United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Programs

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of Mixed

Commodities 

Effective December 4, 2006
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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.

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United States Standards for Grades of Mixed Commodities1

Effective December 4, 2006

General

51.4250 General.

Grade

51.4251 U.S. Mixed.

Sample Basis

51.4252 Sample Basis.

Tolerances

51.4253 Tolerances.

Application of Tolerances

51.4254 Application of tolerances.

Definitions

51.4255 Mixed.

51.4256 Injury.

51.4257 Damage.

51.4258 Serious Damage.

General

§51.4250 General.

These standards apply to lots of more than one commodity and/or variety of fresh fruit and/or

vegetables within a container or master container which are purposely packaged in this manner. 

Due to the size variations of commodities or varieties, there are no size requirements in the U.S.

Mixed grade. 

Grade

§51.4251 U.S. Mixed. 

Consists of fresh fruit or vegetables which are purposely mixed in a container or master

container, with more than one commodity or variety shall meet the requirements of the United

States Standards for Grades of Mixed Commodities: Provided, That the following requirements

are met;

(a) Each commodity or variety shall meet the requirements of a U.S. grade in the U.S. standards

for the commodity, except for;

(1) size, one color, one type or similar varietal characteristic requirements, and;

(2) minimum sample size requirements.

(b) Mixed commodities which contain fresh fruit or vegetables not currently covered by U.S.

grade standards may be certified to U.S. Standards for Grades of Mixed Commodities: 

Provided, That the lot meets the remaining requirements of this grade.

(c) When any commodity fails to meet the requirements as to minimum color, maturity and/or
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soluble solids as defined in the U.S. standards for the commodity, the lot fails to meet the

requirements of U.S. Mixed.

(d) Any other product other than fresh fruits and vegetables included in a container shall not be

certified.

Sample Basis

§51.4252 Sample Basis.

The sample basis (count, weight, or equivalent basis) shall be in accordance with sample basis

for each commodity, except, when mixed commodities do not have the same sample basis,

sampling shall be by weight.

Tolerances

§51.4253 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of

10 percent, by count, weight, or equivalent basis, in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of

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

for serious damage, including in this latter amount, not more than 1 percent decay, soft rot or wet

breakdown.

Application of Tolerances

§51.4254 Application of tolerances.

Individual samples are subject to the following limitations:

(a) For a tolerance of 10 percent, individual samples may contain not more than one and one-half

times 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 samples may contain not more than double

the tolerance specified: Provided, That at least one defective specimen may be permitted in any

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

grade. 

Definitions

§51.4255 Mixed.

“Mixed” means that there must be more than one type or variety of fresh fruit or vegetable in a

container or master container which are purposely packaged in this manner.

§51.4256 Injury.

“Injury” means any specific defect defined in the U.S. Standards for the commodity, any other

defect, or any combination of defects, which more than slightly detracts from the appearance, or

the edible or marketing quality of the commodity.

§51.4257 Damage.

“Damage” means any specific defect defined in the U.S. Standards for the commodity, any other

defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the

edible or marketing quality of the commodity.

§51.4258 Serious Damage.

“Serious damage” means any specific defect in the U.S. Standards for the commodity, any other

defect, or combination of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or

marketing quality of the commodity.