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United States Standards

for Grades of Tomato 

Plants

Effective September 6, 2016
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Tomato Plants 

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

January 3, 1944.

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 Tomato Plants (September 6, 2016)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Tomato Plants

Section Page No.

Grade.............................................................................................................................. 2

§51.4505 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

Tolerances ..................................................................................................................... 2

§51.4506 Tolerances................................................................................................... 2

Standards for Bunching ............................................................................................... 2

§51.4507 Standards for bunching................................................................................ 2

Standards for Packing .................................................................................................. 2

§51.4508 Standards for packing.................................................................................. 2

Reserved........................................................................................................................ 3

§51.4509 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 3

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

§51.4510 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 3

§51.4511 Fairly fresh................................................................................................... 3

§51.4512 Strong.......................................................................................................... 3

§51.4513 Unbroken..................................................................................................... 3

§51.4514 Fairly straight. .............................................................................................. 3

§51.4515 Firm. ............................................................................................................ 3

§51.4516 Soft. ............................................................................................................. 3

§51.4517 Woody. ........................................................................................................ 4

§51.4518 Leafy............................................................................................................ 4

§51.4519 Normal color. ............................................................................................... 4

§51.4520 Damage....................................................................................................... 4

§51.4521 Freezing....................................................................................................... 4

§51.4522 Heating. ....................................................................................................... 4

§51.4523 Diameter...................................................................................................... 4

§51.4524 The length of the stem................................................................................. 4

§51.4525 Length of the main tap root.......................................................................... 4
United States Standards for Grades of Tomato Plants (September 6, 2016)

2

Grade

§51.4505 U.S. No. 1.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of tomato plants of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly 

fresh, strong, and unbroken. The stems shall be fairly straight, firm, but not soft, or 

woody. The tops shall be leafy, and of normal color. The length of the main tap root 

shall be not less than 1-3/4 inches.

(a) The plants shall be free from decay, early blight (Alternaria solani), and bacterial 

canker (Phytomonas michiganensis), and from damage caused by other 

diseases, freezing, heating, foreign material, insects, mechanical, or other 

means.

(b) Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of the stem of each plant shall be not 

less than 3/16 inch and the length of the stem shall be not less than 6 inches nor 

more than 9 inches. (See §51.4506.)

Tolerances

§51.4506 Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in the foregoing 

grade, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified:

(a) For defects. Ten percent for tomato plants in any lot which fail to meet the 

requirements of this grade: Provided, That no tolerance shall be allowed for 

decay, early blight (Alternaria solani), or bacterial canker (Phytomonas 

michiganensis).

(b) For size. Ten percent for tomato plants in any lot which fail to meet the specified 

size requirements, including therein not more than 5 percent for plants which are 

smaller than the specified minimum diameter.

Standards for Bunching

§51.4507 Standards for bunching.

Tomato plants may be packed loose or in bunches. When bunched, the number of 

plants per bunch shall average not less than 50 plants in 50-size bunches and not less 

than 100 plants in 100-size bunches.

Standards for Packing

§51.4508 Standards for packing.

The plants in individual bunches shall be arranged with the tops of the roots in 

approximately the same plane and the roots shall be protected by an adequate supply 

of moistened peat moss, sphagnum moss, or other suitable packing material with 

moisture holding capacity, well scattered over the roots in the bunch and held in place 
United States Standards for Grades of Tomato Plants (September 6, 2016)

3

with a paper wrap. The bunches shall be packed upright and fairly tightly in containers 

of sufficient height to accommodate the size of plants packed and in such a manner as 

to not cause bending or excessive bruising of the plants.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper packing not more than 10 

percent of the containers in any lot may fail to meet the packing requirements.

Reserved

§51.4509 Reserved.

Definitions

§51.4510 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the plants have the same general 

character of growth and color.

§51.4511 Fairly fresh.

“Fairly fresh” means that the stems, roots, and foliage are not excessively wilted, limp, 

or flabby.

§51.4512 Strong.

“Strong” means that the stem is fairly stiff and sturdy enough to hold the top in a 

reasonably erect position.

§51.4513 Unbroken.

“Unbroken” means that the stem and that portion of the main tap root remaining on the 

plant after pulling are not broken.

§51.4514 Fairly straight.

“Fairly straight” means that the stem is not more than moderately curved or crooked.

§51.4515 Firm.

“Firm” means that the stem about midway between the growing tip and the base does 

not yield more than slightly to moderate pressure of the fingers.

§51.4516 Soft.

“Soft” means that the stem about midway between the growing tip and the base yields 

more than slightly to moderate pressure of the fingers.
United States Standards for Grades of Tomato Plants (September 6, 2016)

4

§51.4517 Woody.

“Woody” means that the stem is excessively hard and fibrous.

§51.4518 Leafy.

“Leafy” means that the leaves of the plant are of normal development and not small 

and underdeveloped.

§51.4519 Normal color.

“Normal color” means that the plant shows a healthy green color.

§51.4520 Damage.

“Damage” means any defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts 

from the normal growth, shipping quality, or general appearance of the plant.

§51.4521 Freezing.

“Freezing” means injury to the plant caused by excessively low temperatures.

§51.4522 Heating.

“Heating” means injury to the plant caused by excessively high temperatures.

§51.4523 Diameter.

“Diameter” means the greatest thickness of the stem measured at the first internode 

above the cotyledons.

§51.4524 The length of the stem.

“The length of the stem” means the distance from the top of the underground root 

system to the growing tip of the plant.

§51.4525 Length of the main tap root.

“Length of the main tap root” means the distance from the top of the underground 

root system to the end of the largest central root.