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March 18, 2024 

SECTION 32 PURCHASE SPECIFICATION for FRESH TOMATOES 

Commodity Specification for Fresh Vegetables May 2019 

Prerequisites 

Vendors or subcontractors who are supplying fresh tomatoes to the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) through this Section 32 purchase must ensure that each of their suppliers/

subcontractors who grow, harvest, pack, hold, and handle product have currently approved food 

safety verification audits PRIOR to the bid opening date of the solicitation. 

Specialty Crops Inspection Division (SCI) in-person or SCI approved third-party “desk audits” 

will be permitted for this purchase. Information regarding SCI audit requirements can be found 

at the following link: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/gap-ghp.

For information on desk audit requirements, please see attachment to the Pre-Solicitation Notice 

or contact: SCIAudits@usda.gov 

United States (U.S.) Product Origin

All fresh tomatoes for this purchase must be of 100% domestic origin. When requested, the 

vendors must make all paperwork available to SCI that confirms 100% domestic origin 

traceback from the recipient destination to the origin physical growing location, including all 

steps in the process and a narrative of those steps. 

Inspection and Certification

For this solicitation, inspection and certification of the fresh tomatoes will be performed at 

shipping point, during or after the final packaging, but prior to shipping. Inspection must be 

performed by SCI Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service only. Inspections under the 

Partners in Quality (PIQ) and Customer Assisted Inspection Program (CAIP) programs are not 

permitted or accepted for USDA Commodity Procurement purchases. The contractor must 

contact and allow the USDA Inspector at least 72 hours advance notice when scheduling 

inspection service. All fresh tomato deliveries must be “Positive Lot Identified” (PLI) in 

accordance with official SCI PLI methods. 

The fresh tomatoes must reach destination within 5 calendar days of the inspection/certification, 

with day one being the inspection/certification date. When needed, adherence to this requirement 

will be determined by reviewing the required labeled packing date and the shipping and 

receiving documents. If SCI inspection/certification at shipping point/origin meets all 

requirements of this specification and solicitation, it does not guarantee acceptance at 

destination. Product at destination must still meet all applicable shipping point specification and 

solicitation requirements with no additional tolerances allowed. Failure to meet these 

requirements may result in rejection of the load at destination. It is the vendor’s responsibility to 

Specialty 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Crops Room 1536-S, STOP 0240

Program Washington, DC 20250-0240
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ensure the delivery of acceptable product and replacement of any failed deliveries with

acceptable product. 

The fresh tomatoes must also meet all relevant requirements of the Commodity Specification for

Fresh Vegetables, May 2019, and the below additional individual commodity specification

requirements. 

Individual Commodity Specification for Section 32 Purchase of Fresh Tomatoes 

Grade: U.S. Combination Grade, with at least 85% U.S. No. 1 Quality

Color: A minimum of 80% of the tomatoes in the lot must be either “Turning” or “Pink”. 

As defined by the United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Tomatoes

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Tomato_Standard%5B1%5D.pdf 

Size: The tomatoes must be 5x6 (Florida size), or in instances where the tomatoes were not

packed to an “official” Florida size, a minimum diameter of 2 and 25/32 inches will be accepted. 

Type: Fresh field grown round red tomatoes only are permitted. Cherry, Grape, Roma, Plum or

Pear type, tomatoes on the vine, Heirloom or other similar types or Greenhouse tomatoes are not 

part of this purchase and are not permitted.

Type of Pack: 25-pound cartons.

Labeling: Must be labeled with the minimum FDA and industry labeling requirements and must

include the date of pack. Each 25 lb. carton must also show the grower and shipper name and 

address and whether it be Florida size 5x6 or the minimum diameter requirement, those sizes

must be stated on the carton/cover/pallet tag. 

Transportation: Must be transported to destination in a refrigerated trailer at an ambient air

temperature of plus (above zero degrees Fahrenheit (F)) 41 to 46 degrees F. Failure to meet this

requirement at destination may be cause for rejection.

Quantity per Truckload

1,600 - 25-pound cartons per truckload.

Material code: 100342

REFERENCE LINKS

USDA Purchase Programs: Solicitations & Awards

https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/solicitations

USDA Product Specifications & Requirements:

https://www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/product-specs

U.S. Grades and Standards: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/fruits

USDA Specialty Crops Field Inspection Offices (Refer Only to Shipping Point Inspection Offices) 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/sci-contacts/field-inspection-offices 

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.