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United States Consumer 

Standards for Fresh 

Tomatoes

Effective October 10, 1948

Reprinted December 13, 2018
This is a reprint of the United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes which 

have been in effect since October 10, 1948 and were updated to modify the format.

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 Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes (October 10, 1948)

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United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes

______________________________________________________________________

Section Page No.

General........................................................................................................................... 2

§51.1900 General........................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.1901 U.S. Grade A.................................................................................................. 2

§51.1902 U.S. Grade B.................................................................................................. 2

Size and Maturity Classification................................................................................... 2

§51.1903 Size classification........................................................................................... 2

§51.1904 Maturity classification. .................................................................................... 3

Off-Grade ....................................................................................................................... 3

§51.1905 Off-Grade tomatoes........................................................................................ 3

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 3

§51.1906 Similar varietal characteristics........................................................................ 3

§51.1907 Mature. ........................................................................................................... 3

§51.1908 Well developed............................................................................................... 4

§51.1909 Fairly well formed. .......................................................................................... 4

§51.1910 Fairly smooth.................................................................................................. 4

§51.1911 Damaged........................................................................................................ 4

§51.1912 Badly misshapen............................................................................................ 5

§51.1913 Serious damage. ............................................................................................ 5
United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes (October 10, 1948)

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General

§51.1900 General.

These standards apply only to field grown tomatoes and not to tomatoes grown in 

greenhouses.

Grades

§51.1901 U.S. Grade A.

U.S. Grade A shall consist of tomatoes of similar varietal characteristics which are 

mature and are at least turning (see §51.1904), but are not overripe or soft which are 

well developed, at least fairly well formed, fairly smooth, free from soft rot, freezing 

injury, and from damage caused by dirt, bruises, cuts, shriveling, sunscald, sunburn, 

puffiness, catfaces, growth cracks, scars, dry rot, other diseases, insects, hail, or 

mechanical or other means. Tomatoes on the shown face shall be reasonably 

representative in size and quality of the contents of container. (See §51.1903.)

(a) Incident to proper grading and handling, except for maturity, not more than 5 

percent, by count, of the tomatoes in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of 

the grade, including not more than 1 percent for tomatoes which are affected by 

soft rot.

§51.1902 U.S. Grade B.

U.S. Grade B shall consist of tomatoes of similar varietal characteristics which are 

mature and are at least turning (see §51.1904), but are not overripe or soft and not 

badly misshapen; which are free from soft rot, freezing injury and from serious damage 

caused by dirt, bruises, cuts, shriveling, sunscald, sunburn, puffiness, catfaces, growth 

cracks, scars, dry rot, other diseases, insects, hail, or mechanical or other means. 

Tomatoes on the shown face shall be reasonably representative in size and quality of 

the contents of the container. (See §51.1903.)

(a) Incident to proper grading and handling, except for maturity, not more than 5 

percent, by count, of the tomatoes in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of 

the grade, including not more than 1 percent for tomatoes which are affected by 

soft rot.

Size and Maturity Classification

§51.1903 Size classification.

The following terms may be used for describing the size of the tomatoes in any lot:

Small Medium Large Very Large

Under 3 oz 3 to 6 oz., inc. Over 6 to 10 oz., inc. Over 10 oz.
United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes (October 10, 1948)

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(a) The tomatoes may also be classed in terms of combinations of the above sizes, 

as “Small to Medium,” “Medium to Large,” “Small to Very Large,” etc., in 

accordance with the facts.

(b) Incident to proper sizing, not more than 10 percent, by count, of the tomatoes in 

any lot may vary from the size specified.

§51.1904 Maturity classification.

Tomatoes which are characteristically red when ripe, but are not overripe or soft, may 

be classified for maturity as follows:

(a) Turning, when at least some part of the surface of the tomato, but less than onehalf of the surface in the aggregate, is covered with pink color.

(b) Pink, when the tomato shows from one-half to three-fourths of the surface in the 

aggregate covered with pink or red color.

(c) Hard ripe, when the tomato shows three-fourths or more of the surface in the 

aggregate covered with pink or red color. 

(d) Firm ripe, when the tomato shows three-fourths or more of the surface in the 

aggregate covered with red color characteristic of reasonably well ripened 

tomatoes.

(e) Incident to proper maturity determination, not more than a total of 10 percent, by 

count, of the tomatoes in any lot may fail to meet the maturity specified: 

Provided, That not more than 5 percent shall be allowed for tomatoes which are 

immature or are overripe or soft.

Off-Grade

§51.1905 Off-Grade tomatoes.

Tomatoes which fail to meet the requirements of either of the foregoing grades shall be 

Off-Grade tomatoes.

Definitions

§51.1906 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the tomatoes are alike as to color, i.e., 

bright red varieties shall not be mixed with varieties which have a purplish tinge.

§51.1907 Mature.

“Mature” means that the tomato has reached the stage of development which will insure 

a proper completion of the ripening process.
United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes (October 10, 1948)

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§51.1908 Well developed.

“Well developed” means that the tomato shows normal growth. Tomatoes which are 

ridged and peaked at the stem end, contain dry tissue and usually open spaces, are not 

considered well developed.

§51.1909 Fairly well formed.

“Fairly well formed” means that the tomato is not decidedly kidney-shaped, lopsided, 

elongated, angular, or otherwise deformed.

§51.1910 Fairly smooth.

“Fairly smooth” means that the tomato is not conspicuously ridged or rough.

§51.1911 Damaged.

“Damaged” means any defect which materially affects the appearance, or edible, 

shipping or keeping quality of the tomatoes. Any one of the following defects or any 

combination thereof, the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any 

one defect, shall be considered as damage:

(a) Cuts which are not shallow, not well healed, or when more than 1/2 inch in 

length.

(b) Puffiness if the open space in one or more locules materially affects the 

appearance when the tomato is cut through the center at right angles to a line 

running from the stem to the blossom end.

(c) Catfaces: These are irregular, dark, leathery scars at the blossom end of the 

fruit. Such scars damage the tomato when they are rough or deep, or when 

channels extend into the locule, or when they are fairly smooth and greater in 

area than a circle 3/8 inch in diameter on a 2-1/2 inch tomato. Smaller tomatoes 

shall have lesser areas of fairly smooth catfaces and larger tomatoes may have 

greater areas, provided that such catfaces do not affect the appearance of the 

tomatoes to a greater extent than that caused by fairly smooth catfaces which 

are permitted on a 2-1/2 inch tomato.

(d) Growth cracks: These are ruptures or cracks radiating from the stem scar, or 

concentric to the stem scar. They damage the tomato when not well healed, or 

when more than 1/2 inch in length measured from the margin of the stem scar; 

except that very narrow, well healed cracks concentric to the stem scar shall not 

be considered as damage unless they are so numerous as to damage the 

appearance of the fruit.

(e) Scars (except catfaces), when dark colored and shallow and aggregating more 

than 1/4 inch in diameter on a tomato 2-1/2 inches in diameter, or lighter colored 
United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes (October 10, 1948)

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shallow scars covering a greater area when they detract from the appearance to 

a greater extent than a dark-colored, shallow scar 1/4 inch in diameter. Smaller 

tomatoes shall have lesser areas of scars and larger tomatoes may have greater 

areas: Provided, That such scars do not affect the appearance of the tomatoes 

to a greater extent than that caused by scars which are permitted on a 2-1/2 inch 

tomato. A scar which penetrates the wall of the tomato shall be considered as 

damage.

(f) Dry rot such as dry type Macrosporium or Phoma, when the spot is not adjacent 

to the stem scar, or when adjacent to the stem scar and more than 3/16 inch in 

diameter.

§51.1912 Badly misshapen.

“Badly misshapen” means that the tomato is so badly deformed that its appearance is 

seriously affected.

§51.1913 Serious damage.

“Serious damage” means any defect which seriously affects the appearance, or edible, 

shipping, or keeping quality of the tomatoes. Any one of the following defects or any 

combination thereof, the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any 

one defect, shall be considered as serious damage:

(a) Soft ripe tomatoes or tomatoes affected by soft rot.

(b) Fresh holes or cuts, or any holes or cuts through the tomato wall, or healed 

cuts which seriously affect the appearance of the tomato.

(c) Tomatoes showing any effects of freezing.

(d) Puffiness which causes the tomato to be distinctly light in weight.

(e) Growth cracks, when not well healed, or when so extensive, deep or discolored 

that the appearance of the tomato is seriously affected.

(f) Scars (except catfaces), when dark colored and shallow and aggregating more 

than 1/2 inch in diameter on a tomato 2-1/2 inches in diameter, or lighter colored, 

shallow scars covering a greater area when they detract from the appearance to 

a greater extent than a dark-colored, shallow scar 1/2 inch in diameter. Small 

tomatoes shall have lesser areas of scars and larger tomatoes may have greater 

areas: Provided, That such scars do not affect the appearance of the tomatoes 

to greater extent than that caused by scars which are permitted on a 2-1/2 inch 

tomato.
United States Consumer Standards for Fresh Tomatoes (October 10, 1948)

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(g) Dry rot such as dry type Macrosporium or Phoma, when the spot is not adjacent 

to the stem scar, or when adjacent to the stem scar and more than 1/4 inch in 

diameter.

(h) Fruit actually infested with worms.