United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Division

Fresh

Products

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United States Standards

for Grades of

Honey Dew and Honey

Ball Type Melons

Effective April 1, 1967

(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 Honey Dew and Honey

Ball Type Melons1

Grades 

51.3740 U.S. No. 1. 

51.3741 U.S. Commercial. 

51.3742 U.S. No. 2. 

Unclassified

51.3743 Unclassified. 

Tolerances

51.3744 Tolerances. 

Application of Tolerances

51.3745 Application of tolerances. 

Definitions

51.3746 Mature. 

51.3747 Well formed. 

51.3748 Damage. 

51.3749 Serious damage.

Grades

§51.3740 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1" consists of honey dew or honey ball type melons which are mature, firm, well

formed, which are free from decay, and free from damage caused by dirt, aphis stain, rust spots,

bruises, cracks, broken skin, sunscald, sunburn, hail, moisture, insects, disease, or other means.

(See §51.3744.)

§51.3741 U.S. Commercial.

"U.S. Commercial" consists of honey dew or honey ball type melons which meet the requirements

of U.S. No. 1 grade except for the increased tolerances for defects. (See §51.3744.)

§51.3742 U.S. No. 2.

"U.S. No. 2" consists of honey dew or honey ball type melons which are mature, firm, fairly well

formed, free from decay and free from serious damage by any cause. (See §51.3744.)

Unclassified

§51.3743 Unclassified.

"Unclassified" consists of melons 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. 

Tolerances

§51.3744 Tolerances.
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In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the foregoing

grades, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified: 

(a) U.S. No. 1. 10 percent for melons in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of the grade:

Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects

causing serious damage, including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for melons

affected by decay. 

(b) U.S. Commercial. 20 percent for melons in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of this

grade: Provided, That not more than one-fourth of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for

defects causing serious damage, including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for

melons affected by decay. 

(c) U.S. No. 2. 10 percent for melons in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of this grade

including not more than 1 percent for melons affected by decay. 

Application of Tolerances

§51.3745 Application of tolerances.

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

following limitations: 

(a) For a tolerance of 10 percent or more, individual packages shall have not more than

1-1/2 times the tolerance specified: Provided, That when the package contains 15 specimens or

less, any individual package shall have not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at

least one defective specimen may be permitted in any package: And provided further, That the

averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified for the grade.

(b) For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, individual packages in any lot shall have not more than

double the tolerance specified, except that at least one defective specimen may be permitted in any

package: Provided, That the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified for the

grade. 

Definitions

§51.3746 Mature.

"Mature" means that the melon has reached the stage of maturity which will insure the proper

completion of the normal ripening process. 

§51.3747 Well formed.

"Well formed" means that the melon has the normal shape characteristic of the variety. 

§51.3748 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 melon. 

(a) The following specific defects shall be considered as damage: 

(1) Sunburn which causes the rind to become brownish in color, hard, tough, or thin; and, 

(2) Bruising when the size or color of the affected area materially detracts from the appearance. 

(b) The following blemishes shall not be considered as damage: 

(1) Slight bruising caused by light pressure of the weight of other melons or from lidding of the

crate; 

(2) Yellow spots; 

(3) Superficial hail spots; 
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(4) Slight surface scratches caused by picking or packing; or, 

(5) Netting, either raised or occurring as very shallow cracks in the skin. 

§51.3749 Serious damage. 

"Serious damage" means any defect or any combination of defects which seriously detracts from

the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the melon.