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United States Standards

for Grades of Shelled 

Pecans

Effective December 10, 2018
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans 

(83 FR 50475) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since 

July 15, 1969.

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, DC 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 Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

1 

United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans

Section Page No.

U.S. Grades.................................................................................................................... 3

§51.1430 U.S. No. 1 Halves ........................................................................................ 3

§51.1431 U.S. No. 1 Halves and Pieces. .................................................................... 3

§51.1432 U.S. No. 1 Pieces. ....................................................................................... 4

§51.1433 U.S. Commercial Halves.............................................................................. 4

§51.1434 U.S. Commercial Halves and Pieces........................................................... 4

§51.1435 U.S. Commercial Pieces.............................................................................. 4

Color Classifications..................................................................................................... 5

§51.1436 Color classifications..................................................................................... 5

Size Classifications....................................................................................................... 6

§51.1437 Size classifications for halves...................................................................... 6

§51.1438 Size classifications for pieces...................................................................... 7

Tolerances for Defects.................................................................................................. 8

§51.1439 Tolerances for defects. ................................................................................ 8

Application of Standards.............................................................................................. 9

§51.1440 Application of standards. ............................................................................. 9

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 9

§51.1441 Half-kernel. .................................................................................................. 9

§51.1442 Piece............................................................................................................ 9

§51.1443 Particles and dust. ....................................................................................... 9

§51.1444 Well dried..................................................................................................... 9

§51.1445 Fairly well developed. .................................................................................. 9

§51.1446 Poorly developed......................................................................................... 9

§51.1447 Fairly uniform in color. ............................................................................... 10

§51.1448 Fairly uniform in size.................................................................................. 10

§51.1449 Damage..................................................................................................... 10

§51.1450 Serious damage. ....................................................................................... 10
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

2 

Metric Conversion Table............................................................................................. 13

§51.1451 Metric conversion table.............................................................................. 13
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

3 

U.S. Grades

§51.1430 U.S. No. 1 Halves

“U.S. No. 1 Halves” consists of pecan half-kernels which meet the following 

requirements:

(a) For quality:

(1) Well dried;

(2) Fairly well developed;

(3) Fairly uniform in color;

(4) Not darker than “amber” skin color;

(5) Free from damage or serious damage by any cause;

(6) Free from pieces of shell, center wall, and foreign material; and,

(7) Comply with tolerances for defects (see §51.1439); and,

(b) For size:

(1) Halves are fairly uniform in size;

(2) Halves conform to size classification or count specified; and,

(3) Comply with tolerances for pieces, particles, and dust (see §51.1437).

§51.1431 U.S. No. 1 Halves and Pieces.

The requirements for this grade are the same as those for U.S. No. 1 Halves except:

(a) For size:

(1) At least 50 percent, by weight, are half-kernels;

(2) Both halves and pieces will not pass through a 5/16 inch round opening; 

and,

(3) Comply with tolerances for undersize. (See Table III.)
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

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§51.1432 U.S. No. 1 Pieces.

The requirements for this grade are the same as those for U.S. No. 1 Halves except:

(a) For quality:

(1) No requirement for uniformity of color; and,

(b) For size:

(1) No requirement for percentage of half-kernels;

(2) Conform to any size classification or other size description specified; and,

(3) Comply with applicable tolerances for off-size. (See Table III.)

§51.1433 U.S. Commercial Halves.

The requirements for this grade are the same as those for U.S. No. 1 Halves except:

(a) For quality:

(1) No requirement for uniformity of color; and,

(2) Increased tolerances for defects (see §51.1439); and,

(b) For size:

(1) No requirement for uniformity of size.

§51.1434 U.S. Commercial Halves and Pieces.

The requirements for this grade are the same as those for U.S. No. 1 Halves and 

Pieces except:

(a) For quality:

(1) No requirement for uniformity of color; and,

(2) Increased tolerances for defects. (See §51.1439.)

§51.1435 U.S. Commercial Pieces.

The requirements for this grade are the same as those for U.S. No. 1 Pieces except for:

(a) Increased tolerances for defects. (See §51.1439.)
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

5 

Color Classifications

§51.1436 Color classifications.

(a) The skin color of pecan kernels may be described in terms of the color 

classifications provided in this section. When the color of kernels in a lot 

generally conforms to the “light” or “light amber” classification, that color 

classification may be used to describe the lot in connection with the grade.

(1) “Light” means that the kernel is mostly golden color or lighter, with not 

more than 25 percent of the surface darker than golden, and none of the 

surface darker than light brown. 

(2) “Light amber” means that the kernel has more than 25 percent of its 

surface light brown, but not more than 25 percent of the surface darker 

than light brown, and none of the surface darker than medium brown. 

(3) “Amber” means that the kernel has more than 25 percent of the surface 

medium brown, but not more than 25 percent of the surface darker than 

medium brown, and none of the surface darker than dark brown (very 

dark-brown or blackish-brown discoloration).

(4) “Dark amber” means that the kernel has more than 25 percent of the 

surface dark brown, but not more than 25 percent of the surface darker 

than dark brown (very dark-brown or blackish-brown discoloration).

(b) U.S. Department of Agriculture kernel color standards, PEC-MC-1, illustrate the 

color intensities implied by the terms “golden,” “light brown,” “medium brown,” 

and “dark brown” referred to in paragraph (a) of this section.
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

6 

Size Classifications

§51.1437 Size classifications for halves.

The size of pecan halves in a lot may be specified in accordance with one of the size 

classifications shown in Table I:

Table I

Size classification for halves Number of halves per pound

Mammoth 250 or less

Junior mammoth 251 - 300

Jumbo 301 - 350

Extra large 351 - 450

Large 451 - 550

Medium 551 - 650

Small (topper) 651 - 750

Extra small 751 or more

(a) The number of halves per pound shall be based upon the weight of half-kernels 

after all pieces, particles and dust, shell, center wall, and foreign material have 

been removed.

(b) In lieu of the size classifications in Table I, the size of pecan halves in a lot may 

be specified in terms of the number of halves or a range of numbers of halves 

per pound. For example, “400” or “600-700”. 

(c) Tolerance for count per pound: In order to allow for variations incident to proper 

sizing, a tolerance shall be permitted as follows:

(1) When an exact number of halves per pound is specified, the actual count 

per pound may vary not more than 5 percent from the specified number; 

and,

(2) When any size classification shown in Table I or a range in count per 

pound is specified, no tolerance shall be allowed for counts outside of the 

specified range.

(d) Tolerances for pieces, particles, and dust. In order to allow for variations incident 

to proper sizing and handling, not more than 15 percent, by weight, of any lot 

may consist of pieces, particles, and dust: Provided, That not more than onethird of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for portions less than one-half 

of a complete half-kernel, including not more than 1 percent for particles and 

dust.
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

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§51.1438 Size classifications for pieces.

The size of pecan pieces in a lot may be specified in accordance with one of the size 

classifications shown in Table II.

Table II

Size classification

Maximum diameter

(will pass through round 

opening of following 

diameter)

Minimum diameter

(will not pass through 

round opening of 

following diameter)

Mammoth pieces No limitation 8/16 inch 

Extra large pieces 9/16 inch 7/16 inch 

Halves and pieces No limitation 5/16 inch

Large pieces 8/16 inch 5/16 inch 

Medium pieces 6/16 inch 3/16 inch 

Small pieces 4/16 inch 2/16 inch 

Extra small pieces 3/16 inch 1/16 inch 

Granules 2/16 inch 1/16 inch 

(a) In lieu of the size classifications in Table II, the size of pieces in a lot may be 

specified in terms of minimum diameter, or as a range described in terms of 

minimum and maximum diameters expressed in sixteenths or sixty-fourths of an 

inch.

(b) Tolerances for size of pieces: In order to allow for variations incident to proper 

sizing, tolerances are provided for pieces in a lot which fail to meet the 

requirements of any size specified. The tolerances, by weight, are shown in 

Table III.
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

8 

Table III

Size classification

Total tolerance 

for offsize 

pieces

Tolerance (included in total 

tolerance) for pieces smaller 

than

2/16 inch 1/16 inch

Mammoth pieces 15% 1% — 

Extra large pieces 15% 1% — 

Halves and pieces 15% 1% —

Large pieces 15% 1% — 

Medium pieces 15% 2% — 

Small pieces 15% 2% —

Extra small pieces 15% — 2% 

Granules 15% — 5% 

Other specified size 15% 1% — 

Tolerances for Defects

§51.1439 Tolerances for defects.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the 

foregoing grades, the following tolerances, by weight, are provided as specified:

(a) U.S. No. 1 Halves, U.S. No. 1 Halves and Pieces, and U.S. No. 1 Pieces grades:

(1) 0.05 percent for shell, center wall, and foreign material;

(2) 3 percent for portions of kernels which are “dark amber” or darker color, or 

darker than any specified lighter color classification but which are not 

otherwise defective; and,

(3) 3 percent for portions of kernels which fail to meet the remaining 

requirements of the grade, including therein not more than 0.50 percent 

for defects causing serious damage: Provided, That any unused portion 

of this tolerance may be applied to increase the tolerance for kernels 

which are “dark amber” or darker color, or darker than any specified lighter 

color classification.

(b) U.S. Commercial Halves, U.S. Commercial Halves and Pieces, and U.S. 

Commercial Pieces grades:

(1) 0.15 percent for shell, center wall, and foreign material;
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

9 

(2) 25 percent for portions of kernels which are “dark amber” or darker color, 

or darker than any specified lighter color classification, but which are not 

otherwise defective; and,

(3) 8 percent for portions of kernels which fail to meet the remaining 

requirements of the grade, including therein not more than 1 percent for 

defects causing serious damage.

Application of Standards

§51.1440 Application of standards.

The grade of a lot of shelled pecans shall be determined on the basis of a composite 

sample drawn at random from containers in various locations in the lot. However, any 

identifiable container or number of containers in which the pecans are obviously of a 

quality or size materially different from that in the majority of containers, shall be 

considered as a separate lot, and shall be sampled and graded separately.

Definitions

§51.1441 Half-kernel.

“Half-kernel” means one of the separated halves of an entire pecan kernel with not more 

than one-eighth of its original volume missing, exclusive of the portion which formerly 

connected the two halves of the kernel.

§51.1442 Piece.

“Piece” means a portion of a kernel which is less than seven-eighths of a half-kernel, 

but which will not pass through a round opening two-sixteenths inch in diameter.

§51.1443 Particles and dust.

“Particles and dust” means, for all size designations except “extra small pieces” and 

“granules,” fragments of kernels which will pass through a round opening two-sixteenths 

inch in diameter.

§51.1444 Well dried.

“Well dried” means that the portion of kernel is firm and crisp, not pliable or leathery.

§51.1445 Fairly well developed.

“Fairly well developed” means that the kernel has at least a moderate amount of meat in 

proportion to its width and length. (See Figure 1.) 

§51.1446 Poorly developed.

“Poorly developed” means that the kernel has a small amount of meat in proportion to 

its width and length. (See Figure 1.)
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

10

§51.1447 Fairly uniform in color.

“Fairly uniform in color” means that 90 percent or more of the kernels in the lot have 

skin color within the range of one or two color classifications. 

§51.1448 Fairly uniform in size.

“Fairly uniform in size” means that, in a representative sample of 100 halves, the 10 

smallest halves weigh not less than one-half as much as the 10 largest halves.

§51.1449 Damage.

“Damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally 

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, or any other defect, or any 

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

marketing quality of the individual portion of the kernel or of the lot as a whole. The 

following defects should be considered as damage:

(a) Adhering material from inside the shell when attached to more than onefourth of the surface on one side of the half-kernel or piece;

(b) Dust or dirt adhering to the kernel when conspicuous;

(c) Kernel which is not well dried;

(d) Kernel which is “dark amber” or darker color;

(e) Kernel having more than one dark kernel spot, or one dark kernel spot more 

than one-eighth inch in greatest dimension;

(f) Shriveling when the surface of the kernel is very conspicuously wrinkled;

(g) Internal flesh discoloration of a medium shade of gray or brown extending 

more than one-fourth the length of the half-kernel or piece, or lesser areas of 

dark discoloration affecting the appearance to an equal or greater extent; and,

(h) Poorly developed kernel. (See Figure 1.)

§51.1450 Serious damage. 

“Serious damage” means any specific defect described in this section; or an equally 

objectionable variation of any one of these defects, or any other defect, or any 

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

marketing quality of the individual portion of kernel or of the lot as a whole. The 

following defects shall be considered as serious damage:

(a) Any plainly visible mold; 
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

11

(b) Rancidity when the kernel is distinctly rancid to the taste. Staleness of flavor 

shall not be classed as rancidity;

(c) Decay affecting any portion of the kernel;

(d) Insects, web, or frass or any distinct evidence of insect feeding on the kernel;

(e) Internal discoloration which is dark gray, dark brown, or black and extends 

more than one-third the length of the half-kernel or piece;

(f) Adhering material from inside the shell when attached to more than one-half 

of the surface on one side of the half-kernel or piece;

(g) Dark kernel spots when more than three are on the kernel, or when any dark 

kernel spot or the aggregate of two or more spots affect an area of more than 10 

percent of the surface of the half-kernel or piece;

(h) Dark skin discoloration, darker than “dark brown, when covering more than 

one-fourth of the surface of the half-kernel or piece; and,

(i) Undeveloped kernel. (See Figure 1.)
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

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Figure 1
United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans (December 10, 2018) 

13

Metric Conversion Table

§51.1451 Metric conversion table.

Inches Millimeters (mm)

8/16 12.7

7/16 11.1

6/16 9.5

5/16 7.9

4/16 6.4

3/16 4.8

2/16 3.2

6/64 2.4

5/64 2.0

1/16 1.6