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Agricultural Marketing Service, Specialty Crops Program

November 29, 2022 

SECTION 32 PURCHASE SPECIFICATION FOR MANDARIN ORANGES AND 

TANGERINES

COMMODITY SPECIFICATION FOR FRESH CITRUS FRUIT - AUGUST 2019

Prerequisites 

Vendors or subcontractors who are supplying fresh citrus to the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) through this new Section 32 purchase must ensure that each of their 

suppliers/subcontractors who grow, harvest, pack, hold, and handle product have approved and 

current food safety verification audits PRIOR to the bid opening date of the solicitation. 

Additional audit requirements can be found in the “Tendering Text” of the Solicitation. 

For further information please contact: SCVendorAudit@USDA.gov

All citrus fruit must be of 100% domestic origin. When requested, the vendors will make all 

paperwork available to SCI that confirms 100% domestic origin traceback from the recipient 

destination to the origin orchard, including all steps in the process and a narrative of those steps. 

The citrus fruit must also meet all relevant requirements of the Commodity Specification for Fresh

Citrus Fruit, August 2019, and the below individual commodity specific requirements. 

Inspection and certification of the fresh citrus fruit must be performed at shipping point, during 

or after the final packaging, prior to shipping. Inspection must be performed by SCI Federal or 

Federal-State Inspection Service only. Inspections under the Partners in Quality (PIQ) and 

Customer Assisted Inspection Program (CAIP) programs are not accepted for Commodity 

Procurement purchases. The contractor must contact and allow the USDA Inspector at least 72 

hours advance notice when scheduling inspection service. 

All citrus fruit deliveries must be “Positive Lot Identified” (PLI) in accordance with official SCI 

PLI methods. 

The citrus fruit must reach destination within 7 calendar days of the packing date, with day 

one being the packing date. When needed, adherence to this requirement will be determined 

by reviewing the labeled packing date and the shipping and receiving documents. 

If SCI inspection/certification at shipping point/origin meets all requirements of this specification 

and solicitation, it does not guarantee acceptance at destination. Product at destination must still 

meet all applicable specification and solicitation requirements with no additional tolerances 

allowed. Failure to meet these requirements may result in rejection of the load at destination. It is 
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the vendor’s responsibility to ensure the delivery of acceptable product and the replacement of any 

failed deliveries with acceptable product. 

Individual Commodity Specification for Mandarin Oranges and Tangerines

Grade

U.S. No. 1 or better. Shipping point tolerances apply. 

The U.S. Standards to be applied are determined by the origin, texture, thickness of skin, 

discoloration, and scarring using guidance from PATCH # 006 Certifying Various Varieties of 

Citrus. Patch #006 and U.S. Grade Standard links included below. 

Varieties/Types

All varieties of seedless mandarin oranges or tangerines are permitted. Varieties and types may not 

be intermingled in the consumer unit (bag), master carton, pallet, or truckload. 

Size

Minimum 246, Maximum 100, Size designations represent the number of fruits per 30 lb. master 

container as stated by the applicant. 

Citrus fruit, in each offer unit (truckload) ordered delivered by USDA shall contain product of not 

more than three (3) adjacent sizes nor be in more than three locations within the trailer at the time 

of inspection. Each size shall be segregated in the shipment with a minimum of intermingling of 

the sizes and no intermingling on a single pallet. 

Type of Pack

6/5-pound consumer units within a thirty-pound master container 

• Consumer units must be mesh bags. All products shall be packed in new, good, clean, 

consumer units, which meet all applicable Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

requirements and may be labeled or unlabeled.

Labeling

Numerical size of the citrus fruit packed in a closed 30 lb. master container must be indicated on 

the master container. In addition, the master container will include standard FDA and industry 

labeling and must also include the date of pack. 

Transportation and Storage 

Must be transported to destination at an air temperature not to exceed plus 40 degrees F. Must be 

stored under refrigeration (optimum temperature 41 to 46 degrees F.). 

Quantity per Truckload 

1,200 master containers (cartons) per truckload. 
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Material code

Package size and type Material code

6/5-pound mesh bags in a 30-pound master carton 111620

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

REFERENCE LINKS

PATCH # 006 Certifying Various Varieties of Citrus:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/PATCH_Citrus_II_071316.pdf

USDA Purchase Programs: Solicitations & Awards

https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/solicitations

USDA Product Specifications & Requirements:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/product-specs

U.S. Grades and Standards Fruit:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/fruits

USDA Specialty Crops Field Inspection Offices

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/sci-contacts/field-inspection-offices