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

Method of Determining Percentages of Various Commodities (March 2017)

SCI Division Inspection Series

Page 1 of 3

METHOD OF DETERMINING PERCENTAGES OF VARIOUS COMMODITIES

To promote uniformity in the application of the U.S. grade standards and/or inspection of various 

commodities that do not have a grade standard, the following chart will be used to determine the 

method (count/weight/equivalent basis) of determining percentages as well as the unit of 

inspection (individual specimen, individual bunch, etc.) when inspecting any of the listed 

commodities.

Commodity Basis Unit of Inspection Scoring Basis

Bunched–Green Onions, Leeks, 

Shallots

Individual Specimen Count

Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli Individual Bunch Count, unless bunches 

are not fairly uniform, or 

inspecting for size, then

by weight

Brussel Sprouts, Snap Beans Individual Specimen Weight

Kale If loose, individual 

specimen; if bunched, 

individual bunch

Weight

*Kohlrabi If loose, individual 

specimen; if bunched, 

individual bunch

Count

Bunched–Carrots, Beets, Turnips, 

Radishes

Tops: Individual bunch; 

Roots: Individual root

Count

Topped–Carrots, Radishes Individual Specimen 50 count

Topped or Short Trimmed Tops–

Beets, Turnips, Rutabagas

Tops: Individual root 

with defect of top;

Roots: Individual root

Weight

Short Trimmed Tops, Carrots Tops: Individual root

with defect of leaf stem;

Roots: Individual root

Count

Greens–Beet, *Broccoli Rabe,

Collard, Dandelion, Mustard, Turnip, 

*Rapini

If loose, individual plant 

or leaf; if bunched, 

individual bunch

Weight (or equivalent 

basis if specimens or 

bunches are fairly 

uniform in size)
SCI Division Inspection Series Method of Determining Percentages

 of Various Commodities

Effective Date: March 2017 Page 2 of 3

Sweet Anise, *Belgian Endive,

Broccoli Crowns, Chicory, Endive, 

Escarole, *Ornamental Kale, 

Rhubarb-Field Grown, *Rhubarb- Hot 

House

Individual Specimen Count

Parsley, bunched Individual Bunch Weight

Bunched Spinach, plants or leaves Individual Bunch Count

Spinach Leaves Individual Leaves Count

Spinach Plants Individual Plants Weight 

Peas, Fresh Individual Specimen Weight 

Peas, Southern, 

Peas, *Sugar, Snow

Individual Specimen Weight (or equivalent 

basis if specimens are 

uniform in size)

Miniature Vegetables Individual Specimen Same basis as nonMiniature vegetables 

Miscellaneous:

*Arugula, *Cilantro, *Coriander, 

*Dill, *Lemon Grass, (bunched)

*Long Beans, Chinese Beans,

(bunched) *Mint, *Watercress

Individual Bunch Count

*Bamboo Shoots, *Bitter Melons,

*Bok Choy, *Cactus Leaves,

*Cardoon, *Cardone, *Chayote,

*Corn Salad, *Frizzee, *Indian Corn, 

*Kumquat, *Long Beans, Chinese 

Beans, (loose) *Nappa, Radicchio,

*Star Fruit, *Jerusalem Artichoke 

(placed packed), *Tamarillo,

*Tomatilla, *Water Chestnut

Individual Specimen Count

*Alfalfa Sprouts, *Bean Sprouts, 

*Celeriac, *Celery Knobs, *Celery 

Roots, *Dasheen, *Fiddle Heads, *

Fiddle Ferns, *Ginger Roots, *Gourds 

(Ornamental), *Jerusalem Artichoke 

(jumble pack), *Lemon Grass (loose), 

*Lo Bok, *Chinese Turnip, *Oyster 

Mushrooms, *Salsify, *Shiitake 

Mushrooms, *Yam, *true Yam, 

*Yuca

Individual Specimen Weight

*Indicates commodity does not have a U.S. Grade Standard.
SCI Division Inspection Series Method of Determining Percentages

 of Various Commodities

Effective Date: March 2017 Page 3 of 3

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