Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

This PATCH represents official guidance. This PATCH is scheduled to be incorporated into the 

document listed above. After incorporation into the document listed above this PATCH will 

become obsolete. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

PATCH # 074 Watermelon Standards Guidance (October 1, 2021)

SCI Division Inspection Series

Page 1 of 3

PATCH # 074

DOCUMENT: U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons, September 20, 2021

REMARKS: This Patch will provide guidance for understanding the changes in the recently 

revised U.S. Standards for Grades of Watermelons and how to apply them in FEIRS.

U.S. Fancy grade: No changes. However, as a reminder, the quality defect Whiteheart is 

applied to the restricted 1% tolerance for Whiteheart, Sunscald, Anthracnose, or decay at 

shipping point, and the restricted 2% tolerance for Whiteheart, Sunscald, Anthracnose, or Decay 

en route or at destination. En route or at destination: Whiteheart would be recorded separately 

from other Quality defects on the scoresheet and reported above any other Quality defects on the 

SC-300 certificate. Please see the following SC-300 certificate example: 
This PATCH represents official guidance. This PATCH is scheduled to be incorporated into the 

document listed on the first page. After incorporation into the document listed above this 

PATCH will become obsolete.

PATCH #074 Watermelon Standards Guidance (October 1, 2021)

SCI Division Inspection Series

Page 2 of 3

For FV-E300 certificates in the Fresh Electronic Inspection Reporting Resource System (FEIRS)

Whiteheart is recorded separately on the scoresheet. Refer to the Defects tab for the percentage 

of Whiteheart that will be reported (see below).

Since Quality defects are reported together on the FV-E300 certificate and cannot be separated, 

the percentage of Whiteheart should be reported as “QUALITY DEFECTS INCLUDES XX% 

DAMAGE AND XX% SERIOUS DAMAGE BY WHITEHEART” in the Lot Description field 

(see below).

Example 3
This PATCH represents official guidance. This PATCH is scheduled to be incorporated into the 

document listed on the first page. After incorporation into the document listed above this 

PATCH will become obsolete.

PATCH #074 Watermelon Standards Guidance (October 1, 2021)

SCI Division Inspection Series

Page 3 of 3

U.S. No. 1 grade: Shipping Point: The 3% tolerance for Anthracnose has been removed. 

Anthracnose and decay have been combined under the restricted tolerance of 1%. You cannot 

have more than 1% total for Anthracnose or decay. For example, if you have 1% for 

Anthracnose and 1% for decay, the lot fails to grade. En route or at destination: Anthracnose 

is removed from the 5% serious damage tolerance and combined with the 2% restricted tolerance 

for decay. You cannot have more than 2% total for Anthracnose or decay.

U.S. No. 2 grade: Shipping Point: The 6% tolerance for Anthracnose is removed. 

Anthracnose and decay are combined under the 1% restricted tolerance for decay. You cannot 

have more than 1% total for Anthracnose or decay. En route or at destination: Anthracnose is 

combined with the 2% restricted tolerance for decay. Before, it was part of the 12% total 

tolerance. Now you cannot have more than 2% total for Anthracnose or decay.

For either of the above grades: En route or at destination: When performing a Quality and 

Condition inspection for watermelon in FEIRS the percentage of anthracnose scored is being 

incorrectly applied to the 5% serious damage tolerance and not to the 2% Anthracnose/Decay 

tolerance. Thus, you will need to make your meets/fails final grade determination manually. 

Anthracnose will correctly display on the FEIRS certificate. 

Changes in scoring guides: 

• The new scoring guides for Sunburn, Hail, Rindworm Injury, Scars, and Transit Rubs are 

based on a 15 pound melon instead of a 25 pound melon. Allow correspondingly less or 

more for smaller or larger melons. 

• The scoring guide for Second Growth remains the same except it is based on a 15 pound 

melon. Second Growth is not mentioned in the standards, but all scoring guides based on 

melon weight (size) were changed to 15 pounds.

• The new scoring guide for Hollow Heart is based on any size melon.

• Sunburn is now a quality defect. 

• Rindworm Injury found on the ground spot is scored as damage when it exceeds the area 

allowed and seriously detracts from the appearance.