more than one and one-half times the tolerance specified, except that when 

the package contains 15 specimens or less, individual packages may contain not 

more than double the tolerance specified: Provided, That the average for the 

entire lot is within the tolerance specified for the grade.

(b) For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, individual packages in any lot may 

contain not more than double the tolerance specified: Provided, That at least 

one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package: And 

provided further, That the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance 

specified for the grade.

Definitions

§51.3883 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the garlic in any container is of the same 

color. White and red garlic shall not be mixed in the same container.
United States Standards for Grades of Garlic (September 6, 2016)

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§51.3884 Mature and well cured.

“Mature and well cured” means having reached that stage of development at which 

the garlic is firm and sufficiently dried so as not to be soft and spongy.

§51.3885 Compact.

“Compact” means that the cloves are not spreading but fit closely together practically 

the entire length of the individual cloves.

§51.3886 Well filled and fairly plump.

“Well filled and fairly plump” means that each clove contains a kernel which is fairly 

plump and not shriveled.

§51.3887 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 individual bulb or the lot as a whole. The following specific defects shall 

be considered as damage:

(a) “Dirt or staining”. Any lot of garlic which is dirty or materially stained shall be 

considered as damaged. As a guide, a lot of garlic shall be considered as 

damaged by dirt or staining if the appearance is affected by these causes to a 

greater extent than the presence of 15 percent of bulbs which are materially 

stained plus 5 percent badly stained. The number of stained bulbs permitted

before the lot is considered damaged, will depend on the degree of staining on 

individual bulbs. If the lot has 15 percent which are materially stained and 5 

percent which are badly stained, and most of the remainder of the lot shows 

staining of a lesser degree, but approaches that which is considered materially 

stained, then the lot shall be considered as damaged by staining. If a lot has no 

badly stained bulbs, and not more than 25 percent materially stained, but most of 

the lot has little or no staining, it is not considered as damaged by staining. 

Garlic with adhering or caked dirt which affects the appearance to the same 

extent as materially stained or badly stained garlic shall be scored in combination 

with any stained garlic that may be present in the lot.

(b) “Sunburn” means discoloration due to exposure to the sun when there is no 

injury to the tissue.

(c) “Sunscald” means softening of the tissue due to exposure to the sun.

(d) “Tops”. In considering this factor the appearance of the lot of garlic as a whole 

should be considered. There shall be no requirements as to length of tops of 
United States Standards for Grades of Garlic (September 6, 2016)

4

braided garlic. While loose garlic should be trimmed to less than 2 inches, there 

may be some that have been cut with tops a little longer. However, any lot of 

loose garlic having more than 20 percent of the bulbs with tops over 2 inches in 

length shall be considered as damaged. This percentage is given only as a 

guide and it may be reduced if the tops are very long. For example, not more 

than 10 percent of the bulbs may have tops longer than 5 inches.

§51.3888 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension at right angles to a straight line running from 

stem to root end.