Fruit & Specialty Crops 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.

Vegetable Inspection Room 1536-S, STOP 0240

Program Division Washington, DC 20250-0240

March 20, 2017 

 

AMENDMENT NO. 6

COMMODITY SPECIFICATION

FROZEN VEGETABLES – June 2014

The purpose of this amendment is to changes in the Commodity Specification for Frozen

Vegetables:

• Add exceptions to (CID) to I. General requirements

• Add Order of Precedence for requirements

• Revised Packing, Labels and Packaging requirements

• Separate styles of green beans

• Remove analytical and micro requirements for Pepper and Onion blend

• Add three new commodities: Four – way Mixed Vegetables, Butternut Squash, and Diced 

Potatoes

Deletions are strikethroughs and additions/changes are shown in blue below:

I. General

B. Exceptions to U.S. Standards and/or or Commercial Item Description (CID)

Exceptions to the U.S. Standards for the Department of Agriculture (USDA) canned 

vegetables purchases and/or or Commercial Item Description (CID) are found in 

Section II, Individual Commodity Specifications, of this document. 

1. Order of Precedence

If the contract documents are inconsistent or contradictory, the following 

order of precedence will prevail: Solicitation/IFB, Master Solicitation, 

Amendments to the Commodity Specifications, and Commodity 

Specifications and/or Supplement(s).

I. Packing, Labels and Packaging

1. Primary Containers

a) Vendors have the option to use commercial/retail labeling and 

packaging which meets all applicable FDA requirements (link 

to: FDA Food Labeling Regulations) and suitably code marked so 
that the product can be identified with related inspection 

certificates or traceability in the event of a recall. Retail labels 

must meet minimum requirements as specified in the Master 

Solicitation.

All products must be packed in new, commercially acceptable primary 

containers which meets all applicable FDA packaging and labeling 

requirements (link to: FDA Food Labeling Regulations). 

For containers with net weight of 3 pounds or less.

1. Product labeling (regardless of package type and color) 

shall have at least 1 color in addition to black and/or white 

and a visual representation of the product if the container 

is not clear.

 OR 

2. For non-transparent printed poly containers: Must have 

product viewing window of sufficient size that the product 

within is easily identifiable. 

Minimum FDA labeling requirements are:

• Statement of identity, or name of the food

• Net quantity statement

• Ingredient statement

• Manufacturer or distributor location statement

• Allergen declaration (if product contains a major allergen)

• A “Keep Frozen” statement

• Contains a code which allows traceability of the product in the 

event of a recall

2. Secondary Container (case) and Markings 

• Primary containers shall be further enclosed within new, 

corrugated fiberboard cartons (cases) acceptable by common or 

other carriers for safe transportation to destinations.

• Case flaps, gaps, and other openings may not exceed 1 inch and 

must be fully sealed with tape. Tape must be clear and of 

commercially acceptable width and strength. The tape must 

extend at least two inches down the sides or ends.

• Mixing and matching of USDA and commercial labeling 

methods will not be acceptable

• Two or more different commercial labels are not allowed within 

a shipping unit (truckload)

• For institutional/foodservice pack sizes (larger than 3 lbs net 

weight) minimum labeling information listed above must 
appear on the secondary container if not included on the 

primary packing

• The construction of shipping cases shall be adequate to 

withstand normal refrigerated shipping and cold storage

• Corrugated fiberboard construction, rated at a minimum of 

275 pounds per square inch bursting strength for 30-pound 

cartons and 40 pound cases and 225 pounds PSI for 20 and 25 

pound cases

• Markings for Non-Commercial Shipping Containers must 

meet requirements of Exhibit 1

II. Individual Commodity Specifications

D. Frozen, Green Beans

4. Styles – For Material Code 100351, product will be only Style a. CUT,

unless specified differently in the Solicitation/IFB

a. Cut - provided that the cut style units are one inch in length or longer.

b. Sliced lengthwise, or French style.

c. Whole.

E. Frozen, Mixed Vegetables

1. Grade – U.S. Grade B or better.

a. 3 way mix - corn, peas, and carrots.

b. 4 way mix - corn, peas, carrots, and green beans.

2. Proportions of Ingredients – 4 way mix (+ or- 10 percent).

a. 25 percent by weight carrots (diced style 3/8 to 1⁄2 inch cube).

b. 25 percent by weight green peas. 

c. 25 percent by weight corn (sweet, golden or yellow, whole kernel 

corn).

d. 25 percent by weight cut style green beans predominantly of 1/2 inch 

to 1-1/2 inch cuts

M. Frozen, Vegetable Blends Vegetable blends shall meet the salient characteristics 

specified in CID A-A-20294A, effective on the date of the Solicitation/IFB with 

the following exception:

• Section 6.1 Analytical Requirements in CID A-A-20294A –

Remove this requirement from Commodity Specification/CID for 

Frozen Pepper and Onion Blend.
N. Frozen, Butternut Squash

1. Grade – U.S. Grade A based on the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen 

Squash (Summer Type) with the following exceptions:

• Style – Diced, approximately 3/4 x 3/4 inch cubes

• A poorly cut dice is defined as any units smaller than one - half 

the volume of the predominant size unit.

2. Net Weight – 6/5 pound containers per case

O. Frozen, Potatoes

1. Grade – U.S. Grade A based on U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Hash 

Brown Potatoes.

2. The potatoes will be blanched but will not be fried.

3. Style – Diced approximately 1⁄2 x 1⁄2 inch cubes and which contain not more

than 90 grams, per sample unit, of units smaller than one - half the volume

of the predominant size unit.

4. Net Weight – 6/5 pound containers per case.

Frozen Vegetables WBSCM Material Primary Container Secondary Container

Green Beans – Cut

style (30 lb.) 100351 -------------------- 1 07 15001 00351 2

Mixed Vegetables

4- way mix

6/5 pound

110871 7 15001 10871 5 1 07 15001 10871 2

Butternut Squash 

Diced 6/5 pound 110861 7 15001 10861 6 1 07 15001 10861 3

Frozen Potatoes, 

Diced

6/5 pound

110844 7 15001 10844 9 1 07 15001 10844 6

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.