Marketing and

Regulatory

Programs

Agricultural

Marketing 

Service

Specialty

Crops

Program

Specialty

Crops

Inspection

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of Romaine

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Romaine (81 FR 51297) 

supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since August 10, 1960.

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, vegetables, and specialty crops 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 and inspection instructions for all fresh and processed fruits,

vegetables, and specialty crops are available on the internet and upon request at the 

address below. These documents provide detailed interpretations of the grade standards 

and provide step-by-step procedures for grading the product.

Grade standards are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after careful 

consideration of all data and views submitted during rulemaking. The Department 

welcomes suggestions for improving the standards in future revisions. Comments may be 

submitted to, and copies of standards and inspection instructions obtained from:

Director, Specialty Crops Inspection Division

Specialty Crops Program,

USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service

1400 Independence Avenue, SW, STOP 0240

Washington, D.C. 20250

__________________________________________________________________________

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: In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights 

regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA 

programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender 

expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, 

political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all 

bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, 

American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) 

or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in 

languages other than English. 

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at 

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter 

all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form 

or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
United States Standards for Grades of Romaine (September 6, 2015)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Romaine

Section Page No.

Grades............................................................................................................................ 2

§51.3295 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 2

§51.3296 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 2

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 2

§51.3297 Tolerances................................................................................................... 2

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 2

§51.3298 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 2

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 2

§51.3299 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 2

§51.3300 Fresh. .......................................................................................................... 2

§51.3301 Well developed............................................................................................ 2

§51.3302 Well trimmed................................................................................................ 3

§51.3303 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.3304 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 3
United States Standards for Grades of Romaine (September 6, 2015)

2

Grades

§51.3295 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of romaine plants of similar varietal characteristics which are 

fresh, well developed, well trimmed, and which are free from decay, and free from 

damage caused by seedstems, broken, bruised or discolored leaves, tipburn, wilting, 

foreign material, freezing, dirt, disease, insects, mechanical or other means.

Reserved

§51.3296 Reserved.

Tolerances

§51.3297 Tolerances.

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

tolerances, by count, are provided:

(a) 10 percent of the plants in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the grade:

Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be 

allowed for serious damage, including therein not more than 2 percent for decay.

Application of Tolerances

§51.3298 Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual packages are subject to the following limitations: Provided,

That the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified for the grade:

(a) A package shall have not more than one and one-half times a specified tolerance 

of 10 percent and not more than double a specified tolerance of less than 10 

percent, except that at least one defective plant may be permitted in any 

package.

Definitions

§51.3299 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the plants in any container are of the 

same general type.

§51.3300 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the plant has normal succulence but the outermost leaves may be 

slightly wilted.

§51.3301 Well developed.

“Well developed” means that the plant shows normal growth and shape.
United States Standards for Grades of Romaine (September 6, 2015)

3

§51.3302 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed” means that the stem is trimmed off close to the point of attachment of 

the outer leaves.

§51.3303 Damage.

“Damage” means the specific defect described in this section; any other defect, or any

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

shipping quality of the plants.

(a) Seedstems when the length of the attached seedstem is more than one-fourth 

the overall plant length or when any portion of the seedstem has been removed.

§51.3304 Serious damage.

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

detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the plant.