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United States Standards

for Grades of Topped 

Carrots

Effective July 24, 2020
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (85 FR 

37820) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since December 20, 

1965.

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 How to File a 

Program Discrimination Complaint 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 Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots

Section Page No.

Grades............................................................................................................................ 3

§51.2360 U.S. Extra No. 1........................................................................................... 3

§51.2361 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 3

§51.2362 U.S. No. 1 Jumbo. ....................................................................................... 3

§51.2363 U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color............................................. 3

§51.2364 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 3

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 4

§51.2365 Tolerances................................................................................................... 4

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 4

§51.2366 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 4

Sample for Grade Determination ................................................................................. 5

§51.2367 Sample for grade determination. ................................................................. 5

Standard Sizing ............................................................................................................. 5

§51.2368 Standard sizing............................................................................................ 5

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 5

§51.2369 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 5

§51.2370 Well trimmed................................................................................................ 5

§51.2371 Firm. ............................................................................................................ 5

§51.2372 Clean. .......................................................................................................... 5

§51.2373 Fairly well colored........................................................................................ 6

§51.2374 Fairly smooth............................................................................................... 6

§51.2375 Well formed. ................................................................................................ 6

§51.2376 Secondary new top growth. ......................................................................... 6

§51.2377 Damage....................................................................................................... 6

§51.2378 Diameter...................................................................................................... 6

§51.2379 Length.......................................................................................................... 6

§51.2380 Fairly clean. ................................................................................................. 7
United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

2

§51.2381 Fairly well formed. ....................................................................................... 7

§51.2382 Excessively rough........................................................................................ 7

§51.2383 Seriously misshapen. .................................................................................. 7

§51.2384 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 7

Conversion Table .......................................................................................................... 7
United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

3

Grades

§51.2360 U.S. Extra No. 1.

“U.S. Extra No. 1” consists of carrots of similar varietal characteristics which are well 

trimmed, firm, clean, fairly well colored, fairly smooth, well formed; which are free from 

secondary new top growth and soft rot, and free from damage caused by freezing, 

growth cracks, sunburn, pithiness, woodiness, internal discoloration, oil spray, dry rot, 

other disease, insects or other means. (See §51.2365.)

(a) Size. The diameter of each carrot is not less than 3/4 inch or more than 1-1/2 

inches, and the length is not less than 5 inches. (See §51.2365.)

§51.2361 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of carrots of similar varietal characteristics which are well 

trimmed, firm, fairly clean, fairly well colored, fairly smooth, fairly well formed; which are 

free from soft rot, and free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, sunburn, 

pithiness, woodiness, internal discoloration, oil spray, dry rot, other disease, insects or 

other means. (See §51.2365.)

(a) Size. Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each carrot is not less than 3/4 

inch or more than 1-1/2 inches, and the length is not less than 5 inches. (See 

§51.2365.)

§51.2362 U.S. No. 1 Jumbo.

“U.S. No. 1 Jumbo” consists of carrots which meet all requirements of the U.S. No. 1 

grade except for size. (See §51.2365.)

(a) Size. The diameter of each carrot is not less than 1 inch or more than 2-1/2 

inches, and the length is not less than 5 inches. (See §51.2365.)

§51.2363 U.S. No. 1 Color and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color.

“U.S. No. 1 Color” or “U.S. No. 1 Jumbo Color” consists of carrots which meet the

requirements of the U.S. No. 1 or U.S. No. 1 Jumbo grades except for fairly well 

colored. All roots must show good characteristic color, which means the root has a 

uniform characteristic color for the variety over practically the entire surface. Roots may 

be comingled with varieties of different colors, provided roots are of the same type. 

(See §51.2365.)

§51.2364 U.S. No. 2.

“U.S. No. 2” consists of carrots of similar varietal characteristics which are well 

trimmed, firm, not excessively rough, not seriously misshapen; which are free from soft 

rot, and free from serious damage caused by dirt, freezing, growth cracks, sunburn, 
United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

4

pithiness, woodiness, internal discoloration, oil spray, dry rot, other disease, insects or 

other means. (See §51.2365.)

(a) Size. Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each carrot is not less than 1 

inch or more than 3 inches, and the length is not less than 3 inches. (See 

§51.2365.)

Tolerances

§51.2365 Tolerances.

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

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

(a) Defects.

(1) U.S. Extra No. 1 grade. Ten percent for carrots in any lot which fail to 

meet the requirements of this grade: Provided, That not more than onehalf of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing 

serious damage, including therein not more than 1 percent for carrots 

affected by soft rot.

(2) U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 1 Jumbo, U.S. No. 1 Color, and U.S. No. 1 Jumbo

Color grades. Ten percent for carrots in any lot which 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 defects causing serious 

damage, including therein not more than 2 percent for carrots affected by 

soft rot.

(3) U.S. No. 2 grade. Ten percent for carrots which fail to meet the 

requirements of this grade, including therein not more than 2 percent for 

carrots affected by soft rot.

(b) Off-size.

(1) Five percent for carrots in any lot which are larger than the specified 

maximum diameter; and

(2) Ten percent for carrots in any lot which are smaller than the specified 

minimum diameter or shorter than the specified minimum length.

Application of Tolerances

§51.2366 Application of tolerances.

Individual samples shall not have more than double the tolerance specified: Provided, 

That not more than one carrot which is frozen or affected by soft rot may be permitted in 

any package weighing approximately 3 pounds or less: And provided further, That the 

averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified for the grade.
United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

5

Sample for Grade Determination

§51.2367 Sample for grade determination.

Each sample shall consist of 50 carrots. When individual packages contain at least 50 

carrots, the sample is drawn from one package; when individual packages contain less 

than 50 carrots, a sufficient number of adjoining packages are opened to form a 50 

carrot sample.

Standard Sizing

§51.2368 Standard sizing.

(a) Packages of carrots containing 2 pounds or less may be certified as “standard 

sizing,” provided the variation in diameter of the carrots in any individual package 

is not more than three-eighths inch and the variation in length is not more than 

2-1/2 inches.

(b) Not more than 10 percent of the packages in any lot may fail to meet the 

requirements for “standard sizing.”

Definitions

§51.2369 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the carrots in any lot are of the same 

general type. For example, carrots with a short, but blunt growth like the Oxheart 

variety, shall not be mixed with long or half-long carrots like the Imperator or Danvers 

varieties.

§51.2370 Well trimmed.

“Well trimmed” means that the tops are cut back to not more than 1 inch in length, 

except that new leaves developing within the original central cluster of leafstems, or 

occasional uncut leaves or leafstems, exceeding this length which do not materially 

affect the appearance of the individual carrot shall be permitted. Carrots may have tips 

of roots cut or broken off: Provided, That these cuts or breaks are small and fairly 

smooth and do not materially affect the appearance of the individual carrot.

§51.2371 Firm.

“Firm” means that the carrot is not soft, flabby, or shriveled. 

§51.2372 Clean.

“Clean” means that the individual carrot is practically free from dirt and other foreign 

matter.
United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

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§51.2373 Fairly well colored.

“Fairly well colored” means that the carrot has an orange, orange red, or orange 

scarlet color, but not a pale orange or distinct yellow color.

§51.2374 Fairly smooth.

“Fairly smooth” means that the individual carrot is not rough, ridged, or covered with 

secondary rootlets to the extent that the appearance is materially affected.

§51.2375 Well formed.

“Well formed” means that the individual carrot is not forked, or misshapen to the extent 

that the appearance is more than slightly affected.

§51.2376 Secondary new top growth.

“Secondary new top growth” means new leaves or clusters of leaves which have 

developed outside the original central cluster of leafstems.

§51.2377 Damage.

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

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

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

quality of the individual carrot or the appearance of the sample as a whole, or which 

cannot be removed without a loss of more than 5 percent, by weight, in the ordinary 

preparation for use. The following specific defects shall be considered as damage:

(a) Growth cracks which are not shallow or not smooth, or which materially detract 

from the appearance of the individual carrot;

(b) Sunburn which causes a loss of more than 5 percent, by weight, in the ordinary 

preparation for use, except that superficial light green color at the stem end 

which does not materially detract from the appearance of the carrot shall be 

permitted.

§51.2378 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension of the carrot measured at right angles to the

longitudinal axis.

§51.2379 Length.

“Length” means the greatest dimension of the carrot measured from the crown to the 

lowest point which is not less than one-fourth inch in diameter.
United States Standards for Grades of Topped Carrots (July 24, 2020)

7

§51.2380 Fairly clean.

“Fairly clean” means that the individual carrot is reasonably free from dirt and other 

foreign matter.

§51.2381 Fairly well formed.

“Fairly well formed” means that the individual carrot is not forked, or misshapen to the 

extent that the appearance is materially affected.

§51.2382 Excessively rough.

“Excessively rough” means that the individual carrot is rough or ridged to the extent 

that the appearance is seriously affected.

§51.2383 Seriously misshapen.

“Seriously misshapen” means that the individual carrot is forked or misshapen to the 

extent that the appearance is seriously affected.

§51.2384 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 individual carrot or 

the appearance of the sample as a whole, or which cannot be removed without a loss of 

more than 20 percent, by weight, in the ordinary preparation for use. 

Conversion Table

Inches Millimeters (mm)

1/8 = 3.2

1/4 = 6.4

3/8 = 9.5

1/2 = 12.7

5/8 = 15.9

3/4 = 19.0

7/8 = 22.2

1 = 25.4

1-1/4 = 31.8

1-1/2 = 38.1

1-3/4 = 44.4

2 = 50.8

3 = 76.2

4 = 101.6