Marketing and

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Programs

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Marketing 

Service

Specialty

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Program

Specialty

Crops

Inspection

Division

United States Standards

for Grades of 

Raspberries for 

Processing

Effective September 6, 2015
This issue of the United States Standards for Grades of Raspberries for Processing

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

May 18, 1952.

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 Raspberries for Processing (September 6, 2015)

1

United States Standards for Grades of Raspberries for Processing

Section Page No.

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

§51.1710 U.S. No. 1.................................................................................................... 2

§51.1711 U.S. No. 2.................................................................................................... 2

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

§51.1712 Reserved. .................................................................................................... 2

Definitions...................................................................................................................... 2

§51.1713 Similar varietal characteristics. .................................................................... 2

§51.1714 Well colored................................................................................................. 2

§51.1715 Mold............................................................................................................. 2

§51.1716 Dried............................................................................................................ 3

§51.1717 Distinctly immature. ..................................................................................... 3

§51.1718 Damage....................................................................................................... 3

§51.1719 Seriously damaged by insects. .................................................................... 3
United States Standards for Grades of Raspberries for Processing (September 6, 2015)

2

Grades

§51.1710 U.S. No. 1.

U.S. No. 1 consists of raspberries of similar varietal characteristics which are well 

colored and which are free from cores, mold or decay, and from dried and distinctly 

immature berries and from damage caused by overmaturity, crushing, shriveling, dirt, or 

other foreign matter, hail, sunscald, wind-whips, and other scars, moisture, birds, 

disease, insects, discoloration, mechanical or other means.

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, not more than a total 

of 5 percent, by weight, of the raspberries in any lot may fail to meet the 

requirements of this grade: Provided, That, not more than one-fifth of this 

amount, or 1 percent, shall be allowed for raspberries affected by mold or decay, 

or which are seriously damaged by insects.

§51.1711 U.S. No. 2.

U.S. No. 2 consists of raspberries which meet the requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade 

except for the increased tolerances for defects specified as follows:

(a) In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, not more than a total

of 10 percent, by weight, of the raspberries in any lot may fail to meet the 

requirements of this grade: Provided, That, not more than one-fifth of this 

amount, or 2 percent, shall be allowed for raspberries affected by mold or decay, 

or which are seriously damaged by insects.

Reserved

§51.1712 Reserved.

Definitions

§51.1713 Similar varietal characteristics.

“Similar varietal characteristics” means that the raspberries are of the same general 

color. For example, black raspberries shall not be mixed with red or purple raspberries 

and red raspberries shall not be mixed with black or purple raspberries.

§51.1714 Well colored.

“Well colored” means that the whole surface of the berry has a bright, practically 

uniform, typical color characteristic of a mature berry for the variety.

§51.1715 Mold.

“Mold” means any surface mold that is plainly visible to the naked eye.
United States Standards for Grades of Raspberries for Processing (September 6, 2015)

3

§51.1716 Dried.

“Dried” means appreciably lacking in juice. Dried berries are excessively seedy and 

often shriveled.

§51.1717 Distinctly immature.

“Distinctly immature” means that the berries are red, whitish, or green in the case of 

types or varieties which are characteristically purple or black, when well ripened; and 

that the berries are pinkish, whitish or green in the case of types or varieties which are 

characteristically red, when well ripened.

§51.1718 Damage.

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

processing quality of the raspberries. The following shall be considered as damage:

(a) Overmaturity, when the berry is leaking; when collapse or softness of the entire 

berry occurs; when a noticeable number of the drupelets of the berry have lost 

the bright luster characteristic of well colored berries; or when the epidermal hairs 

between the drupelets have become discolored.

(b) Crushing, when more than one-fourth of the drupelets of the berry have been 

crushed.

(c) Shriveling, when the berry is materially shriveled as evidenced by drying or 

undevelopment of more than one-fourth of the drupelets of the berry.

(d) Dirt, when it cannot be removed from the berry in the ordinary washing process.

§51.1719 Seriously damaged by insects.

“Seriously damaged by insects” means the presence of one or more insects on the 

raspberry.