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United States Standards

for Grades of Lima 

Beans

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

supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since January 5, 1938.

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 Lima Beans (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Lima Beans

Section Page No.

Grades............................................................................................................................ 2

§51.3805 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.3806 U.S. Combination. ....................................................................................... 2

§51.3807 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 2

§51.3808 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 2

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 3

§51.3809 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 3

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 3

§51.3810 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 3

§51.3811 Fairly well filled and not excessively small................................................... 3

§51.3812 Reasonably well filled. ................................................................................. 3

§51.3813 Badly misshapen. ........................................................................................ 3

§51.3814 Fresh. .......................................................................................................... 3

§51.3815 Fairly fresh................................................................................................... 4

§51.3816 Overmature.................................................................................................. 4

§51.3817 Damage....................................................................................................... 4

§51.3818 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 4
United States Standards for Grades of Lima Beans (September 6, 2016)

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Grades

§51.3805 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of pods of lima beans of similar varietal characteristics which are 

fairly well filled and not excessively small, not badly misshapen, and which are fresh, 

and not overmature, free from soft decay, sprouted beans, worm holes, and from 

damage caused by dirt, russeting, scars, leaves or other foreign matter, freezing, hail, 

disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. 

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more 

than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the pods of lima beans in any lot may be 

below the requirements of this grade, but not more than one-half of this 

tolerance, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, and 

not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, shall be allowed for lima 

beans affected by soft decay.

§51.3806 U.S. Combination.

“U.S. Combination” consists of a combination of U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 lima 

beans: Provided, That at least 75 percent, by weight, meet the requirements of U.S. 

No. 1 grade.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more 

than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the pods of lima beans in any lot may be 

below the requirements of U.S. No. 2 grade, but not more than one-tenth of this 

amount, or 1 percent, shall be allowed for lima beans affected by soft decay. No 

part of this tolerance shall be allowed to reduce for the lot as a whole the 

percentage of U.S. No. 1 lima beans required in the combination but individual

containers may have not more than 10 percent less than the percentage of U.S. 

No. 1 lima beans required.

§51.3807 U.S. No. 2.

“U.S. No. 2” consists of pods of lima beans of similar varietal characteristics, which are 

reasonably well filled, fairly fresh and not overmature, free from soft decay and from 

serious damage caused by dirt, russeting, scars, leaves or other foreign matter, 

freezing, hail, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. 

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more 

than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the pods of lima beans in any lot may be 

below the requirements of this grade, but not more than one-tenth of this amount, 

or 1 percent, shall be allowed for lima beans affected by soft decay.

Reserved

§51.3808 Reserved.
United States Standards for Grades of Lima Beans (September 6, 2016)

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Application of Tolerances

§51.3809 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 in any lot 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 packages in any lot 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.

Definitions

§51.3810 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the pods of lima beans in any container 

are of the same general type.

§51.3811 Fairly well filled and not excessively small.

“Fairly well filled and not excessively small” means that more than one-half of each 

pod shall be filled with fairly well and/or well developed beans but that no pod may have 

less than two fairly well and/or well developed beans. Pods that are just half filled with 

at least fairly well developed beans but have enough additional beans a little smaller 

than those considered fairly well developed so as to make the equivalent in volume to 

the beans in a pod more than half filled with at least fairly well developed beans shall be 

considered as fairly well filled.

§51.3812 Reasonably well filled.

“Reasonably well filled” means that not less than a third of each pod is filled with fairly 

well and/or well developed beans. Pods that are not a third filled with at least fairly well

developed beans but have enough beans a little smaller than those considered fairly 

well developed so as to make the equivalent in volume to the beans in a pod one-third 

filled with at least fairly well developed beans, shall be considered reasonably well filled.

§51.3813 Badly misshapen.

“Badly misshapen” means that the pods are badly constricted, crooked, curled, 

twisted, or otherwise badly malformed.

§51.3814 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the pods are not more than slightly wilted and flabby.
United States Standards for Grades of Lima Beans (September 6, 2016)

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§51.3815 Fairly fresh.

“Fairly fresh” means that the pods are not badly wilted and flabby.

§51.3816 Overmature.

“Overmature” means that the beans have developed beyond that stage of growth at 

which they are desirable for use as fresh beans. Pods that are becoming yellow and 

dry or beans that do not show a tinge of green color on the cotyledons after removing 

the outer skin, or have become hard, starchy and brittle shall be considered as 

overmature.

§51.3817 Damage.

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

from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality. Dirt or russeting which 

materially detracts from the appearance of the lot shall be considered as damage.

§51.3818 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously 

detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality.