U

Marketing and 

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Fruit and 

Vegetable 

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Specialty 

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Inspection 

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of Okra

Effective November 22, 2013
This is the second issue, as amended, of the United States Standards for Grades of Okra

published in the FEDERAL REGISTER on October 23, 2013 (78 FR 63158) to become

effective November 22, 2013. This issue supersedes the first issue, which has been in 

effect since December 18, 1928.

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 and vegetables, 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, grading manuals, handbooks or instructions for inspection of 

several fresh and processed fruits and vegetables are available on the internet and 

upon request at the address below. These manuals or instructions contain detailed 

interpretations of the grade standards and provide step-by-step procedures for grading 

the product.

Grade standards are issued by the Department after careful consideration of all data 

and views submitted, and the Department welcomes suggestions which might aid in 

improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be submitted to, and 

copies of standards and grading manuals obtained from:

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240

Washington, D.C. 20250

Phone: (202) 720-5870 Fax: (202) 720-0393

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: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, 

and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and 

where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income 

is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity 

conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) To File 

an Employment Complaint: If you wish to file an employment complaint, you must contact your agency's EEO Counselor (PDF) 

within 45 days of the date of the alleged discriminatory act, event, or in the case of a personnel action. Additional information can be 

found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_file.html. To File a Program Complaint: If you wish to file a Civil Rights 

program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may

also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail 

at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-

9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Persons with Disabilities: Individuals who are deaf, hard of

hearing or have speech disabilities and you wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the 

Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program 

complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of 

communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202)

720-2600 (voice and TDD).
United States Standards for Grades of Okra (November 22, 2013)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Okra

Section

Grade

§51.3945 U.S. No. 1.

Reserved

§51.3946 [Reserved and Removed].

Definitions

§51.3947 Damage.

§51.3948 Serious damage.

Grade

§51.3945 U.S. No. 1.

"U.S. No. 1" consists of pods of okra of similar varietal characteristics which are fresh, 

tender, not badly misshapen, free from decay, and from damage caused by dirt or other 

foreign matter, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. 

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following 

tolerances, by weight, are provided as specified: 

(1) Ten percent for pods in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of this grade, 

including therein not more than 5 percent for defects causing serious damage, and 

including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for pods affected by decay. 

Reserved

§51.3946 [Reserved and Removed]. 

Definitions

§51.3947 Damage. 

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

from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the individual pod or of the lot 

as a whole. 

§51.3948 Serious damage. 

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

detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the individual pod or of 

the lot as a whole.