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THE SPECIALTY CROPS INSPECTION DIVISION’S

EQUIPMENT AND FORMS DEPOT

USDA, AMS, SCP, SCI 

831 MITTEN ROAD, ROOM 200

BURLINGAME, CA 94010

PHONE: 650-552-9073

FAX: 650-552-9147

EQUIPMENT CATALOG
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA CITRUS

SOOTY MOLD: This disorder is caused by a fungus that aheres to excretions of the White Fly in Florida or Black Scale in 

California. It may occur as light deposits scattered over the surface of the fruit or as heavily concentrated areas at the stem 

end. Normal washing procedures usually do not remove all fungus deposits. However, they can be easily removed if scraped 

with a finger or knife. Sooty Mold is a permanent grade defect (not discoloration) and scored on an appearance basis. As a 

guide, allow an aggregate area 1” in diameter on a 27 size grapefruit, 3/4” on a 36 size and 1/2” area on a 48 size for the U.S. 

No. 1 grade. Alow an aggregate area 1-5/8” in daimeter on 27 size grapefruit, 1-3/8” on 36 size and 1-1/8” on 48 size fruit for 

the U.S. No. 2 grade. (Correspondingly greater or lesser areas allowed on larger or smaller size fruit.)

PHOTO I PHOTO II PHOTO III

PHOTOS NO. I & II – U.S. NO. 1, LOWER LIMIT

These photos illustrate areas approximately 3/4" 

in diameter on 36 size grapefruit.

PHOTO NO. III – U.S. NO. 2, LOWER LIMIT

This photo illustrates an area aggregating 

approximately 1-1/2” in diameter on a 32 size 

grapefruit.

CIT(CA&AZ,FLA&TX)-CP-1

Sooty Mold

September 1989

(Previously Sooty Mold & Smudged 

Discoloration, August 1977)
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA, TEXAS AND FLORIDA CITRUS

SMUDGED: This term is commonly applied to fruit more or less covered with a smoky deposit which cannot be rubbed off 

with the hand. This disorder is caused largely by smoke from orchard heaters during the season when frost has threatened.

(Florida and Texas Citrus only.)

Smudged Fruit shall be scored on the same basis as “Discoloration” and reported on the certificatge as “excessive 

discoloration” describing the shade of discoloration and showing percentage of surface affected.

Maximum extent appearance can be affected 

and still grade U.S. No. 1.

CIT(CA&AZ,FLA&TX)-CP-1-A

Smudged Discoloration

September 1989

(Previously Sooty Mold & Smudged 

Discoloration, August 1977)
KARA – (HYBRID MANDARIN – CALIFORNIA)

KINNOW – (HYBRID MANDARIN – CALIFORNIA)

MANDARIN 1-IDENT

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY March 1990

(Previously 5/71)
MINNEOLA TANGELO (CALIFORNIA)

CHARACTERISTIC SHAPE

MINNEOLA TANGELO (CALIFORNIA)

CHARACTERISTIC SHAPE

MINNEOLA TANGELO 1-IDENT

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY March 1990

(Previously 5/71)
ORANGE SKIN-BREAKDOWN

UPPER LIMIT U.S. NO. 2

Skin-breakdown is present only in the four dark areas near the stem scar. Light areas on the shoulders are 

photographic highlights with no skin injury involved. This orange would be considered the lower limit of 

U.S. No. 1 if the smallest dark area was not present.

C-1, March 1990

(Previous photo had no date)
PULLED STEMS

Torn rind areas occurring adjacent to the stem button caused by pulled stems (plugs) shall be scored as damage, 

serious damage, or very serious damage respectively when materially, seriously or very seriously detracting from 

the appearance or marketing quality of the orange.

“Damage” – When the rind adjacent to 

the stem button is torn more than the 

aggregate area of a circle 3/16 inch in 

diameter.

“Serious damage” – When the rind 

adjacent to the stem button is torn more 

than the aggregate area of a circle 1⁄4 

inch in diameter.

“Very serious damage” – When the rind 

adjacent to the stem button is torn more 

than the aggregate area of a circle 5/16 

inch in diameter or when the flesh is 

exposed.

The aggregate areas specified in the definitions are equivalent to the various 

circle diameters on a 100 size Florida or Texas orange or an 88 size Arizona 

or California orange.

ORG-CP-1

Pulled Stems

February 1990

(Previously Pulled Stems, August 1970)
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA: SKIN BREAKDOWN AND OIL SPOTTING

Since Skin Breakdown (“pitting” when on the side of the fruit, “aging” when occurring near the stem button) is progressive, it 

is a more serious defect than oil spotting. The lesions become larger, deeper and more discolored with age, and are 

frequently followed by decay.

Oil spotting does not ordinarily change materially under normal transit and storage conditions. This defect should not be 

scored as “skin breakdown” under the Standards for Export.

Left: Skin Breakdown (pitting) in comparatively early stage. 

Note depth of spot. This type of injury will increase in depth 

and area and will usually darken. This one spot illustrates the 

maximum permitted on an orange of this size in U.S. No. 1 

grade.

Right: Oil spotting (green spots). Note that spots have little if 

any depth. There will be relatively little change in these spots 

as compared to pitting lesions. This is less than the 

maximum area permitted in U.S.l No. 1 grade but no more 

than 7 green spots would be allowed.

Illustration of advanced stages of skin breakdown (aging). 

This shows how spots will progress. Lesions such as these 

afford ready entrance for decay organisms. Both oranges are 

seriously damaged.

ORG-CP-2-A, March 1990

(Previously ORG-CP-2, 1962)
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA: SKIN BREAKDOWN AND OIL SPOTTING

Left: Oil Spotting. The large, elongated spot follows contact with a 

tree limb or other object. The depression results from the original 

injury, not from the oil spotting. However, this fruit is damaged 

because the oil spotting and the depression, taken together, 

materially affect the appearance of the fruit.

Right: Oil spotting and a brown discoloration. This is older fruit but 

oil spots have not sunken. This fruit is damaged by combination of 

oil spots and brown discoloration materially affecting the 

appearance.

Oil Spotting at left, Pitting at right. Neither by itself is 

sufficient to affect grade but together they are 

considered damage, materially affecting the 

appearance. Such a combination of oil spotting and 

skin breakdown is scored as damaged by skin 

breakdown.

ORG-CP-2-B, March 1990

(Previously ORG-CP-2, 1962)
ORANGES

SLIDE 95 – DEEP SCARS
ORANGES

SLIDE 96 -- SCALE