Commodity Specification

1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Room 3932-S

Washington, D.C. 20250-0201

Commodity Specification

Bulk Products for

Further Processing

August 2012
Commodity Specification Bulk Products for Further Processing

i August 2012

Table of Contents

I. GENERAL.............................................................................................................................. 1

A. U.S. Standards....................................................................................................................... 1

B. Exceptions to U.S. Standards................................................................................................ 1

C. Product Origin....................................................................................................................... 1

D. Kosher Products.................................................................................................................... 2

E. Packing Season ..................................................................................................................... 2

F. Containers and Packing......................................................................................................... 2

G. Palletization Requirements................................................................................................... 2

H. Prerequisites.......................................................................................................................... 3

II. INDIVIDUAL COMMODITY SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................... 3

A. Fresh Potatoes for Dehydration ............................................................................................ 3

B. Potatoes for Processing......................................................................................................... 4

C. Sweet Potatoes for Processing .............................................................................................. 5

D. Tomatoes for Processing....................................................................................................... 5

III. INSPECTION AND CHECK-LOADING ........................................................................... 6

A. Requirements (Products for Processing)............................................................................... 6

B. Procedures............................................................................................................................. 6

IV. FAILURE TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS ......................................................................... 7
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I. General

A. U.S. Standards

All products (product/commodity) produced under this Commodity Specification must 

meet the requirements specified in the applicable United States Standards for Grades

(U.S. Standards) or Commercial Item Description (CID) effective on the date of the 

Solicitation/Invitation for Bid (IFB). The U.S. Standards and CIDs are published 

separately and are incorporated herein and made a part of this Commodity Specification.

B. Exceptions to U.S. Standards

Additional exceptions may be specified in the applicable Solicitation/IFB. Any 

exceptions contained in the applicable Solicitation/IFB shall have precedence over the 

requirements contained herein, for that Solicitation/IFB only. 

C. Product Origin

1. Commodities delivered pursuant to this Commodity Specification shall have 

originated from crops that have been 100 percent grown, processed, and packed in 

the United States, its territories or possessions, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 

or the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, (hereinafter referred to as the United 

States). See Section I.E. of the Master Solicitation.

2. If the contractor handles any commodity originating from sources other than the 

United States, the contractor must have a written plan to segregate the commodity. 

This segregation plan will include an identification and record system for all 

commodities to ensure they are completely segregated and cannot be used to fulfill 

purchase orders awarded by USDA. Such segregation plan must be made available, 

within 10 days of purchase order award, to representatives of the Agricultural 

Marketing Service (AMS). 

3. The contractor must maintain positive written documentation records evidencing 100 

percent domestic origin to the grower level. Contractors must also ensure that the 

documentation provided by any subcontractors demonstrates the same level of 

traceability. The burden of proof of compliance is on the contractor. 

Documentation may include load or warehouse storage receipts for raw product (i.e., 

bin tags), product blend (formulation) records, product coding explanations, finished 

product warehousing records, shipping or payment records, or other documentation 

or evidence that clearly establishes the product's domestic origin. 

4. Contractors must provide the domestic origin certification and supporting 

documentation records to representatives of the AMS Fruit and Vegetable Program, 

Processed Products Division (USDA Inspector) when requesting inspection service. 

USDA Inspectors will select and review at least one code for each purchase order to 

determine compliance with the Agency's domestic origin requirements. 
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5. Such records must be available for review by the Government in accordance with 

FAR 52.214-26. In the event of an audit, AMS auditors will examine as many codes 

as is necessary to verify compliance.

6. Self-certifications by contractors and subcontractors will not be accepted.

7. Failure to observe this requirement may lead to suspension or debarment, purchase 

order termination, and penalties at Title 18, Section 1001 of the U.S. Code 

concerning falsification of information.

D. Kosher Products

Occasionally, USDA solicits offers to sell KOSHER products. Such products are 

identified on the solicitation with the letter “K” incorporated into the WBSCM material 

descriptions. Vendors must comply with the applicable dietary (KOSHER) laws as 

established by the “613 COUNCIL OF KASHRUTH” in the production of these 

commodity products. Vendors must not bid on these purchase units unless they can be 

properly certified.

Vendors receiving purchase order items identified as “KOSHER” must contact the Board 

of Jewish Education of Greater New York (BJENY) at telephone 646-472-5365 prior to 

manufacturing the commodity product to arrange for certification of compliance with the 

applicable dietary (kosher) laws.

E. Packing Season 

All products must be from the current packing season/crop year, unless otherwise 

specified in the applicable Solicitation/IFB. 

F. Containers and Packing 

1. The product delivered to USDA shall be packed in new, good quality cartons, so 

constructed as to ensure acceptance by common carrier or other carrier for safe 

transportation for domestic shipment. These cartons shall be of the same dimensions 

as those used in normal commercial transaction. These packing requirements provide 

that pack shall be at least fairly well filled. The tolerances applicable under such 

packing requirements shall apply. 

2. The containers and case markings shall meet the United States Standards for 

Condition of Food Containers (7 CFR Part 42). In addition to any other commercial 

markings, each carton shall show the grower’s or shipper’s name and address, 

variety, grade (state grade may be shown if in compliance with paragraph II, and size 

by count. 

G. Palletization Requirements
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1. Pallets

Products must be on 48 X 40 inch, non-reversible, flush stringer, and partial fourway entry. New pallets must be good quality wood. Used pallets must be No.1 

hardwood or its equivalent in new softwood. Broken or damaged pallets are 

unacceptable. If pallet exchange is desired, the contractor shall arrange for pallet 

exchange with consignees. USDA is in no way responsible for arrangement of pallet 

exchange.

2. Unitization

Each delivery unit must be unitized. Shipping cases must be stacked and secured 

from top to bottom, so that each container and layer of containers becomes an 

integral part of the pallet. Either stretch wrapping with plastic film or “lock ‘n pop” 

is acceptable. The palletized product must be loaded in the conveyance in such a way 

that will prevent shifting and damage to the containers of product. 

H. Prerequisites

1. All vendors and/or suppliers providing fresh vegetables shall undergo a good 

agricultural practices and good handling practices audit of their operations. The 

audit must be conducted by the USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Fresh 

Products Division or licensed Federal-State auditors providing services under a 

cooperative agreement with USDA oversight. The audit conducted may be either 

the USDA Good Agricultural Practices & Good Handling Practices (GAP&GHP) 

audit, the Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Audit, or the Tomato Audit 

Protocol audit, whichever is applicable to the commodity being purchased. 

2. The audit must cover all parts of the operation which are applicable to the 

commodity being purchased. For example, a tomato purchase would require an 

audit of the fields, packing house, and storage facilities. 

3. A copy of the three acceptable audit standards is available on the USDA website at 

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

office. A listing of USDA and Federal-State inspection offices are also available on 

the website listed above.

II. Individual Commodity Specifications

A. Fresh Potatoes for Dehydration

1. Grade- U.S. No. 2 or better.

2. Pack – Bulk

3. Crop Year - The potatoes shall be from the current packing season/crop year.
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4. Size – Whole potatoes shall be specified not less than 1 1⁄2 inches in diameter in 

accordance with the U.S Standards for Grades of Potatoes for Processing (usable 

pieces not less than 4 ounces in weight). 

5. Varieties - Shepody, Ranger, Umatilla, Alturas, Norkotah, Atlantic, Goldrush, 

Snowden, Pike, Reba, Marcy, Millenium, Superior, Freedom, and Russett Burbank. 

Varieties cannot be mixed. 

6. Specific Gravity Specification - All varieties 1.0723 (19.1% solids) or higher.

7. Defects, Serious Damage and Foreign Material:

a. No lot should be less than 40% bruise-free.

b. The method of calculating the term “bruise-free” shall be evaluated for bruising 

by the Federal or Federal-State Inspector.

c. Any load of potatoes found to contain broken glass or foreign substance, which 

may be harmful to health or adulterates the finished product, will be rejected.

d. Any load of potatoes will be rejected if potatoes have more than 10% dry rot.

B. Potatoes for Processing

1. Grade- U.S. No. 2 or better.

2. Pack – Bulk

3. Crop Year - The potatoes shall be from the current packing season/crop year.

4. Size - Whole potatoes shall be specified not less than 1 1/2 inches in diameter 

(usable pieces not less than 4 ounces in weight). There will be a 3% tolerance for 

potatoes less than 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Lots shall not contain less than 42% 

over 6 ounces. 

5. Varieties - Shepody, Ranger, Umatilla, Alturas and Russett Burbank. Varieties 

cannot be mixed. 

6. Sugar or sugar end content Criteria - No more than 15 % of the potatoes (plugs or 

slices taken from the sample) are Color or darker in the USDA Color Chart or 

comparable scale when fried in 375 degree (Fahrenheit) oil for 2 minutes 30 seconds

or in 350 degree (Fahrenheit) oil for 3 minutes.

The sample for frying to determine color may be prepared by one of the following 

methods: 

a. 3/8” X 3/8” center cut strip 

b. 3⁄4 inch diameter area in the center of the cut face of a 1⁄4 inch slice made by a 

transverse cut through the tuber at 1⁄2 inch from the stem

c. 2 1⁄2 inch disc cut from a 5/16 inch slice taken from the middle of 

10 potatoes 
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Lots delivered directly from the field may have the color testing requirements 

waived at the discretion of the receiver.

7. Specific Gravity Specification: - All varieties 1.075 or higher

8. Defects, Serious Damage and Foreign Material:

a. No lot should be less than 40% bruise-free. The method of calculating the term 

“bruise-free” shall be evaluated for bruising by the Federal or Federal-State 

Inspector.

b. Any load of potatoes found to contain broken glass or foreign substance, which 

may be harmful to health or adulterates the finish product, will be rejected.

c. Any load of potatoes showing evidence of field frost or freeze will be rejected.

d. Any load, lot or portion of lot of potatoes delivered may be rejected if potatoes 

have more any combination of insects and nematode cullage that exceeds 10%.

C. Sweet Potatoes for Processing

1. Grade - U.S. No. 2 or better (Sweet Potatoes for Dicing or Pulping.) 

2. Cured – Applicant warrants sweet potatoes are cured according to standard curing 

procedures. 

3. Pack – Bulk

4. Crop Year – The sweet potatoes shall be from the current packing season/crop year.

5. Size – Whole sweet potatoes shall be specified not less than 1 3/4 inches to 8 inches 

in diameter. Maximum diameter tuber must pass freely through an 8 inch diameter 

tube.

6. Varieties – Beauregard or Covington. Varieties cannot be mixed.

7. Defects, Serious Damage, and Foreign Material:

a. Sweet potatoes should be run on sizing and dirt removal belt prior to loading.

b. Any load of sweet potatoes found to contain broken glass or foreign substance, 

which may be harmful to health or adulterates the finished product, will be 

rejected.

D. Tomatoes for Processing

1. Pack-Bulk

2. Color - 28 Maximum

Method - Agtron measurement of a composite raw juice sample extracted from 

tomatoes representative of the lot or an equivalent method to determine (“fairly well 

colored” as defined in the United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes for 

Processing). 
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3. Worm damage - 2% maximum

Method - weigh scoreable Tomatoes (those with worm injury or worms attached). 

4. Mold, decay and/or fungus – 8% maximum.

Method – weigh scoreable tomatoes.

5. Green – 4% maximum.

Method – weigh scoreable tomatoes (those with no visible red color on surface).

6. Extraneous material – 4% maximum

Method – weigh extraneous material (i.e., dirt, loose stems, vines, stones, trash, etc.)

7. Tomatoes shall be free from any other defect or combination of defects that would 

result in the loss of more than 20% of the weight of an individual tomato when 

removed in the preparation for processing.

8. Loading tolerance of product – 40,000 lbs. net minimum.

The grade requirements referred herein are defined in the United States Standards for 

Grades of Tomatoes for Processing (Category B), effective on the date of the 

Solicitation/IFB.

III. Inspection and Check-Loading

A. Requirements (Products for Processing)

1. Representatives of the AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Program, Fresh Products Division 

(USDA Inspector) must perform the inspection (see section IX. A of the Master 

Solicitation). The cost of inspection, samples taken for inspection, mailing of review 

samples submitted for evaluation, and any chemical analysis required for testing 

shall be for the account of the Contractor.

2. USDA inspection of fresh vegetables must be performed at destination. The count 

(number) of packages shall be certified by Federal or Federal-State Inspection 

Service (see section IX. A of the Master Solicitation). The acceptability of the 

quality and packing of the product must be evidenced by certificates issued by the 

USDA Inspector.

3. Representative sample units will be graded according to the Regulations Governing 

Inspection and Certification of Fresh Vegetables and Related Products (7 C.F.R. part 

51), and United States Standards for Condition of Food Containers (7 C.F.R. part 

42.140), effective on the date of the Solicitation/IFB.

B. Procedures

The Contractor must give the USDA Inspector at least 72 hours advance notice when 

scheduling inspection service. 
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Contractors are encouraged to submit requests for inspection in writing via form FV-237 

(Record of Request for Inspection or Re-inspection of Food Products) with verifiable 

receipt notice, such as fax log, to alleviate possible miscommunication. Requests can 

also be made electronically using the following link: 

http://eforms.ams.usda.gov/#CustomersFV

IV. Failure to Meet Specifications

Any lot which fails applicable specifications prescribed herein will be rejected as not 

acceptable for delivery. If any lot fails to meet the product or packaging requirement, the 

Contractor may request in writing that USDA accept delivery of the lot. USDA may at 

its option, accept delivery, provided that the purchase price is the purchase order price 

less a discount, to be determined by the Contracting Officer.