February 14, 2020

USDA PURCHASE SPECIFICATION FOR TABLE GRAPES

COMMODITY SPECIFICATION 

for FRESH FRUIT JULY 2019

This specification is for USDA purchases only.

New text is in blue, links to information are underlined.

This purchase must meet all relevant requirements of the Commodity Specification for Fresh Fruit July

2019, with additional requirements shown below.

Food Safety Verification Requirements: 

1. All vendors and/or suppliers providing fresh fruits shall undergo a good agricultural practices and good 

handling practices audit of their operations. The audit must be conducted by the USDA, AMS, Specialty 

Crops Program, SCI Division or licensed Federal-State auditors providing services under a cooperative 

agreement with USDA oversight. The audit conducted may be either the USDA Good Agricultural Practices 

& Good Handling Practices (GAP&GHP) audit, or the Produce GAPs Harmonized Food Safety Audit, 

whichever is applicable to the commodity being purchased.

2. The audit must cover all parts of the operation which are applicable to the commodity being purchased. For 

example, a grape purchase would require audits of the vineyards, packing house, and storage facilities.

3. A copy of the three acceptable audit standards is available on the USDA website at 

www.ams.usda.gov/gapghp, or from your local USDA or Federal-State inspection office. A listing of USDA 

and Federal-State inspection offices are also available on the website listed above.

Domestic Origin:

All Grapes must be of 100% domestic origin. When requested, the vendors will make all paperwork available 

to SCI that confirms 100% domestic origin traceback from final package to the origin vineyard, including all 

steps in the process and a narrative of those steps.

Inspection point will be specified in the Solicitation/IFB and inspection must be performed by Federal 

or Federal-State Inspection Service.

1. Grade – U.S. No. 1 Table.

2. Type of pack – 19 lb. cartons containing various retail size bags.

• If Federal, state, or local regulations require that the carton must be labeled with a weight other 

than 19 lbs., then that carton may be used, but must be filled to weigh at least 19 lbs. The 

Federal/State inspectors will be weighing these cartons for compliance as part of the inspection

• Cartons made of foam (EPS) may be used if not prohibited by state and local laws at shipping 

point or destination

3. Variety – red, green, or black.

4. Type – seedless.

5. Must be loaded into a refrigerated trailer capable of holding air temperature not to exceed 36°F.

Specialty 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Crops Room 1536-S, STOP 0240

Program Washington, DC 20250-0240
6. Refrigerated shipment at 32° to 36° F, (32° to 34° F, optimal).

7. Truckload case count – 1,950 cases.

8. WBSCM material code – 111051

Failure to meet all Master Solicitation, Solicitation/IFB, and Commodity Specification for Fresh Fruit

July 2019 requirements will result in automatic rejection of the load at destination. No adjustments will be 

allowed. It is the vendor’s responsibility to ensure the delivery of acceptable product. The replacement of 

any failed deliveries with acceptable product, will be the vendor’s responsibility.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.