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United States Standards

for Grades of Growers’

Stock Strawberries for

Manufacture

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Growers’ Stock Strawberries 

for Manufacture (81 FR 51297) supersedes the previous issue which has been in 

effect since June 1, 1935.

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 Growers’ Stock Strawberries for Manufacture

(September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Growers’ Stock 

Strawberries for Manufacture

Section Page No.

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

§51.4415 General........................................................................................................ 2

Grades............................................................................................................................ 3

§51.4416 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 3

§51.4417 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 3

§51.4418 U.S. No. 3.................................................................................................... 3

§51.4419 U.S. No. 4.................................................................................................... 3

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 4

§51.4420 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 4

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

§51.4421 Well colored................................................................................................. 4

§51.4422 Soft. ............................................................................................................. 4

§51.4423 Dried............................................................................................................ 4

§51.4424 Undeveloped. .............................................................................................. 4

§51.4425 Damage....................................................................................................... 4

§51.4426 Diameter...................................................................................................... 4
United States Standards for Grades of Growers’ Stock Strawberries for Manufacture

(September 6, 2016)

2

General

§51.4415 General.

(a) These standards are intended for use only as a basis for determining the quality 

of strawberries as they are delivered by the growers to the manufacturing plant. 

The requirements of the standards are not applicable nor is it intended that they 

shall apply to strawberries which have been washed and graded for barreling or 

packaging for market.

(b) Buying and selling on the basis of uniform standards encourages better 

production and better handling methods. The practice of paying a flat price for all 

strawberries which are accepted discriminates against the best growers. The 

grower should be paid a suitable premium for strawberries which will make a high 

quality manufactured product. Likewise the grower should be penalized for the 

delivery of low quality berries.

(c) It should be understood at the outset that in the application of these standards 

the only sorting required of the grower is the removal of cull berries. The 

standards provide a basis for sampling lots as they are delivered by the growers.

(d) There are two methods suggested for applying the standards as a measure of 

quality of growers deliveries. The manufacturer may contract with growers to pay 

a certain price per pound according to the actual percentage of U.S. No. 1 

berries delivered, or at a certain price per pound for strawberries of each grade 

with the respective tolerances. In the first method the contract would disregard 

all tolerances and also U.S. No. 2, U.S. No. 3, and U.S. No. 4 grades.

(e) To illustrate the first method of applying the standards, suppose the contract 

specifies that the manufacturer agrees to pay at the rate of 6 cents per pound 

according to the actual percentage of U.S. No. 1 berries delivered. The inspector 

takes a representative sample from a 300-pound lot of strawberries and finds that 

93 percent of the berries, by weight, meet U.S. No. 1 requirements. Therefore, 

the lot would be settled for at the rate of 6 cents per pound for 93 percent of 300

pounds (279 pounds) or $16.74 for the 300-pound lot. Similarly a 300-pound lot 

having 85 percent of U.S. No. 1 berries would be settled for at the rate of 6 cents 

per pound for 85 percent of 300 pounds (255 pounds) or $15.30 for the 300-

pound lot.

(f) To illustrate the second method, suppose the contract specified that the 

manufacturer agrees to pay 6 cents per pound for U.S. No. 1 berries, 5 cents per 

pound for U.S. No. 2 berries, 4-1/2 cents per pound for U.S. No. 3 berries, and 4 

cents per pound for U.S. No. 4 berries. The inspector takes a representative 

sample from a 300-pound lot of strawberries and finds that 96 percent of the 

berries, by weight, meet U.S. No. 1 requirements. Since a tolerance of 5 percent 

is allowed for this grade such a lot would grade U.S. No. 1 and would be paid for 
United States Standards for Grades of Growers’ Stock Strawberries for Manufacture

(September 6, 2016)

3

at the rate of 6 cents per pound. Therefore, the 300-pound lot would bring $18.

(g) If the inspector found the lot to contain 11 percent defective berries it would 

grade U.S. No. 3 and would be paid for at the rate of 4-1/2 cents per pound. In 

this case the 300-pound lot would bring $13.50.

(h) The foregoing prices are used for illustrative purposes only.

(i) The application of these standards requires the services of private or official 

inspectors to determine and report the grade of each lot of strawberries delivered 

to the factory. Such inspectors must be capable, efficient, and above all they 

must be absolutely neutral.

Grades

§51.4416 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of strawberries of one variety which are well colored, free from 

mold and decay and from soft, badly crushed or split, dried or undeveloped berries and 

from damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, hail, sunscald, birds, disease, 

insects, mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, the minimum size 

shall be not less than 5/8 inch in diameter and the caps shall be entirely removed.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, not more than 5 

percent, by weight, of the strawberries in any lot may be below the requirements 

of this grade.

§51.4417 U.S. No. 2.

“U.S. No. 2” consists of strawberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

grade except that a tolerance of 10 percent, by weight, of the strawberries in any lot 

shall be permitted for grade defects.

§51.4418 U.S. No. 3.

“U.S. No. 3” consists of strawberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

grade except that a tolerance of 15 percent, by weight, of the strawberries in any lot 

shall be permitted for grade defects.

§51.4419 U.S. No. 4.

“U.S. No. 4” consists of strawberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 

grade except that a tolerance of 20 percent, by weight, of the strawberries in any lot 

shall be permitted for grade defects.
United States Standards for Grades of Growers’ Stock Strawberries for Manufacture

(September 6, 2016)

4

Reserved

§51.4420 Reserved.

Definitions

§51.4421 Well colored.

“Well colored” means that at least four-fifths of the surface of the berry is covered with 

red or pink color.

§51.4422 Soft.

“Soft” means that more than one-third of the volume of the whole berry is mushy or will 

be removed in the ordinary process of washing.

§51.4423 Dried.

“Dried” means appreciably lacking in juice. Dried berries are excessively seedy and 

often shriveled.

§51.4424 Undeveloped.

“Undeveloped” means lack of development due to frost or insect injury, lack of 

pollination, or other means which causes the berry to be badly misshapen.

§51.4425 Damage.

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

from the appearance, or the edible quality of the berry for manufacturing purposes. A 

berry showing dirt which will not wash off in the ordinary process of washing shall be 

considered as damaged.

§51.4426 Diameter.

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

running from the stem to the apex.