June 6, 2018

AMENDMENT NO. 4 (ver. 3)

COMMODITY SPECIFICATION

BULK PRODUCTS FOR FURTHER PROCESSING (August 2012)

This amendment is to add a new Individual Commodity Specification – “Bulk Apples for Further 

Processing (sliced apples),” to the Commodity Specification - Bulk Products for Further Processing

August 2012. This individual specification outlines the requirements in two parts. Part one describes 

general or universal bulk apple attributes that are common and required by all destinations. Part two of 

the specification are destination specific requirements unique to each destination. The requirements 

are as follows:

Prerequisites

Vendors and /or suppliers providing fresh fruit shall participate in and pass an Agricultural Marketing

Service, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) Verification Audit. 

Verification Audits shall be performed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Specialty Crops Program (SCP), Specialty Crops Inspection 

Division (SCI).

All scopes of the audit applicable to the operation must be completed. For instance, if a grower has a 

storage facility on their farm where apples are stored prior to sending them to the sliced apple vendor, 

then the appropriate section of the audit must be completed.

All applicable scopes of the audits pertaining to traceability of origin must be satisfactorily completed.

A copy of the GAP&GHP Audit Verification checklist is available on the USDA website

at: www.ams.usda.gov/gapghp , or from your local USDA or Federal-State inspection office.

All supporting documents verifying adherence to the product specification and product origin must 

be made available to SCI personnel upon request.

Individual Commodity Specifications

E. Bulk Apples for Further Processing (sliced apples)

Part One - General (Universal) requirements applicable to all destinations unless 

otherwise specified.

Inspection of Apples for Further Processing will occur at the destination point by a Federal or 

Federal– State inspector.

Grade: All apples must meet the U.S. No. 1 standards or better, as defined and graded by

(link: §51.302) of the United States Standards for Grades of Apples with the following exceptions

below as noted. All apples must be free of dirt or other extraneous matter. All Apples must be of 

Specialty 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Crops Room 1536-S, STOP 0240

Program Washington, DC 20250-0240
current crop year and 100% product of the U.S.A.

Packaging (bulk containers): Standard (36” maximum height) industry bulk fruit bins in clean wood, 

tri-wall corrugated fiber, or plastic. All types of bins must be commercially acceptable and in good 

serviceable condition. The destination (receiver/processor) will make all bins available for pick-up by 

the vendor (supplier/conveyance) within a mutually agreeable time frame established between the 

destination and the supplier to not exceed 90 days from delivery to the destination. The bins and 

pallets must also meet the requirements stated in the Commodity Specification for Bulk Products for 

Further Processing August 2012 (link). 

Please see destination specific packaging requirements for further packaging conditions.

Container Markings: Each bulk container will be labeled or marked with the following minimum 

information:

• Apple Variety

• Harvest, Receipt, or Pack Date

• Suitable code mark that allows traceability of the product

• Net weight of apples

 When scales are not available to the shipper or when bins are delivered directly to the 

destination from harvest operations, commercial certified scale tickets listing empty 

and loaded weights of the trailer will be accepted in lieu of net weight markings on the 

bin ticket

• Apple Size declaration

• Grower’s or shipper’s name and address

• Country of origin

Noted Exceptions / Additions to U.S. No. 1 Standards

Size: Specified in the destination specific requirements.

Shape: Fairly Well.

Defects: Definitions and tolerances will be in accordance with the United States Standards for 

Grades of Apples (U.S. No. 1 or better) unless otherwise specified below.

Russetting: See United States Standards for Grades of Apples, U.S. No. 1 or better for definitions 

and tolerances.

Decay – 1%, (2% for destinations Shelby, MI and Richland Center, WI)

Internal Browning – 0% - (2% for destinations Shelby, MI and Richland Center, WI) 

Internal Water Core – 0% - (2% for destinations Shelby, MI and Richland Center, WI) 

Damage Defects – 8%

Serious Damage Defects – 5%

Total Defects – Specified in the destination specific requirements.

Varieties: Approved varieties are specified in the destination specific requirements below.

Maturity/Condition: Representative samples for each lot will be collected and pressure tested at 

destination. Pressure per fruit will be no less than 14 pounds with a minimum average of 15 pounds in 

each sample. Not more than one sample shall contain fruit not meeting this requirement. Furthermore, if 

two or more individual samples fail to meet the pressure requirements of the general or destination 

specific specifications, the entire lot will then fail. Flesh cannot be mealy even if meeting pressure 

requirements. The number of samples collected will be determined based on the size of the lot being 
inspected. Each lot will be sampled separately.

See specifications for the destination Dauberville, PA and Hartford, MI for alternate pressure testing 

requirements.

Taste: The taste must have no foreign taste or odors that would indicate contamination.

Transportation: The apples will be transported to destination in compliance with FDA’s FSMA 

Final Rule on Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food effective June 6, 2016 (link), or 

current edition, and, when sealing of the trailer is required, the USDA, AMS Master Solicitation for 

Commodity Procurements April 12, 2017 (link), or current edition. When the FSMA rule requires 

refrigerated shipment the Federal or Federal-State inspector will record temperatures during 

destination inspection and will fail any loads not meeting the temperature requirements.

The Federal or Federal–State inspector will fail any load that does not meet these requirements.

Part Two - Destination Specific Requirements 

Dauberville, PA -

Varieties: Gala, Jonagold, Pink Lady, Empire.

Size range: 88 to 113 count.

Total Defects: 8%.

Maturity/Condition: Pressure per fruit will be no less than 13 pounds with a minimum average 

of 14 pounds in each sample.

Packaging: Standard (36” maximum height) industry bins in clean wood, cardboard or plastic in 

good condition.

Processors’ notes: Plastic bin liners cannot be used in bins.

Destination - Oxnard, CA –

Varieties: Galas, Pink Ladies, Jazz, Empire, Lady Alice, Pacific Rose, and Envy.

Size range: 88 to 138 count.

Total Defects: 8%.

Packaging: Standard (36” maximum height) industry bins in clean & in good repair wood, plastic, or 

corrugated in good condition.

Processors’ notes: Plastic bin liners can be used for wood, tri-wall corrugated fiber or plastic bins, 

but must be left open, and cannot be closed or sealed on top. Corrugated bins must have a corrugated 

top.

Destination - Shelby, MI –

Varieties: Empire, Jonagold, Romes (Non-Bleeding). The variety Law Romes is 100% prohibited 

and not acceptable. 

Sizing: 80% will be between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches for Jonagolds and Romes (non-Bleeding) and 

70% minimum will be between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches for Empires.

Total Defects: 12%.

Packaging: Apple industry standard stackable (minimum 18 bushel, 36” maximum height) bins in 

clean wood, or plastic bins of good condition with no broken sections allowable.

Processors’ notes: Corrugate tote bins are not acceptable. Plastic bin liners cannot be used.
Destination - Richland Center, WI -

Varieties: Empire, Jonagold, Gala.

Sizing: 80% will be between 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches.

Total Defects: 12%.

Packaging: Standard (36” maximum height) industry bins in clean wood or plastic. Plastic bin 

liners can be used but must be left open, they cannot be closed or sealed at the top.

Destination - Hartford, MI -

Varieties: Empire, Jonagold, Rome’s (non-law - non-bleeding), Ida Red, Granny Smith, Golden 

Delicious, Gala, and Jonathan.

Sizing: Minimum size = 2.5 inches.

Total Defects: 8%.

Maturity/Condition: Representative samples for each lot will be collected and pressure tested at 

destination. Pressure per fruit will be no less than 12 pounds with a minimum average of 13 pounds 

in each sample.

Packaging: Standard (36”maximum height) industry bins in clean wood or plastic.

Processors’ notes: Plastic bin liners cannot be used. 

Destination - Stockton, CA –

Varieties: Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith.

Size range: 88 to 113 count.

Total Defects: 8%.

Packaging: Approximately 800lbs. of fruit per bin.