THE VISUAL AIDS ON THE FOLLOWING 

PAGES ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY AND 

NOT INTENDED FOR OFFICIAL USE.

TO PURCHASE OFFICIAL VISUAL AIDS PLEASE CONTACT 

THE SPECIALTY CROPS INSPECTION DIVISION’S 

EQUIPMENT AND FORMS DEPOT 

USDA, AMS, FVP, SCI

831 MITTEN ROAD, ROOM 200

BURLINGAME, CA 94010

PHONE: 650-552-9073

FAX: 650-552-9147

EQUIPMENT CATALOG
TOMATOES

ILLUSTRATING HEALED RADIAL GROWTH CRACKS HAIL OR SIMILAR INJURY

SUNKEN DISCOLORED AREAS OCCURRING OVER THE SHOULDERS

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY TM-1-IDENT

November 1990 (Previously September 1969)
TOMATOES

CATFACE (SCAR)

CATFACE

(CHANNEL, OFFSET FROM BLOSSOM END, 

EXTENDING INTO TOMATO)

CATFACE

(MULTIPLE CHANNELS, OCCURRING AT BLOSSOM END AND SIDES, EXTENDING INTO TOMATO)

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY TM-2-IDENT

November 1990 (Previously May 1974, Side 1)
TOMATOES

INTERNAL DISCOLORATION (EXTERNAL VIEW) INTERNAL DISCOLORATION (INTERNAL VIEW 

SAME TOMATO)

WORM INJURY

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY TM-2-IDENT-A

November 1990 (Previously May 1974, Side 2)
TOMATOES

SUNKEN DISCOLORED AREAS OCCURRING OVER 

SHOULDERS (TURNING TO RED FRUIT) SUNBURN OCCURRING OVER SHOULDERS

At terminal markets describe as to 

color, percent of surface affected 

and degree of pitting, if present.

EXAMPLE: FROM 4 TO 12%, 

average 8% damage including 4%

serious damage by light to dark 

brown discoloration, most of which 

is sunken, affecting from 15 to 50%

of surface.

EXTERNAL DISCOLORATION (SCUFFING)

FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY TM-3-IDENT

November 1990 (Previously May 1974
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURE MARKETING SERVICE

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DIVISION

THE TOMATO IMPORT REGULATIONS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION 980-212, EXEMPT THE FOLLOWING 

TYPES OF TOMATOES:

PEAR SHAPED . . . .

MEANS ELONGATED TYPES, COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS PEAR SHAPED 

OR PASTE TOMATOES.

INCLUDES SAN MARZANO, RED TOP, AND ROMA VARIETIES.

CHERRY . . . . CERASIFORM TYPES OF TOMATOES COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS 

“CHERRY TOMATOES”

HYDROPONIC . . . . TOMATOES GROWN IN A SOLUTION WITHOUT SOIL.

GREENHOUSE . . . . GROWN INDOORS.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE FOLLOWING ILLUSTRATIONS MAY BE USED AS AN AID IN CLASSIFYING CHERRY AND ELONGATED 

TYPES OF TOMATOES:

CHERRY

ELONGATED

TM-4-IDENT

11/82
TOMATOES

Illustration of Different Types of 

Abnormal Coloring

All three tomatoes are affected by 

Abnormal Coloring, and are scoreable 

against the “otherwise defective” 

tolerance.

TM-5-IDENT

Abnormal Coloring

May 1992
TOMATOES

TM-6-IDENT

All tomatoes are affected by Abnormal Coloring Abnormal Coloring

May 1992

“ZIPPER” TYPE SCARS OF FRESH TOMATOES

Scars are a quality factor and shall be scored on the basis of appearance – whether they materially, 

seriously or very seriously detract from the appearance of the individual tomato. The U.S. Standards permit 

scars which are smooth and have no depth and do not aggregate more than a circle 3/8 inch, 5/8 inch and 1 

inch in diameter for the U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 2 and U.S. No. 3 grades respectively. The exact cause for this 

type of scar is not clear, but they are believed to be caused by poor pollination. Zipper type scars may be 

thin and smooth or wide and rough with a “stitching” appearance.

U.S. NO. 1 U.S. NO. 1

These photographs illustrate the maximum extent the appearance of the individual tomato may be affected 

and still grade U.S. No. 1. (Assume other side is free from)

TM-CP-1

Zipper Scars

June 1990 (Previously January 1977, Side I)
“ZIPPER” TYPE SCARS OF FRESH TOMATOES

U.S. NO. 2 – NOT A LIMIT U.S. NO. 2 – NOT A LIMIT

(Assume other side is free from)

TM-CP-1-A

Zipper Scars

June 1990 (Previously January 1977, Side II)
“SOIL SPOT” (GROUND STAIN) FRESH TOMATOES

Soil Spot is a disorder that frequently affects field grown tomatoes following periods of rainy weather. This 

disorder can vary greatly in both appearance and severity. In early stages Soil Spot usually appears as 

dark brown to black discolored areas, generally occurring over the blossom half of the tomato. The 

disorder may occur as raised superficial discolored areas and remain that way throughout the ripening 

process (See Photo III) or the areas may become very sunken, larger in area and darker colored as in Photo 

IV. (For Photo’s III and IV, see TM-CP-2-A).

PHOTO I (IDENT. ONLY) PHOTO II (IDENT. ONLY)

Because of the varying characteristics of this disorder, Soil Spot is a Condition factor.

TM-CP-2

Soil Spot

June 1990 (Previously February 1978, Side I)
“SOIL SPOT” (GROUND STAIN) FRESH TOMATOES

Maximum aggregate of Soil Spot allowed in the following U.S. grades based on 2 1⁄2 inch tomato:

U.S. No. 1 U.S. No. 2 U.S. No. 3

Area Sunken 1/4” 3/8” 5/8”

Area Not Sunken 3/8” 1/2” 3/4"

PHOTO III (IDENT. ONLY) PHOTO IV (IDENT. ONLY)

TM-CP-2-A

Soil Spot

June 1990 (Previously February 1978, Side II)
TOMATOES

Normal Coloring Abnormal Coloring (Scoreable)

TM-CP-3

MAY 1992
TOMATOES 

Tomatoes on Left – Not scoreable (maximum allowed) Tomatoes on Right – Scoreable a