United States

Department of

Agriculture

Agricultural 

Marketing

Service

Fruit and

Vegetable

Programs

Fresh

Products

Branch

United States Standards

for Grades of 

Pineapples

Effective May 2, 2008
1

 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.

1

United States Standards for Grades of Pineapples1

General 

51.1485 General.

Grades

51.1486 U.S. Fancy.

51.1487 U.S. No. 1.

51.1488 U.S. No. 2.

Tolerances

51.1489 Tolerances.

Size and Marking Requirements

51.1490 Size and marking requirements.

Definitions

51.1491 Similar varietal characteristics.

51.1492 Mature.

51.1493 Overripe.

51.1494 Stems removed.

51.1495 Well formed.

51.1496 Fairly well formed.

51.1497 Fairly uniform in size.

51.1498 Freezing injury or Frozen (fruit).

51.1499 Freezing injury or Frozen (tops).

51.1500 Single top.

51.1501 Crown slips.

51.1502 Shell.

51.1503 Flesh.

51.1504 Similar varietal characteristic color for tops.

51.1505 Decay.

51.1506 Internal breakdown.

51.1507 Injury.

51.1508 Damage.

51.1509 Serious damage.

Classification of Defects

51.1510 Classification of defects.

General 

§51.1485 General. 

(a) Compliance with the provisions of these standards shall not excuse failure to comply with

provisions of applicable Federal or State Laws. 
2

(b) These standards are applicable to fresh pineapples with or without tops provided that

pineapples with tops attached or with tops removed may not be commingled in the same

container. 

Grades 

§51.1486 U.S. Fancy. 

"U.S. Fancy" consists of pineapples which meet the following requirements: 

(1) Basic requirements for fruit: 

(i) Similar varietal characteristics; 

(ii) Mature; 

(iii) Well formed; and, 

(iv) Stems removed. 

(2) Basic requirements for tops: 

(i) Similar varietal characteristic color; 

(ii) Single stem; 

(iii) Moderately straight; 

(iv) Well attached to fruit; and, 

(v) Not more than 1-1/2 times the length of the fruit. 

(3) Fruit free from: 

(i) Fresh cracks; 

(ii) Evidence of rodent feeding; 

(iii) Freezing injury or frozen; 

(iv) Overripe; and, 

(v) Decay. 

(4) Tops free from: 

(i) Crown slips; 

(ii) Freezing injury or frozen; and, 

(iii) Decay. 

(5) Fruit free from injury by: 

(i) Bruising; 

(ii) Sunburn; 

(iii) Gummosis; 

(iv) Internal breakdown; 

(v) Insects; 

(vi) Healed cracks; and, 

(vii) Mechanical or other means. 

(6) Tops free from injury by: 

(i) Discoloration; and, 

(ii) Insects. 

(7) Tolerances. (See §51.1489) 

§51.1487 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1" consists of pineapples which meet the following requirements: 

(1) Basic requirements for fruit: 

(i) Similar varietal characteristics; 

(ii) Mature; 
3

(iii) Well formed; and, 

(iv) Stems removed.

(2) Basic requirements for tops: 

(i) Similar varietal characteristic color; 

(ii) Single stem; 

(iii) Not more than moderately curved; 

(iv) Well attached to fruit; and, 

(v) Not more than twice the length of the fruit. 

(3) Fruit free from: 

(i) Fresh cracks; 

(ii) Evidence of rodent feeding; 

(iii) Freezing injury or frozen; 

(iv) Overripe; and,

(v) Decay. 

(4) Tops free from: 

(i) Freezing injury or frozen; and, 

(ii) Decay. 

(5) Fruit free from damage by: 

(i) Bruising; 

(ii) Sunburn; 

(iii) Gummosis; 

(iv) Internal breakdown; 

(v) Insects; 

(vi) Healed cracks; and, 

(vii) Mechanical or other means. 

(6) Tops free from damage by: 

(i) Discoloration; 

(ii) Crown slips; and, 

(iii) Insects. 

(7) Tolerances. (See §51.1489) 

§51.1488 U.S. No. 2. 

"U.S. No. 2" consists of pineapples which meet the following requirements: 

(1) Basic requirements for fruit: 

(i) Similar varietal characteristics; 

(ii) Mature; and, 

(iii) Fairly well formed. 

(2) Basic requirements for tops: 

(i) Similar varietal characteristic color; 

(ii) Well attached to fruit;

(iii) Not completely curved over; and, 

(iv) Not more than two fairly well developed stems. 

(3) Fruit free from: 

(i) Fresh cracks; 

(ii) Evidence of rodent feeding; 
2

 Shipping point, as used in these standards, means the point of origin of the shipment in the producing area or at

port of loading for ship stores or overseas shipment, or, in the case of shipments from outside the continental United

States, the port of entry into the United States.

3 En route or at destination means any point other than shipping point as described in Footnote 1, Shipping point.

4

(iii) Freezing injury or frozen;

(iv) Overripe; and, 

(v) Decay. 

(4) Tops free from: 

(i) Freezing injury or frozen; and, 

(ii) Decay. 

(5) Fruit free from serious damage by: 

(i) Bruising; 

(ii) Sunburn; 

(iii) Gummosis; 

(iv) Internal breakdown; 

(v) Insects; 

(vi) Healed cracks; and, 

(vii) Mechanical or other means. 

(6) Tops free from serious damage by: 

(i) Discoloration; and, 

(ii) Insects. 

(7) Tolerances. (See §51.1489)

Tolerances 

§51.1489 Tolerances. 

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. Fancy and U.S. No. 1 grades -- (1) For defects at shipping point.2

 8 percent for fruit

which fails to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this

amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed: 4

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

percent for decay.

(2) For defects en route or at destination.3

 12 percent for fruit which fails to meet the

requirements of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this amount not more than the

following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed: 

(i) 8 percent for permanent defects;

(ii) 6 percent for defects causing serious damage; including therein not more than 4 percent for

serious damage by permanent defects and not more than 2 percent decay.

(b) U.S. No. 2 grade -- (1) For defects at shipping point. 8 percent for fruit which fails to

meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this amount not more

than 1 percent for decay.

(2) For defects en route or at destination. 12 percent for fruit which fails to meet the

requirements of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this amount not more than the
5

following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed: 

(i) 8 percent for permanent defects;

(ii) 2 percent for decay.

Application of Tolerances. 

The contents of individual samples in the lot, are subject to the following limitations:

(a) Individual samples shall have not more than double a specified tolerance except that at least

two defective specimens may be permitted in any sample: Provided, That no more than one

specimen affected by decay be permitted in any sample, and provided further, that the averages

for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified for the grades.

Size and Marking Requirements 

§51.1490 Size and marking requirements.

(a) The pineapples in each container shall be fairly uniform in size and the count shall be plainly

stamped, stenciled, or otherwise marked on the container.

(b) In order to allow for variations incident to proper packing, not more than 5 percent of the

packages in any lot may fail to meet the requirements pertaining to size and marking.

Definitions

§51.1491 Similar varietal characteristics.

"Similar varietal characteristics" means the pineapples in any lot are similar in type and character

of growth.

§51.1492 Mature.

"Mature" means the pineapple has reached the stage of development where ripening has

progressed to a degree where the fruit is usable and edible.

§51.1493 Overripe.

"Overripe" means the fruit is soft and past commercial utility.

§51.1494 Stems removed.

"Stems removed" means the stem at the base of the fruit has been removed so that it does not

extend more than one inch beyond the outermost bottom portion of the butt of the fruit.

§51.1495 Well formed.

"Well formed" means the fruit shows good shoulder development and is not lopsided or

distinctly pointed, and that the sides are not noticeably flattened.

§51.1496 Fairly well formed.

"Fairly well formed" means the fruit is not excessively lopsided, or excessively flattened at the

shoulders or sides. 

§51.1497 Fairly uniform in size.

"Fairly uniform in size" means the weight of the fruit within individual containers does not vary

more than 1-1/2 pounds from smallest to largest.

§51.1498 Freezing injury or frozen (fruit).

"Freezing injury (fruit)" means the edible flesh is glassy, watersoaked, and/or discolored

characteristic of having been frozen.

"Frozen (fruit)" means the fruit is affected by freezing so that some portion is in a hardened state

with ice crystals present.

§51.1499 Freezing injury or frozen (tops).

"Freezing injury (tops)" means the leaf tissue is glassy, watersoaked, and/or discolored as is
4

 Classification of defects is based on a 10 size fruit (ten, 4-pound average fruit per 40 pound box). Accordingly

larger or smaller fruit are permitted to have defects relative to their size.

6

characteristic of having been frozen.

"Frozen (tops)" means the tops are to some degree, hardened by freezing with ice crystals

present.

§51.1500 Single top.

"Single top" means the fruit has only one prominent main stem at the crown of the fruit.

§51.1501 Crown slips.

"Crown slips" means the small secondary top growths at the crown of the fruit.

§51.1502 Shell.

"Shell" means the external surface or rind of the fruit.

§51.1503 Flesh.

"Flesh" means the internal edible portion of the fruit.

§51.1504 Similar varietal characteristic color for tops.

"Similar varietal characteristic color for tops" means the tops in a lot may vary from a

characteristic green to reddish-green color.

§51.1505 Decay.

"Decay" means breakdown or disintegration of the tops or breakdown, disintegration or

fermentation of the pineapple caused by bacteria or fungi.

§51.1506 Internal breakdown.

"Internal breakdown" means a physiological deterioration which results in a watersoaked or

brown or blackish discoloration.

§51.1507 Injury.

"Injury" means any defect listed in the Classification of Defects section or any other defect or

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

shipping quality of the fruit.

§51.1508 Damage.

"Damage" means any defect listed in the Classification of Defects section or any other defect or

combination of defects which materially detracts from the appearance, edible, or shipping quality

of the fruit.

§51.1509 Serious damage.

"Serious damage" means any defect listed in the Classification of Defects section or any other

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

shipping quality of the fruit.

§51.1510 Classification of Defects.4

Defects Injury Damage Serious damage

Tops:
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Discoloration When more than 10 percent of

the crown leaves are

discolored.

When more than 25 percent

of the crown leaves are

discolored.

When more than 50 percent

of the crown leaves are

discolored.

Crown slips Free from. When more than 5 crown

slips or when more than 2 are

over 2-3/4 inches in length.

Mechanical or

other means

When physical injury

(cleanliness, mechanical

damage) more than slightly

affects the appearance of the

pineapple.

When physical injury

(cleanliness, mechanical

damage) materially affects

the appearance of the

pineapple.

When physical injury

(cleanliness, mechanical

damage) seriously affects

the appearance of the

pineapple.

Fruit:

Bruising When any bruise extends into

flesh more than 1/4 inch and

when a bruise or combination

of bruises affects an aggregate

area of a circle more than 1-

1/2 inches in diameter.

When any bruise extends

into flesh more than 1/2 inch

and when a bruise or

combination of bruises

affects an aggregate area of a

circle more than 2-1/4 inches

in diameter.

When any bruise extends

into flesh more than 3/4

inch and when a bruise or

combination of bruises

affects an aggregate area of

a circle more than 3 inches

in diameter.

Sunburn When there is bleaching and a

slight softening of the shell

affecting an aggregate area

more than 1-1/2 inches in

diameter.

When there is bleaching and

a moderate softening of the

shell affecting an aggregate

area more than 2-1/4 inches

in diameter.

When there is bleaching and

severe softening of the shell

affecting an aggregate area

more than 3 inches in

diameter.

Gummosis When gum deposits penetrate

into the flesh or causes

discoloration of the shell

affecting an aggregate area

more than 1/4 inch in

diameter.

When gum deposits slightly

penetrate into the flesh or

causes discoloration of the

shell affecting an aggregate

area more than 1/2 inch in

diameter.

When gum deposits readily

penetrate into the flesh or

causes discoloration of the

shell affecting an aggregate

area more than 1 inch in

diameter.

Defects Injury Damage Serious damage

Fruit:

Internal

breakdown

When more than 5 percent of

the edible flesh has a distinct

light brown to medium brown

discoloration which more than

slightly detracts from the

appearance or edible quality of

the fruit.

When more than 10 percent

of the edible flesh has a light

to medium brown

discoloration which

materially detracts from the

appearance or edible quality

of the fruit.

When more than 20 percent

of the edible flesh has a

distinct medium to dark 

brown or brown-black 

discoloration which

seriously detracts from the

appearance or edible quality

of the fruit.
8

Insects and

insect feeding 

When an aggregate area more

than 1/2 inch in diameter has

any insects attached to the

surface (e.g. scale) or any

injury from insect feeding,

which more than slightly

detracts from the appearance,

edible, or shipping quality of

the fruit.

When an aggregate area

more than 3/4 inch in

diameter has any insects

attached to the surface (e.g.

scale) or any injury from

insect feeding, which

materially detracts from the

appearance, edible, or

shipping quality of the fruit.

When an aggregate area

more than 1 inch in

diameter has any insects

attached to the surface (e.g.

scale) or any injury from

insect feeding, which

seriously detracts from the

appearance, edible, or

shipping quality of the fruit.

Healed cracks When healed cracks more than

slightly detract from the

appearance, edible, or shipping

quality of the fruit.

When healed cracks on the

eyes are more than 1/2 inch

in width and not more than

1/2 inch in depth or which

materially detract from the

appearance, edible, or

shipping quality of the fruit. 

When healed cracks between

the eyes materially affect the

appearance of the fruit shell.

When healed cracks on the

eyes are more than 3/4 inch

in width and not more than

3/4 inch in depth or which

seriously detract from the

appearance, edible, or

shipping quality of the fruit. 

When healed cracks

between the eyes seriously

affect the appearance of the

fruit shell

Mechanical or

other means

When physical injury

(cleanliness, mechanical

damage) more than slightly

affects the appearance or

edible quality of the pineapple.

When physical injury

(cleanliness, mechanical

damage) materially affects

the appearance or edible

quality of the pineapple.

When physical injury

(cleanliness, mechanical

damage) seriously affects

the appearance or edible

quality of the pineapple.