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United States Standards

for Grades of Mustard 

Greens and Turnip 

Greens

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Mustard Greens and Turnip 

Greens (81 FR 51297) supersedes the previous issue which has been in effect since 

March 8, 1953.

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 

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 Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens 

(September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens

Section Page No.

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

§51.1030 General........................................................................................................ 2

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

§51.1031 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 2

§51.1032 Reserved ..................................................................................................... 2

Application of Tolerances ............................................................................................ 2

§51.1033 Application of tolerances.............................................................................. 2

§51.1034 Basis for calculating percentages. ............................................................... 3

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

§51.1035 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 3

§51.1036 Fresh. .......................................................................................................... 3

§51.1037 Fairly tender................................................................................................. 3

§51.1038 Fairly clean. ................................................................................................. 3

§51.1039 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.1040 Firm. ............................................................................................................ 4

§51.1041 Diameter...................................................................................................... 4

§51.1042 Serious damage. ......................................................................................... 4
United States Standards for Grades of Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens 

(September 6, 2016)

2

General

§51.1030 General.

These standards are applicable to either mustard greens or turnip greens consisting of 

either plants (crown or root attached), or cut leaves but they shall not be applicable to 

mixtures of plants and cut leaves or mixtures of mustard greens and turnip greens in the 

same container.

Grades

§51.1031 U.S. No. 1.

U.S. No. 1 consists of mustard greens or turnip greens of similar varietal characteristics 

which are fresh, fairly tender, fairly clean, and which are free from decay and free from 

damage caused by seedstems, discoloration, freezing, foreign material, disease, insects 

or mechanical or other means.

(a) Specifications for roots. In the case of turnip greens with roots attached, the 

roots shall be firm and free from damage by any cause and unless otherwise 

specified, the maximum diameter of the root shall be 1-1/2 inches.

(b) Tolerance for defects. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading 

and handling, other than for size of roots and mixtures of plants and leaves, not 

more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the units in any lot, may 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 serious damage by any cause and 

including therein not more than 2 percent of decay. (See §51.1034.)

(c) Tolerance for mixtures of whole plants and leaves. Not more than 5 percent, 

by weight, of the mustard or turnip greens may consist of cut leaves in a lot 

consisting of plants, or of plants in a lot consisting of cut leaves. (See §51.1034.)

(d) Tolerance for size. Turnip greens with roots attached shall have not more than 

10 percent, by weight, of roots which are larger than the specified maximum size. 

(See §51.1034.)

Reserved

§51.1032 Reserved

Application of Tolerances

§51.1033 Application of tolerances.

(a) The contents of individual containers in the lot, based on sample inspection, are 

subject to the following limitation: Provided, That the averages for the entire lot 

are within the tolerances specified.
United States Standards for Grades of Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens 

(September 6, 2016)

3

(1) When a tolerance is 10 percent or more, individual containers in any lot 

shall have not more than one and one-half times the tolerance specified.

(2) When a tolerance is less than 10 percent, individual containers in any lot 

shall have not more than double the tolerance specified.

§51.1034 Basis for calculating percentages.

Percentages shall be calculated on the basis of weight or an equivalent basis. When 

mustard greens or turnip greens are packed as plants, each plant shall be considered 

as a unit. When packed as cut leaves, the individual leaf shall be considered as a unit.

Definitions

§51.1035 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the mustard or turnip greens shall be of 

one type (such as, crinkly leaf type or smooth leaf type in the case of mustard greens). 

No mixture of types shall be permitted which materially affects the appearance of the 

lot.

§51.1036 Fresh.

“Fresh” means that the mustard or turnip leaves are not more than slightly wilted.

§51.1037 Fairly tender.

“Fairly tender” means that the mustard or turnip greens are not old, tough, or 

excessively fibrous.

§51.1038 Fairly clean.

“Fairly clean” means that the appearance of the mustard or turnip greens is not 

materially affected by the presence of mud, dirt, or other foreign material.

§51.1039 Damage.

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

shipping quality of the individual plant (with or without roots), the individual cut leaf, or 

the lot as a whole. Any one of the following defects, or any combination of defects, the 

seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, shall be 

considered as damage:

(a) Seedstems when more than one-fourth the length of the longest leaf;

(b) Discoloration when the appearance of the individual unit is materially affected by 
United States Standards for Grades of Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens 

(September 6, 2016)

4

yellowing or any other type of discoloration; and,

(c) Mechanical damage when the individual unit is badly crushed, torn, or broken.

§51.1040 Firm.

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

§51.1041 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest dimension measured at right angles to a line from the 

center of the crown to the base of the root.

§51.1042 Serious damage.

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

edible or shipping quality of the individual plant (with or without roots), the individual cut 

leaf, or the lot as a whole. Any one of the following defects, or any combination of 

defects, the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, 

shall be considered as serious damage:

(a) Insects when the unit is noticeably infested or when seriously damaged by them;

(b) Discoloration when the unit is badly discolored; and,

(c) Decay.