UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 

OFFICE OF CHEMICAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION 

PREVENTION

MEMORANDUM

DATE: October 30, 2011, updated December 22, 2011 and December 26, 2013

SUBJECT: Crop Grouping – Part XII: Analysis of the USDA IR-4 Petition to Amend 

the Crop Group Regulation 40 CFR § 180.41 (c) (14) and Commodity

Definitions [40 CFR 180.1 (g)] Related to the Proposed Crop Group 22

Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable.

PC Code: NA DP Barcode: NA

Decision No.: NA Registration No.: NA

Petition No.: NA Regulatory Action: Crop Grouping 

Regulation

Risk Assessment Type: None Case No.: NA

TXR No.: NA CAS No.: NA

MRID No.: 484998-01 40 CFR: 180.41 (c) (22) and 180.1 (g)

FROM: Bernard A. Schneider, Ph.D., Senior Plant Physiologist

Chemistry and Exposure Branch 

Health Effects Division (7509P) 

THROUGH: Michael Doherty, Ph.D. and William Donovan, Ph.D., Chairpersons

HED Chemistry Science Advisory Council (ChemSAC)

Health Effects Division (7509P) 

TO: Barbara Madden, Minor Use Officer

Risk Integration, Minor Use, and Emergency Response Branch 

(RIMUERB) 

Registration Division (7505P)

cc: IR-4 Project, Bill Barney, Jerry Baron, Dan Kunkel, Debbie Carpenter, Van 

Starner 
2

ACTION REQUESTED:

William P. Barney, Crop Grouping Project Coordinator, and Tracy Switek, 

Assistant Coordinator, USDA Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4), State 

Agricultural Experiment Station, Rutgers University has submitted a petition (May 10, 

2011) on behalf of the IR-4 Project, and the Stalk, Stem, and Leafy Petiole Workgroup of 

the International Crop Grouping Consulting Committee (ICGCC) to establish a new Crop 

Group [40 CFR § 180.41(c)] Crop Group 22, Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole Vegetable. 

The above-mentioned Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole crop group petition requested 

the following three proposals:

IR-4 Proposal 1: “Add a new crop group to 40 CFR 180.41 (c) as “Stalk, Stem and 

Leafy Petiole Vegetable Crop Group” with the following 18 commodities:

1. Agave, Agave spp. (Asparagaceae)

2. Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis L. (Asparagaceae)

3. Bamboo, shoots, Arundinaria spp.; Bambusa spp. including B. blumeana; B. 

multiplex; B. oldhamii; B. textilis; Chimonobambusa spp.; Dendrocalamus spp., 

including D. asper; D. beecheyana; D. brandisii; D. giganteus; D. laetiflorus and 

D. strictus; Gigantochloa spp. including G. albociliata; G. atter; G. levis; G. 

robusta; Nastus elatus; Phyllostachys spp.; Thyrsostachys siamensis; 

Thyrsostachys oliverii (Poaceae (alt. Gramineae))

4. Burdock, edible, tops, Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae (Compositae))

5. Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae (Compositae))

6. Celery, Apium graveolens var. dulce (Mill.) Pers. (Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

7. Celery, Chinese, Apium graveolens L. var. secalinum (Alef.) Mansf. (Apiaceae (alt. 

Umbelliferae))

8. Celtuce, Lactuca sativa var. angustana L.H. Bailey (Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

9. Fennel, Florence, Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell. 

(Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

10. Ferns, Edible (Fiddleheads): Including: Black lady fern, Woodsiaceae, Deparia 

japonica (Thunb.) M. Kato; Bracken fern, Dennstaedtiaceae, Pteridium aquilinum 

(L.) Kuhn; Broad buckler fern, Dryopteridaceae, Dryopteris dilatata (Hoffm.) A. 

Gray; Cinnamon fern, Osmundaceae, Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C. Presl; 

Lady fern, Woodsiaceae, Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ex Mert.; Leather fern, 

Pteridaceae, Acrostichum aureum L.; Mother fern, Woodsiaceae, Diplazium 

proliferum (Lam.) Thouars; Ostrich fern, Onocleaceae, Matteuccia struthiopteris

(L.) Tod.; Vegetable fern, Woodsiaceae, Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.; 

Zenmai fern, Osmundaceae, Osmunda japonica Thunb. [all by crop definition]

11. Fuki, Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. (Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))
3

12. Kale, sea, Crambe maritima L. (Brassicaceae (alt. Cruciferae))

13. Kohlrabi, Brassica oleracea L.var gongylodes L. (Brassicaceae (alt. Cruciferae))

14. Palm hearts, various species including: Peach Palm, Bactris gasipaes Kunth; 

Palmyra palm, Borassus flabellifera L.; African fan palm, Borassus aethiopum

Mart.; Coconut, Cocos nucifera L.; Cabbage palm, Euterpe oleracea Mart.; Wine 

palm, Raphia spp.; Royal palm, Roystonea oleracea (Jacq.) O.F. Cook; Salak 

palm, Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss; Saw palmetto, Serenoa repens (W. 

Bartram) Small; Cabbage palmetto, Sabal palmetto (Walter) Schult. & Schult. f., 

(Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

15. Prickly pear, pads, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)

16. Rhubarb, Rheum x hybridum Murray (Polygonaceae)

17. Udo, Aralia cordata Thunb. (Araliaceae)

18. Zuiki, Colocasia gigantea (Blume) Hook. f. (Araceae)”

IR-4 Proposal 2:” The proposed representative commodities for the Stalk, Stem, and 

Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Group 22 are asparagus and celery.”

IR-4 Proposal 3: “Propose establishing two new crop subgroups 22A – Stalk and stem 

subgroup with ten commodities and 22B – Leafy petiole subgroup with eight 

commodities as follows:

Crop Subgroup 22A. Stalk and Stem subgroup:

1. Agave

2. Asparagus

3. Bamboo, shoots

4. Celtuce

5. Fennel, Florence

6. Ferns, edible

7. Kale, sea

8. Kohlrabi

9. Palm Hearts

10. Prickly pear, pads

Crop Subgroup 22B. Leafy Petiole subgroup:

1. Burdock, edible, tops

2. Cardoon

3. Celery

4. Celery, Chinese
4

5. Fuki

6. Rhubarb

7. Udo

8. Zuiki”

PROPOSED REPRESENTATIVE COMMODITIES AND CROP SUBGROUPS

Crop Group / 

Subgroup

Proposed 

Representative 

Commodities Proposed Commodities

Stalk, Stem and 

Leafy Petiole 

Crop Group 22

Celery and 

Asparagus

Agave; Asparagus; Bamboo, shoots; Burdock, 

edible, tops; Cardoon; Celery; Celery, Chinese; 

Celtuce; Fennel, Florence; Ferns, edible 

(Fiddlehead); Fuki; Kale, sea; Kohlrabi; Palm 

hearts; Prickly pear, pads; Rhubarb; Udo; 

Zuiki

22A. Stalk and 

Stem Vegetables

Asparagus Agave; Asparagus; Bamboo, shoots; Celtuce; 

Fennel, Florence; Ferns, edible (Fiddlehead); 

Kale, sea; Kohlrabi; Palm hearts; Prickly pear, 

pads

22B. Leafy 

Petiole 

Vegetables

Celery Burdock, edible, tops; Cardoon; Celery; Celery, 

Chinese; Fuki; Rhubarb; Udo; Zuiki

IR-4 Proposal 4:”One new commodity definition [180.1(g)] for Edible ferns will be 

proposed for the new crop group”.

BACKGROUND:

The proposed Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole crop group proposal was initiated at 

the USDA/IR-4 Crop Grouping Symposium in Washington, DC, October 2002 (see 

Attachment 3 for the Symposium proposal). This workgroup was Chaired by Dan 

Kunkel (IR-4) and Co-Chaired by Tom Bloem, Doug Dotson, Yuen-Shaung NG of EPA, 

Hong Chen (IR-4), Mary Lamberts, Extension Agent, University of Florida Horticultural 

Crops, and Ray Ratto, California leafy greens grower. 

The revised crop group was further discussed and developed within the Stalk and 

Stem Workgroup of the International Crop Grouping Consulting Committee (ICGCC). 

This workgroup consisted of 74 U.S. and Canadian crop or regulatory experts from 

agriculture commodity groups, universities, agrichemical industry, IR-4 Project, USDA 
5

and EPA, and also 68 international crop or regulatory experts representing 26 countries. 

The Workgroup discussed and validated each of the proposed commodities. Tracey

Switek (author, IR-4) researched the supporting commodity data submitted with this 

petition, and William Barney (author, IR-4) reviewed, edited, and submitted the petition. 

An important aspect of developing this new crop group was the harmonization with 

the Codex Crop Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds. The Codex classification 

system is currently under revision and revisions to the U.S. system are used as a basis for 

the Codex revision. The IR-4/EPA Crop Grouping Working Group and the ICGCC are 

making every effort to collaborate with the revision of the Codex crop classification. 

The Codex Classification of Food and Feed Commodities was published in 1983, and has 

a separate Crop Group (017) “Stalk and Stem Vegetables”. EPA at that time did not 

propose a separate crop group similar to Codex. However, based on recommendation by

International Crop Grouping Symposium in 2002 and the reanalysis of the Leafy

vegetable crop groups, USDA IR-4 is proposing that EPA adopt a crop group similar to 

the Codex group entitled “Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group

In the current US system, Leafy Vegetable Group 4 includes both a Leafy greens 

subgroup 4A and a Leaf petiole subgroup 4B. In the current Codex Crop Classification 

of Foods and Animal Feeds, the Leafy vegetables Group 013 includes Brassica leafy

vegetables while Stalk and stem vegetables are included in a separate Group 017. 

Stalk, stem and leafy petiole vegetables are plant stalks, stems or leafy petioles

from a variety of annual or perennial plants that are used as vegetables. Many leafy and 

root and tuber vegetables contain significant amounts of either stem, stalk or petiole 

portions, however, the commodities proposed for this crop group are composed primarily

of the stalk, stem or petiole. Petioles frequently include the leaf structure, so petioles are 

referred to as leafy petioles. Celery (petiole) and asparagus (stem) are among the most 

popular and better known vegetables in this group. Stalk, stem and leafy petiole 

vegetables are used to make a variety of vegetable dishes and contain numerous vitamins, 

minerals and antioxidants. Because of their structure, stalk, stem and leafy petiole 

vegetables are fully exposed to pesticides during their growth period.

In 2010, IR-4 (Bill Barney and Tracey Switek) and the EPA (Bernard Schneider, 

PH.) developed joint ChemSAC proposal to discuss various options to be considered on 

updating the current Leafy Vegetable Crop Group 4 and the Brassica Leafy Crop Group 5. 

The first proposal considered was to “Transfer the Brassica Leafy Vegetable Subgroup 

5B to Crop Group 4 (Leafy Vegetables except Brassica Vegetables) to form a new 

Subgroup 4C (Leafy Brassica Vegetables) and rename Group 4 as Leafy Vegetables and 

Crop Group 5 as the Head and Stem Brassica Vegetable Group. Analysis of this 

proposal is in a separate document (Crop Grouping – Part XI, MRID 484817-01, October

26, 2011). This proposal was developed because Leafy Vegetables and Brassica leafy

vegetables are similar in growth pattern, leaf exposure and pesticide residues. Inclusion 

of Brassica leafy vegetables in a separate subgroup are desirable because of potentially

different actions of herbicides on leafy Brassicas verses other leafy (non-Brassica) crops. 

This petition concerns that adding stalk and stem vegetables to Crop Subgroup 4B (leaf 
6

petioles) would be more comparable to Codex Group 017, Stalk and Stem Vegetables. 

The Codex Stalk and Stem group contains several petiole crops, including celery and 

rhubarb, which are already members of Subgroup 4B. ChemSAC agreed that combining 

stem and stalk vegetables into the Leaf petiole subgroup 4B was a good idea, however, 

they also agreed that the stalk, stem and petiole vegetable could be a separate crop group

similar to Codex. In an effort to harmonize with Codex, leaf petiole crops in this 

submission are added to this proposed new Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole crop group

submission. 

Current members of Leaf Petiole Subgroup 4B include cardoon; celery; celery, 

Chinese; celtuce; Florence fennel; rhubarb and Swiss chard. All of these commodities 

except for Swiss chard are being proposed for inclusion in the new Stalk, Stem and Leafy

Petiole crop group. It was proposed that in the submission for the revised Leafy

Vegetable crop group that Swiss chard remains in that group because both the leaves and 

petioles are consumed and the leaves constitute a major portion of the plant. Celtuce is 

included in the proposed new Stalk, Stem and Petiole crop group, but it is proposed to be 

included in the Stalk and Stem subgroup rather than a leafy petiole subgroup, since the 

stalk is primarily consumed as the leaves contain a bitter milky sap.

Selection of representative commodities should be based on a representative 

commodity that is most likely to: (1) contain the highest residues; (2) be major in terms 

of production and/or consumption and (3) similar in morphology, growth habit, pest 

problems and edible portion to the related commodities within a group or subgroup. 

Based on these criteria, two representative commodities are proposed for the Stalk, Stem 

and Leafy Petiole crop group: asparagus for the Stalk and Stem subgroup 24A and celery

for the Leafy Petiole subgroup 24B. Celery is already the representative crop for Leafy

Petiole subgroup 4B which includes cardoon, burdock, Chinese celery and rhubarb. In 

the proposed Stalk and Stem subgroup 24A, U.S. tolerances for celtuce, kohlrabi and 

Florence fennel are based on their respective subgroup tolerances, while asparagus 

tolerances have been established for asparagus itself as a miscellaneous commodity. 

Since a Leafy Petiole subgroup 4B already exists in crop group 4, the majority of US and 

Codex tolerances for celery, cardoon, burdock, Chinese celery and rhubarb are based on 

this established subgroup. 

The addition of a new crop group “Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group 22 would 

facilitate the establishment of pesticide tolerances on numerous pesticides that are needed 

to control a wide diversity of leaf stalk, stem, and leafy petiole vegetable pests, as well as 

integrated pest control (IPM) programs to incorporate reduced risk pesticides, organic 

pesticides, and cultural practices to reduce the development of pesticide resistance. This 

revised crop group regulation would also benefit growers and consumers, save 

considerable taxpayer’s money on residue studies, save time for government agencies on 

review of residue data and facilitate the establishment of import tolerances.
7

HED RECOMMENDATIONS:

Each of the proposals and recommendations will be discussed below, followed by a 

series of other recommendations on terminology, database development, and 

harmonization with Codex. The EPA would like to commend the valuable and high 

quality input of the ICGCC, all its members, and the Committee Chairperson Bill Barney, 

USDA IR-4, as well as Dr. Yuen-Shaung Ng, Biologist, HED, Jessie Cordova, HED 

Information Technical Specialist, Susan Stanton, Roger Chesser, Andy Ertman, Sidney

Jackson, and Laura Nollen, Biologists, RD, EPA for their input and development of 

various databases in this report and Dr. Paul Schwartz, USDA, Office of Minor Use 

Pesticides for his advice and peer review of the analysis.

IR-4 Proposal 1: “Add a new crop group to 40 CFR 180.41 (c) as “Stalk, Stem and 

Leafy Petiole Vegetable Crop Group” with the following 18 commodities: 

1. Agave, Agave spp. (Asparagaceae)

2. Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis L. (Asparagaceae)

3. Bamboo, shoots, Arundinaria spp.; Bambusa spp. including B. blumeana; B. 

multiplex; B. oldhamii; B. textilis; Chimonobambusa spp.; Dendrocalamus spp., 

including D. asper; D. beecheyana; D. brandisii; D. giganteus; D. laetiflorus and D. 

strictus; Gigantochloa spp. including G. albociliata; G. atter; G. levis; G. robusta; 

Nastus elatus; Phyllostachys spp.; Thyrsostachys siamensis; Thyrsostachys oliverii 

(Poaceae (alt. Gramineae))

4. Burdock, edible, tops, Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae (Compositae))

5. Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus L. (Asteraceae (Compositae))

6. Celery, Apium graveolens var. dulce (Mill.) Pers. (Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

7. Celery, Chinese, Apium graveolens L. var. secalinum (Alef.) Mansf. (Apiaceae (alt. 

Umbelliferae))

8. Celtuce, Lactuca sativa var. angustana L.H. Bailey (Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

9. Fennel, Florence, Foeniculum vulgare Mill. Subsp. vulgare var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell. 

(Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

10. Ferns, Edible (Fiddleheads): Including: Black lady fern, Woodsiaceae, Deparia japonica 

(Thunb.) M. Kato; Bracken fern, Dennstaedtiaceae, Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn; Broad

buckler fern, Dryopteridaceae, Dryopteris dilatata (Hoffm.) A. Gray; Cinnamon fern, 

Osmundaceae, Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (L.) C. Presl; Lady fern, Woodsiaceae, 

Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth ex Mert.; Leather fern, Pteridaceae, Acrostichum aureum L.; 

Mother fern, Woodsiaceae, Diplazium proliferum (Lam.) Thouars; Ostrich fern, 

Onocleaceae, Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod.; Vegetable fern, Woodsiaceae, Diplazium 

esculentum (Retz.) Sw.; Zenmai fern, Osmundaceae, Osmuda japonica Thunb. 

11. Fuki, Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. (Apiaceae (alt. Umbelliferae))

12. Kale, sea, Crambe maritima L. (Brassicaceae (alt. Cruciferae))

13. Kohlrabi, Brassica oleracea L.var gongylodes L. (Brassicaceae (alt. Cruciferae))
8

14. Palm hearts, various species including: Peach Palm, Bactris gasipaes Kunth; 

Palmyra palm, Borassus flabellifera L.; African fan palm, Borassus aethiopum Mart.; 

Coconut, Cocos nucifera L.; Cabbage palm, Euterpe oleracea Mart.; Wine palm, 

Raphia spp.; Royal palm, Roystonea oleracea (Jacq.) O.F. Cook; Salak palm, Salacca 

zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss; Saw palmetto, Serenoa repens (W. Bartram) Small; Cabbage 

palmetto, Sabal palmetto (Walter) Schult. & Schult. f., (Arecaceae (alt. Palmae))

15. Prickly pear, pads, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)

16. Rhubarb, Rheum x hybridum Murray (Polygonaceae)

17. Udo, Aralia cordata Thunb. (Araliaceae)

18. Zuiki, Colocasia gigantea (Blume) Hook. f. (Araceae)”

In addition IR-4 discusses some of the individual leafy vegetable crops are where 

they will be recommended to reside. Kohlrabi is currently in the Head and Stem Brassica

subgroup 5A in the Brassica Leafy Vegetables Crop Group 5. Kohlrabi with its exposed 

enlarged, bulb-like stem can have higher pesticide residues than some of the 

representative commodities of broccoli or cabbage (unpublished IR-4 data). Therefore 

kohlrabi was proposed for inclusion in this proposed new Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole 

crop group with other stalk and stem vegetables that are fully exposed to pesticides. Note 

that Florence fennel plants also have an enlarged bulbous leaf base and are also proposed 

for inclusion with other stalk and stem vegetables instead of the leafy petiole subgroup. 

Several commodities including Alexanders, Good King Henry and Japanese 

knotweed were also considered for inclusion in the proposed new Stalk, Stem and Leafy

Petiole crop group. Alexanders and Good King Henry were included in the recent Leafy

vegetable proposal as although young stems and shoots are consumed, these commodities 

are primarily consumed as a leafy greens crop. Japanese knotweed and giant knotweed 

were omitted because they are considered a noxious weed in many states, are primarily 

gathered in the wild and the only other use for knotweed is as a medicinal crop to make 

the nutritional supplements (resveratrol). 

Cattail and sea asparagus were considered, but not included in this proposed new 

crop group because they are aquatic vegetables. Garlic shoots were also considered, but 

not included as the primary use of garlic is the bulb (crop group 3-07).

Witloof chicory (sprouts) or Belgium endive is also included in Codex Group 017, 

Stalk and Stem Vegetable, but this commodity was not included in this submission 

because chicory is being considered to be added and was included in a recent IR-4 Leafy 

Vegetable submission (EPA MRID No.: 484817-01). 

Globe artichoke is included in the Codex Group 017, Stalk and Stem Vegetables. 

Globe artichoke was not included in this proposal because artichoke is not a stalk, stem or 

leafy petiole, but is an immature flowerhead of the family Compositae and is 

morphologically dissimilar to other stalk and stem vegetables. In this analysis the 

addition of globe artichoke to be included in the U.S. Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole crop 

group in the interest of harmonization was considered.
9

Burdock is currently in Crop Group 2 (Leaves of Root and Tuber Vegetables 

(Human Food or Animal Feed). Many of leaves of root and tuber vegetables (human 

food) were proposed for inclusion in the revised Leafy Vegetable crop group. Burdock, 

edible is proposed for inclusion in the Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole crop group since 

although the root is the primary part valued, the young stalks and leaves are also 

consumed. The peeled stem is also eaten. Since the leaves are also consumed, EPA 

ChemSAC may want to consider if burdock should instead be included in the revised 

Leafy Vegetable crop group.

Fiddlehead ferns were proposed for inclusion in the recent revised Leafy Vegetable 

crop group submission. Because fiddleheads are harvested and consumed before they

unfurl, they are sometimes considered as stalk and stem vegetables. The analysis of the 

Leafy Vegetable Crop group suggested that ferns may fit better as a commodity in the 

Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole group. Fiddlehead ferns are typically consumed as the furled 

fronds of young ferns. If left on the plant each fiddlehead would unroll into a leafy frond. 

Fiddleheads are harvested early in the season before the frond open and they are cut fairly 

close to the ground. 

The USDA IR-4, USDA ARS, and EPA HED held a meeting in May 2011 with 

officials (Michael McGuffin, President and Merle Zimmerman, Information Analyst) of 

the American Herbal Products Association (http://www.ahpa.org) to discuss botanical 

herbs and their possible inclusion in the Crop Groups, as well as in the future review of 

the herb and spice crop group and the root and tuber vegetables as well as the new Stem, 

stalk and leaf petiole crop group 22. Botanical herbs that also have culinary uses would 

be desired. The AHPA stated that for the proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group 

22 that Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F.) should be considered as member of this crop group 

because of its similarities in culture to Agave. Based on similarities in culture to agave 

and its use as a natural flavoring (21CFR 172.510 natural flavoring substances) and its 

use in preparing smoothies IR-4 stated that aloe vera should be included as a member of 

crop group 22 and crop subgroup 22A.

HED Recommendations for Proposal 1:

I recommend that ChemSAC concur to approve a new Stalk, Stem, and Leaf 

Petiole Vegetable Crop Group 22, based on similarities of the comparison of stalk, stem, 

and leaf petiole vegetables, similar cultural practices, edible food and animal feed 

portions, similar plant exposure to pesticide residue levels, geographical locations, 

processing, food uses, established tolerances, and for international harmonization 

purposes. This group will have 18 commodities and combine 11 orphan crops including 

agave; aloe vera, bamboo shoots; Chinese celery; edible ferns; fuki; sea kale, palm hearts; 

cactus (prickly pear, pads); udo; and zuiki to this group.

We agree that globe artichoke should not be a member of this new crop group 

Stalk, Stem and Leaf Petiole Vegetables. Globe artichoke was not included in this 
10

proposal because artichoke is not a stalk, stem or leafy petiole, but is an immature 

flowerhead of the family Compositae and is morphologically dissimilar to other stalk and 

stem vegetables and pest problems are dissimilar.

Burdock is currently in Crop Group 2 (Leaves of Root and Tuber Vegetables 

(Human Food or Animal Feed). Many of leaves of root and tuber vegetables (human 

food) were proposed for inclusion in the revised Leafy Vegetable crop group. Burdock, 

edible is proposed by IR-4 for inclusion in the Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole crop group 

since although the root is the primary part valued, the young stalks and leaves are also 

consumed. The peeled stem is also eaten. Since the leaves are also consumed, EPA 

ChemSAC may want to consider if burdock should instead be included in the revised 

Leafy Vegetable crop group. Upon further consideration it was felt that Burdock, edible 

leaves should remain as a member of Crop group 2, leaves of root and tuber vegetables 

and not become a member of the proposed Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole crop group 22.

In addition, I also recommend including fiddlehead ferns for inclusion in the Stalk, 

Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group because even though they are found for a 

limited time in grocery stores and included in some gourmet restaurants, they are rarely 

cultivated and are often gathered from the wild for personal consumption, or sold to 

markets and restaurants. They have a very limited season, typically early spring for a 

short time as the fronds first emerge, and some of the ferns can be toxic if not harvested 

at the correct growth stage. However, after consideration of current research to develop it 

as a crop, use in Europe, use in gourmet restaurants, and its potential as a commercial 

specialty crop it is recommended to include ferns as a commodity in this crop group

Changes to Food and feed commodity vocabulary include bamboo shoot will be 

bamboo shoots because this is how the crop is listed commercially. Palm hearts will also 

be listed as palm hearts with no comma palm, hearts based on its marketing name. Edible 

ferns will have a new commodity definition to cover all the types of edible ferns. 

Originally for terminology purpose it was also proposed to change Prickly pear, 

pads to cactus to cover other edible cacti besides prickly pear. The RAC for cactus will 

be Cactus, pads and cactus, fruit which was the current EPA practice. However, 

commodity name for prickly pear, pads was suggested to be changed to Cactus before the 

analysis of the Tropical and subtropical fruit inedible peel crop group 24 by HED 

(ChemSAC review March 12, 2013). Included in this Tropical and subtropical fruit –

inedible peel crop group proposal the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, whereas in crop 

group 22 the cactus RAC is specifically for its pads and only the Prickly pear and the 

Texas prickly pear will be members of crop group 22. The commodity term “cactus” as 

HED originally stated will now need to be changed to Prickly pear, pads and Texas 

prickly pear, pads to distinguish it clearly from the fruit of the prickly pear that develops 

from prickly pear flowers. The proposed Tropical and subtropical fruit – inedible peel 

crop group 24 will have the commodities Prickly pear, fruit and Texas prickly pear, fruit.

Also the name of the crop group should be Stalk, Stem, and Leaf petiole 

vegetable group 22 instead of stalk, stem, and leafy petiole vegetable group. This will 
11

match the use of the term leaf petiole which we have established as crop subgroup 4B 

which moves these commodities from crop subgroup 4B to the proposed stalk, stem, and 

leaf petiole crop group 22.

The RAC for Florence fennel should be Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk to 

distinguish from the commodity Fennel, Florence, seed in crop group 19 herbs and spices 

and Crop subgroup Spice 19B.

The list of acceptable Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable crops and their 

scientific names for the seventeen commodities were also updated and are listed below. 

“HED Proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Group 22”.

Commodities

Agave, Agave spp.

Aloe vera, Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.

Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis L.

Bamboo shoots, Arundinaria spp.; Bambusa spp, Chimonobambusa spp.; 

Dendrocalamus spp., Gigantochloa spp., Nastus elatus; Phyllostachys spp.; 

Thyrsostachys siamensis; Thyrsostachys oliverii

Cactus, (Prickly pear) Opuntia spp.

Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus L.

Celery, Apium graveolens var. dulce (Mill.) Pers.

Celery, Chinese, Apium graveolens L. var. secalinum (Alef.) Mansf.

Celtuce, Lactuca sativa var. angustana L.H. Bailey

Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk, Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. vulgare

var. azoricum (Mill.) Thell.

Fern, edible, Fiddlehead

Fuki, Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim.

Kale, sea, Crambe maritima L.

Kohlrabi, Brassica oleracea L.var gongylodes L.

Palm hearts, various species including: Peach Palm, Bactris gasipaes Kunth; 

Palmyra palm, Borassus flabellifera L.; African fan palm, Borassus aethiopum

Mart.; Cabbage palm, Euterpe oleracea Mart.; Wine palm, Raphia spp.; Royal 

palm, Roystonea oleracea (Jacq.) O.F. Cook; Salak palm, Salacca zalacca

(Gaertn.) Voss; Saw palmetto, Serenoa repens (W. Bartram) Small; Cabbage 

palmetto, Sabal palmetto (Walter) Schult. & Schult.

Rhubarb, Rheum x hybridum Murray

Udo, Aralia cordata Thunb.

Zuiki, Colocasia gigantea (Blume) Hook.

Cultivars, varieties, and hybrids of these commodities 

IR-4 Proposal 2:” The proposed representative commodities for the Stalk, Stem, and 

Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Group 22 are asparagus and celery.”
12

HED Recommendations for Proposal 2:

I recommend ChemSAC concur to have asparagus and celery, as representative 

commodities for the proposed new Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole group 22. These 

proposed representative commodities account for > 98 % of the harvested acres for the 

proposed members of this group. They are the two most widely grown stalk, stem and 

leaf petiole crops in the U.S. with both the largest acreages and geographical distribution. 

The representative commodities are based on similarities in vegetable morphology (stalk 

and stem and not leaves), and cultural practices and geographical locations, as well as 

their high production (both acres and yield) and consumption. Comparisons of 

established tolerances on stalk, stem, and leaf petiole commodities also supports that 

residue levels will be similar between members of the crop group. 

The name of the crop group should be stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable 

group 22 instead of stalk, stem, and leafy petiole vegetable group. This will match the 

use of the term leaf petiole which we have established as crop subgroup 4B which moves 

these commodities from crop subgroup 4B to the proposed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

crop group 22.

IR-4 Proposal 3: “Propose establishing two crop subgroups 22A – Stalk and stem 

subgroup with ten commodities and 22B – Leafy petiole subgroup with seven

commodities as follows with asparagus being the representative commodity for crop 

subgroup 22A and celery for crop subgroup 22B:

Crop Subgroup 22A. Stalk and Stem subgroup - Representative commodity - asparagus:

1. Agave

2. Asparagus

3. Bamboo, shoots

4. Celtuce

5. Fennel, Florence

6. Fern, edible

7. Kale, sea

8. Kohlrabi

9. Palm Hearts

10. Prickly pear, pads

Crop Subgroup 22B. Leafy Petiole subgroup – Representative commodity - Celery:

1. Cardoon

2. Celery

3. Celery, Chinese
13

4. Fuki

5. Rhubarb

6. Udo

7. Zuiki”

HED Recommendations for Proposal 3:

I also recommend that ChemSAC approve the two proposed crop subgroups: 22A 

Stalk and Stem Vegetable and 22B - Leaf Petiole Vegetable. The petiole vegetable 

subgroup name of the crop subgroup 22B Leafy petiole vegetable should be leaf petiole 

subgroup. This will match the use of the term leaf petiole which we have established as 

crop subgroup 4B which moves these commodities from crop subgroup 4B to the 

proposed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole crop group 22 (see table below). 

Originally for terminology purpose it was also proposed to change Prickly pear, 

pads to cactus to cover other edible cacti besides prickly pear. The RAC for cactus will 

be Cactus, pads and cactus, fruit which was the current EPA practice. However, 

commodity name for prickly pear, pads was suggested to be changed to Cactus before the 

analysis of the Tropical and subtropical fruit inedible peel crop group 24 by HED 

(ChemSAC review March 12, 2013). Included in this Tropical and subtropical fruit –

inedible peel crop group proposal the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, whereas in crop 

group 22 the cactus RAC is specifically for its pads and only the Prickly pear and the 

Texas prickly pear will be members of crop group 22. The commodity term “cactus” as 

HED originally stated will now need to be changed to Prickly pear, pads and Texas 

prickly pear, pads to distinguish it clearly from the fruit of the prickly pear that develops 

from prickly pear flowers. The proposed Tropical and subtropical fruit – inedible peel 

crop group 24 will have the commodities Prickly pear, fruit and Texas prickly pear, fruit.

The representative commodities for each of the subgroups represent over 99 % of 

the production and are widely grown in the U.S. The Stalk and stem subgroup 22A will 

have asparagus as the representative of vegetables that have edible stalks and stems such 

as celtuce and kohlrabi. The Leaf petiole subgroup 22B will have celery as the 

representative commodity of the other leaf petiole crops such as Chinese celery, cardoon, 

and rhubarb. Comparison of tolerances for the individual members of each subgroup also 

supports that these two representative commodities will support the crop subgroups. 

PROPOSED REPRESENTATIVE COMMODITIES AND CROP SUBGROUPS

Crop Group 

Subgroup

Proposed 

Representative 

Commodities Proposed Commodities

Stalk, Stem and 

Leafy Petiole 

Celery and Agave; Aloe vera; Asparagus; Bamboo shoots; 
14

Crop Group 22 Asparagus Celtuce; Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk; 

Fern, edible, Fiddlehead; Kale, sea; Kohlrabi; 

Palm hearts; Prickly pear, pads; Texas prickly

pear, pads

22A. Stalk and 

Stem Vegetable

Asparagus Agave; Asparagus; Bamboo shoots; Cactus; 

Celtuce; Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk; 

Fern, edible, Kale, sea; Kohlrabi; Palm hearts; 

Prickly pear, pads; Texas prickly pear, pads

22B. Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable

Celery Cardoon; Celery; Celery, Chinese; Fuki; 

Rhubarb; Udo; Zuiki

IR-4 Proposal 4: “No new Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole crop definitions are proposed.” 

HED Recommendation for Proposal 4 Commodity Definition [40CFR 180.41 (g)] for 

the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetables:

However, there is a current commodity definition for celery and previously had 

approved a revision to add Chinese celery to the commodity definition for celery as 

follows (ChemSAC (Reviewer’s Guide and Summary of HED ChemSAC Approvals for 

Amending Commodity Definitions [40 CFR § 180.1(h)] and Crop Group/Subgroups [40 

CFR § 180.41], Schneider, B., 6/14/02) :

“

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Celery Celery, Florence fennel (sweet anise, sweet fennel, finochio) 

(fresh leaves and stalks only), Chinese celery. 

“

With the proposed establishment of a new crop group for Stalk, stem, and leaf 

petiole vegetables, the need for a celery commodity definition to cover Chinese celery is 

negated since the proposed Leaf Petiole Vegetable subgroup 22C has celery as the 

representative commodity that covers Chinese celery. Also Florence fennel, fresh leaves 

and stalks has been shown in this petition to fit closer to the Stem and Stalk subgroup 

22A with asparagus as the representative commodity. Celery is the proposed 

representative commodity for crop subgroup 22B Leaf petiole. Therefore, we 

recommend deleting the commodity definition for celery as part of the establishment of 

the Stalk, stem and leaf petiole vegetable crop group.
15

Also to avoid confusion from current celery tolerances, we have no objection to 

not deleting this commodity definition.

A new commodity definition for edible ferns is recommended so that the various 

types of edible ferns can be easily distinguishable and defined. The edible commodity 

fern definition is as follows:

“

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Fern, edible

Fern, edible; Fiddlehead including: Black lady fern, Deparia 

japonica (Thunb.) M. Kato; Bracken fern, Pteridium 

aquilinum (L.) Kuhn; Broad buckler fern, Dryopteris dilatata 

(Hoffm.) A. Gray; Cinnamon fern, Osmundastrum 

cinnamomeum (L.) C. Presl; Lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina 

(L.) Roth ex Mert.; Leather fern, Acrostichum aureum L.; 

Mother fern, Diplazium proliferum (Lam.) Thouars; Ostrich 

fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod.; Vegetable fern, 

Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.; Zenmai fern, Osmuda 

japonica Thunb. 

“

A new commodity definition for palm heart is also recommended so that the 

various palm heart varieties can be easily distinguishable and defined. The palm heart 

commodity definition is as follows:

“

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Palm hearts

Palm hearts, various species including: Peach Palm, Bactris 

gasipaes Kunth; Palmyra palm, Borassus flabellifera L.; 

African fan palm, Borassus aethiopum Mart.; Coconut, Cocos 

nucifera L.; Cabbage palm, Euterpe oleracea Mart.; Wine 

palm, Raphia spp.; Royal palm, Roystonea oleracea (Jacq.) 

O.F. Cook; Salak palm, Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss; Saw 

palmetto, Serenoa repens (W. Bartram) Small; Cabbage 

palmetto, Sabal palmetto (Walter) Schult. & Schult. f.

“

Additional HED Recommendations/Conclusions:

HED Recommendation 5:

Another important aspect of crop grouping is the harmonization effort with the 

Codex Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds. Another important aspect of crop 

grouping is the harmonization effort with the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal 

Feeds. The Codex Classification of Food and Feed Commodities was published in 1983, 
16

and has a separate Crop Group (017) “Stalk and Stem Vegetables”. EPA at that time did 

not propose a separate crop group similar to Codex. However, based on recommendation 

by International Crop Grouping Symposium in 2002 and the reanalysis of the Leafy

vegetable crop groups, USDA IR-4 is proposing that EPA adopt a crop group similar to 

the Codex group entitled “Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group. 

The proposed EPA crop group for Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole is very similar to 

the corresponding Codex Stalk and Stem Vegetables (Group 017). The Codex Group 017, 

Stalk and Stem Vegetables consist of ten commodities. The U.S. has seventeen proposed 

commodities and twelve are direct matches. There are seven commodities proposed in 

the U.S. crop group not yet in Codex (agave, aloe vera, Chinese celery, edible fern, fuki, 

udo, and zuiki. Codex also has witloof chicory sprouts (VS 469) but it is not being 

proposed for the U.S. group since its cultural practices are much different than other 

members of the group. Witloof chicory is also called Belgium endive. 

A revision of the Codex Classification is underway with consideration to include 

adding new commodities, creating subgroups, and selecting representative commodities. 

The new Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Group and the representative 

commodities proposed in this petition would facilitate the harmonization of the U.S. and 

the Codex crop classification systems. In the next proposed revision to the Codex 

Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds we would expect these changes to be 

considered as part of the Codex Stalk and Stem Vegetables Group in the harmonization 

effort that Bill Barney, USDA IR - 4 is coordinating with the Codex delegation. 

Therefore, this proposal will not only increase harmonization with the Canadian and 

NAFTA crop grouping system, but it is compatible with the international system of 

Codex. The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 also placed increased emphasis on 

using Codex MRLs in setting tolerances for pesticides in the U.S. We continue to note 

that the current Codex crop group does not have representative commodities. 

HED Recommendation 6:

The Health Effects Division Dry Matter database is prepared by Dr’s NG and 

Schneider. Yuen-Shaung NG and B. A. Schneider, and was updated on July, 2011 in 

Table 45 for the propose Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole vegetable crop group.

HED Recommendation 7:

Guidance for HED SOP 99.6 - “Classification of Food Forms with Respect to 

Level of Blending” issued August 20, 1999, and HED SOP 2000.1 – “Guidance for 

Translation of Field Trial Data from Representative Commodities in the Crop Group 

Regulation to Other Commodities in Each Crop Group/Subgroup” issued September 12, 

2000 can be updated to reflect the addition of the Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable

crop group 22

HED Recommendation 8:
17

Guidance on expressing tolerance terminology for the Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

vegetable crop group 22 is discussed under the “Tolerance expression guidance section of 

this analysis.

HED Recommendation 9:

New lookup and preferred EPA terms for the members of the Stalk, Stem, and 

Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Group 22 are listed in the EPA Food and Feed Commodity

Vocabulary section of this report and these terms will be to the updated EPA Food and 

Feed Commodity Vocabulary website (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/foodfeed) when it 

is updated.

DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE USDA IR-4 PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH THE 

STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE CROP GROUP:

The leafy vegetables form a large commodity group of mainly annual or biennial 

flowering herbaceous plants. In general the leafy vegetables and Brassica leafy

vegetables are typically cool season crops that are grown as row crops. Crops that are 

consumed as leaves of roots and tubers (human food) are typically warm season crops, 

and are also grown as row crops. Almost all parts of some edible leaf species or other 

have been developed for food, including the root (rutabaga, turnips), stems (kohlrabi), 

leaves (cabbage, Brussels sprouts), flowers (cauliflower, broccoli), and seeds (many, 

including mustard seed, and oil-producing rapeseed, canola varieties). 

DEFINITION OF LEAFY AND STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE

COMMODITIES:

A leafy vegetable is considered any of various leafy plants which have their leaves 

and/or stems/or tender petioles or leaf stalk plant parts eaten as vegetables. The current 

crop grouping system has separate crop groups for Leafy vegetables group 4 and Brassica 

Leafy Vegetables Crop Group 5, as well as Crop group 2 for the Leaves of Root and 

Tuber Vegetables. Nearly one thousand species of plants with edible leaves are known. 

These vegetables are leaves of plants that are cooked (steamed, stir-fried or cooked) or 

eaten fresh as a vegetable. They come from a wide variety of plants, but share common 

characteristics in leaf morphology (comparison of external plant structures). 

Stalk, stem and leaf petiole vegetables are the edible plant stalks, stems or leafy

petioles from a variety of annual or perennial plants that are used as vegetables. Many

leafy and root and tuber vegetables contain significant amounts of either stem, stalk or 

petiole portions, however, the commodities proposed for this crop group are composed 

primarily of the stalk, stem or petiole. Petioles frequently include the leaf structure, so 

petioles are referred to as leaf or leafy petioles. Celery (petiole) and asparagus (stem) are 

among the most popular and better known vegetables in this group. Stalk, stem and leafy

petiole vegetables are used to make a variety of vegetable dishes and contain numerous

vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Because of their structure, stalk, stem and leafy

petiole vegetables are fully exposed to pesticides during their growth period. 
18

BOTANICAL ASPECTS OF STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE 

COMMODITIES:

Table 1. Botanical Families of the Proposed New Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable Crop Group (Currently commodities in bold are the best known worldwide).

Botanical Family Commodity

Apiaceae Celery, Chinese celery, Florence fennel, Fuki

Araceae Zuiki

Araliaceae Udo

Arecaceae Palm hearts

Asparagaceae Agave, Asparagus

Asteraceae Edible burdock, tops; Cardoon

Bambusa Bamboo shoots

Brassicaceae Sea kale, Kohlrabi

Cactaceae Cactus (Prickly pear)

Osmundaceae Fern, edible (Cinnamon fern)

Polygonaceae Rhubarb

Woodsiaceae Fern, edible (mother fern, vegetable fern)

Edible ferns are members of several crop families and include: 

Ferns, Edible (Fiddleheads): including: Black lady fern, Woodsiaceae; Bracken fern, 

Dennstaedtiaceae; buckler fern, Dryopteridaceae; Cinnamon fern Osmundaceae; Lady 

fern, Woodsiaceae; Leather fern, Pteridaceae; Mother fern, Woodsiaceae; Ostrich fern, 

Onocleaceae; Vegetable fern, Woodsiaceae; and Zenmai fern, Osmundaceae. 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE 

VEGETABLE CULTIVATION:

Agave has its origins dating back to the Maya empire through the Spanish 

Conquistadors and the first tequila made in 1600. Tequila’s resurgence in recent years is 

due to an explosion in the premium tequila market. The agave plant and tequila became 

one of the most important treasures to the tribes of pre-Hispanic Mexico. The sweet 

nectar of the agave is used as a sweetener or distilled into what is now modern day

tequila.

Asparagus over 20,000 years ago was eaten near Aswan in Egypt. It has been used 

as a vegetable and medicine, owing to its delicate flavor, diuretic properties, and more. It 

is pictured as an offering on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3000 BC. It was known in Syria 

and in Spain. Greeks and Romans ate it fresh when in season and dried the vegetable for 

use in winter. It originated near the Mediterranean Sea and was considered a delicacy by

the ancient Greeks. Methods were described for growing this vegetable in 200 BC. It 

was cultivated in England in 1400 and brought to America by the early colonists. Highly

prized for its delicate flavor, "asparagus" is the Greek word for "stalk" or "shoot". The 

waste steppes of southern Poland and Russia are covered with this plant. Asparagus has 
19

been grown in American gardens since the earliest settlements were established, but it 

was not until after 1850 - 1860 that asparagus was planted by commercial growers in the 

United States. 

Cardoon was once an extremely important vegetable in Europe, known by the 

Romans and by the ancient Greeks. It is much less popular today but remains a common 

vegetable in Spain and Italy, as well as some cultivation in Asia and South America. 

Celery is believed to be originally from the Mediterranean basin. Ancient literature 

documents that celery, or a similar plant form, was cultivated for medicinal purposes 

before 850 B.C. It’s claimed medicinal purposes were probably attributable to its volatile 

oils, contained in parts, but mostly the seed. During ancient times Ayurvedic physicians 

used celery seed to treat the following many conditions: colds, poor digestion, various 

types of arthritis, and liver and spleen ailments. Eating celery did not become popular 

until the 18th century in Europe. Celery was introduced in the United States early in the 

early 19th century. 

Celtuce is consumed as a vegetable, particularly in China, and was introduced to the 

U.S. about 1940 as a minor crop. 

The origins of kohlrabi are not certain, but the first mention of it in European 

literature is a mention of Corinthian turnip by Pliny the Elder in the first century AD, and 

Corinthian turnip resembled the kohlrabi's growth patterns. Kohlrabi was likely grown in 

many parts of the Roman Empire. By the year 800 A.D., the Holy Roman Emperor 

Charlemagne ordered that kohlrabi be grown in Imperial gardens. The name "kohlrabi" 

is actually a German name that means "cabbage turnip." By the 1600s, kohlrabi had 

spread to India via trade, and became a staple crop in India. It has more recently been 

cultivated in China and other parts of East Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Although 

kohlrabi is available in the United States, it was not common outside of the southern 

U.S., and it was first recorded as a crop in the United States in 1806.

Rhubarb most likely originated in Mongolia or Siberia. It was introduced to Europe 

by Italian botanist Prosper Alpinus in 1608 as a substitute for Chinese Rhubarb whose 

roots were used medicinally. Ben Franklin is credited for bringing rhubarb seeds to the 

North American east coast in 1772, yet the red stalks did not catch on until the early 

1800s, when it became a popular ingredient for pie. In the late 1800's, rhubarb was 

brought to Alaska by the Russians and used as an effective counter-agent for scurvy. By

the mid-1900s, was popular in the New England states where it was used as pastry and 

pie fillings and also to make homemade wine. The term rhubarb has also come to mean 

a "quarrel" or "heated discussion." Stage and movie directors would have actors repeat 

"rhubarb" and various other phrases to simulate background conversations or mutterings 

of a surly crowd.

GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF 

PETIOLE VEGETABLE CROPS:
20

Understanding how the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables grow and develop 

is a key part of developing a pest control strategy for optimum leaf yield and quality and 

a helpful reference for analysis of residue field trials data by EPA scientists. Proper 

timing of pesticide applications, based on crop growth stage and pest growth cycle can 

improve a product’s efficacy, prevent crop injury, and yield losses. Pesticide labels often 

use crop growth stages and codes to identify when to apply a pesticide, and State 

Extension pest control recommendations and spray schedules are based on these distinct 

growth stages. Rarely, if ever, will a grower need to apply treatments at all of the key

growth stages shown for a given vegetable. The number, distribution, and content of 

needed treatments will vary between the major leafy vegetable growing regions of the 

world and within any given region and are dependent on pest pressures, which reduce the 

yield, quality, and marketability of the edible leaves. 

Some of the internationally recognized growth stages for the vegetables are 

represented by spinach which does not form a distinct head are listed as BBCH Codes 

(Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemical industry), and the BBCH 

does not have separate tables for the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole commodities. But the 

general growth codes do apply and are listed in Table 2. Beginning as a small black seed, 

asparagus develops into long tube like roots and called a crown. Developed crowns, 

which take more than a year to establish, will send up spears in the second or third year 

of growth that can be harvested over a 6 - 8 week period. Once the picking season ends, 

the spears transition to a fern for the remainder of the summer gathering resources for 

next year.

In biology, the BBCH-scale for these crops describes the phenological

development of the crop using the BBCH-scale. They are based on the principal growth 

stage such as germination, leaf development, flowering, and fruit development, and they

list a standard BBCH Code for each stage as well as a description of each code. The 

selected growth stages are also essential for identifying the propose timings to scout pest 

problems for control of these pests and for applications of pesticides as part of an 

integrated pest management program (IPM). 

Table 2. Selected Principal Growth Stages for Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetables. BBCH Identification Codes (Adapted from Meier, 1994 and Feller et 

al., 1995). 

BBCH Codes Principal Growth Stage

00 - 09 Germination

10 - 20 Leaf development (main shoot) 

40 - 49 Development of harvestable vegetative plant parts

50 - 59 Inflorescence emergence

60 - 69 Flowering

70 - 79 Development of Fruit

80 - 89 Ripening of fruit and seed

90 - 99 Senescence Harvested product
21

CLIMATE AND SOILS AFFECT CULTIVATION AND ADAPTATION OF 

STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE CROP COMMODITIES 

TO CERTAIN REGIONS:

Agave:

Most agave grows best in desert scrub climates in tropical and sub-tropical 

regions, although some species can be found in more humid regions and in pine forests. 

Agave can tolerate temperate climates as well, although it grows extremely slowly and 

may not flower for a very long time, if at all. It is often grown in the U.S. and Europe as 

an ornamental.

Asparagus:

Asparagus performs best when the soil is in a pH range from 6.5 to 7.5. Soils 

with a pH of 6.0 or lower must be limed or growth will be restricted. Soils with a pH 

above 8.2 indicate excess sodium and must be reclaimed. Excess salts in your soil or 

water can significantly reduce yield. In high salinity areas it is necessary to design the 

drip system so it can provide adequate leaching. Asparagus does not tolerate acid soils 

and will not grow well at a pH of less than 6.0.

Bamboo shoots:

Depending on the species bamboo can tolerate cool temperate climates, although 

the majority of species are tropical or subtropical. It can grow in most soils as long as it 

has plenty of water, and tends to be invasive and difficult to get rid of due to its thick 

culms and extensive system. Sandy loams to loamy clay soils that are well drained are 

preferred. 

Burdock, edible:

Probably native to Asia but now found throughout much of the temperate world, 

including the U.S, where it is considered a weed where it is not cultivated. It can grow in 

most soils, full sun to partial shade.

Cactus:

Requires subtropical, tropical, or cool, semiarid climate with mild, cool winters 

and hot summers (with temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F)), an annual rainfall of 25 to 60 

centimeters (10 to 24 inches), full sun, and well-drained sandy soils, soils of low clay and 

sodium content, or calcareous soil. Cacti are naturalized in dry disturbed habitats. A 

higher pH is preferred in wetter areas. A lower pH is tolerated in drier areas. Cactus 

thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 8b to 10. It tolerates drought, high temperatures, 

wind, a wide range of climates, and rocky or sandy soils of low fertility. It will not

tolerate freezing temperatures, very acid soils, wet conditions or excessive moisture. 

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri requires full sun, elevations of up to 1,900 meters 
22

(6,234 feet), well-drained acid to neutral sand, gravel, loam, clay, or caliche soil, low 

annual precipitation, and dry conditions. It grown in drier areas including rock outcrops 

and stony limestone soils of south and central Texas, Mexico, and New Mexico, and it 

also grows in the plains, shrub lands and woodlands. It thrives in USDA zones 8 to 10

and it tolerates heat, part shade and cold (10 °F or -12 °C). It propagates by seeds and 

cuttings. Some cacti are native to Mexico. Domestication of the plant occurred over 

9,000 years ago. 

Cardoon:

Cardoon tolerates most soil types and requires full sun.

Celery:

For celery a muck soil is ideal because of their high moisture-holding capacity. A 

pH of 5.2-6.5 is required for good production. Fertile, well drained mineral soils are also 

suitable where sufficient water can be provided throughout the growing season. Sandy

soils are not recommended.

Chinese celery:

Require moist, fertile soil and cool temperatures to prevent it from bolting. It is 

best planted in spring, although summer crops may yield an autumn harvest if conditions 

are favorable. In hot weather requires shade, and it may be overwintered in some areas. 

Will often self-seed, but can also be directly sown or started indoors before the last frost. 

It germinates best in cool conditions, moist soil, and with seeds uncovered and in the 

light.

Celtuce:

Celtuce is an annual herbaceous plant, originating in Southern China, and prefers 

a well drained, loamy soil with a soil pH greater than 6.5. 

Fuki:

Fuki is hardy to zones 4 - 5. It will grow in most types of soil, but requires 

constant moisture and does best in a rich loam, and cannot tolerate standing water.

Kohlrabi:

It is typically a cool season crop and can be sown in spring or autumn in 

temperate areas, and over winter in warmer climates, and does best in full sun but can 

tolerate some shade. It will grow in most soil types, preferably kept moist.

Rhubarb:
23

A stand of rhubarb is most productive beginning its third year and lasting through 

its sixth year. Rhubarb prefers a deep, fertile, humus rich soil, which is moist but welldrained, and grows well in heavy clay soils. Use a well-drained but moisture-holding soil 

with a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Hardy to at least -4 °F (-20 °C), and does best in a sunny

position. 

Sea kale:

Sea kale does best in a sunny position and neutral to alkaline conditions. Can 

succeed in poor soils and sand; salt and wind tolerant, although it does best in a rich, 

fertile soil. 

Udo:

Udo grows well in most soils, including poor soils provided it is kept moist, and it 

can grow in shade to partial sun. Udo’s natural habitat is in woodlands near to streams 

and ravines and can still be found growing in these areas all over Japan.

U.S./NAFTA AND WORLD PRODUCTION AND GEOGRAPHICAL 

DISTRIBUTION OF THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE 

COMMODITIES: 

The proposed members of the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop 

Group have widespread distribution throughout the world. Table 3 (FAOSTAT) provides 

a list of the hectares and production in metric tons in 2009 reported n the FAO website 

for agave, asparagus, and artichokes. The world total hectares for agave are 45,848 ha,

asparagus is 1,399,217 ha, and artichokes are 133,326 ha. The total production of agave 

is 32,991 tonnes, asparagus is 7,309,432 tonnes and artichokes are 1,521,150 tonnes. 

The predominate agave producing region is Central America at 39 % and South 

America at 37 %, followed by Asia at 7.9 % of the hectares and tonnes. The predominate 

asparagus producing region is Asia and accounts for 92 % of the hectares, followed by

Europe at 4 %, and South America at 2.5 %.of the hectares. Asia also produces over 

6,567,275 tonnes. Europe is the predominate artichoke producing region at 59 % of the 

hectares, followed by South America at 14 % of the hectares, Africa at 13 % and Asia at 

11 % of the hectares. 

Table 3. Stalk, Stem and Leafy Petiole Production in 2009 (FAOSTAT)

(FAOSTAT: http://faostat.fao.org/site/566/default.aspx, results as of May 21, 2011)

Countries/

Regions

Agave Asparagus Artichoke, globe

Australia NA 1,616 ha

6,981 tonnes

NA

New Zealand NA 639 ha NA
24

Countries/

Regions

Agave Asparagus Artichoke, globe

2,200 tonnes

United States NA 11,817 ha

49,670 tonnes

3,480 ha

50,710 tonnes

Africa NA 532 ha

4,391 tonnes

17,666 ha

303,405 tonnes

North America NA 13,677 ha

57,526 tonnes

3,480 ha

50,710 tonnes

Central America 17,956 ha

11,026 tonnes

12,602 ha

63,950 tonnes

59 ha

800 tonnes

South America 17,120 ha

15,783 tonnes

35,287 ha

341,971 tonnes

19,120 ha

279,210 tonnes

Asia 3,621 ha

3,639 tonnes

1,282,395 ha

6,567,275 tonnes

14,712 ha

131,842 tonnes

Europe NA 52,469 ha

265,138 tonnes

78,289 ha

755,183 tonnes

World Total 45,848 ha

32,991 tonnes

1,399,217 ha

7,309,432 tonnes

133,326 ha

1,521,150 tonnes

Note: This table reports only the Stalk, Stem and Petiole Vegetables available on the 

FAO website

U.S. STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION, 

GEOGRAPHICAL PRODUCTION AND PER CAPITA AVAILABILITY 

(LB/YEAR):

Production in the U.S. is based on the USDA 2010 Agricultural Statistics, FAO 

Statistics, 2007, USDA ERS 2007, 2010, USDA NASS Crop Production, 2007, and the 

U.S. Agricultural Census, 2007. The planted acreages for celery, artichokes, asparagus, 

and rhubarb in the United States are listed in Table 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively.

Table 4. U.S. Production of Celery for 2007 (USDA AG Census, 2007, 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/index.asp) and 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/st99_2_030_030.pdf )..

State Total Celery Acres 

Harvested (2007)

% of Total 

U.S. Harvested 

acres (2007)

California 24,769 82.8

Michigan 1,968 6.5

Arizona 437 1.5

Oregon 50 0.2

North Carolina 31 0.1

Pennsylvania 28 < 0.1

Washington 17 < 0.1

Hawaii 14 < 0.1
25

State Total Celery Acres 

Harvested (2007)

% of Total 

U.S. Harvested 

acres (2007)

New York 10 < 0.1

Massachusetts 5 < 0.1

US Total 29,907 91.1

California, Michigan, and Arizona account for 90.9 % of the harvested acres for

celery (Table 4). Twenty-six other states harvested acres information for celery is not 

included in orders to avoid disclosing data for individual farms. These include: Alaska, 

Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, 

Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, 

Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and 

Wisconsin.

Artichoke, globe:

Table 5. U.S. Production of Globe Artichoke for 2007 (USDA AG Census, 2007, 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/index.asp) and 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/st99_2_030_030.pdf ), 

State Total Acres 

Harvested (2007)

% of Total U.S. 

Harvested acres (2007)

California 9,612 99

Oregon 30 < 1

US Total 9,687 > 99

California accounts for almost all the harvested acres for artichokes (Table 5). 

Oregon accounts for less than 1 % of the harvested acres. 

Asparagus:

Table 6. U.S. Production of Asparagus for 2007 (USDA AG Census, 2007, 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/index.asp) and 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/st99_2_030_030.pdf ) 

State Total Acres 

Harvested (2007)

% of Total U.S. 

Harvested acres (2007)

California 20,211 47

Michigan 12,127 28

Washington 7,005 16

Oregon 369 1

US Total 43,010 92

California accounts for 47 % of the harvested acres for asparagus, followed by

Michigan, Washington, and Oregon at 28, 16, and 1 % of the harvested acres (Table 6). 
26

Rhubarb:

Over 44 % of the harvested rhubarb acres are grown in Oregon, with 31 % grown 

in Washington, and 8 % grown in Michigan (Table 7). 

Table 7. U.S. Production of Rhubarb for 2007 (USDA AG Census, 2007, 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/index.asp) and 

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/st99_2_030_030.pdf ) 

State Total Acres 

Harvested (2007)

% of Total U.S. 

Harvested acres (2007)

Oregon 616 44

Washington 437 31

Michigan 106 8

US Total 1,404 83

The percent of the total produce sales for the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

vegetable commodities in U.S. grocery stores for the years 2008 – 2010 for globe 

artichoke, asparagus, and celery are shown in Table 8 (The Packer, Fairchild, 2008, 2009, 

2010). Sales in pounds of these three vegetables increased by 0.3 % for the three-year 

period and account for > 3.1 % of the total produce sold in the U.S. Sales of celery has 

increased from 281,344,886 lb in 2008 to 303,426,521 lb in 2010. Growth in sales 

should increase with rise in immigrant populations and essential nutritional components 

of these vegetables.

Table 8. List of the Leafy Vegetable Commodity Percent of the Total Grocery Store 

Produce Sales Sold for the Years 2008, 2009, and 2010. The Packer (Fairchild, 2008, 

2009, 2010). 

Commodity Percent of Total 

Produce Sales – 2008 

and Pounds Sold in 

2008 

Percent of Total 

Produce Sales – 2009 

and Pounds Sold in 

2009

Percent of Total Produce 

Sales – 2010 and Pounds 

Sold in 2010

Artichoke, 

globe

0.2 % and 33,235,757 lb 0.2 % and 34,061,741 lb 0.2 % and 34,924,795 lb

Asparagus 1.2 % and 155,200,591 lb 1.3 % and 173,680,167 lb 1.4 % and 178,569,065 lb

Celery 1.4 % and 281,344,886 lb 1.4 % and 287,541,873 lb 1.5 % and 303,426,521 lb

In the U.S. there is per capita consumption data for 1970, 2007 – 2009 for 

asparagus (Table 9), celery (Table 10), and globe artichoke (Table 11). The per capita 

consumption for fresh asparagus increased from 0.4 lb/capita in 1970 to 1.3 lb/capita in 

2009. Canned asparagus has increased from 0.6 lb/capita in 1970 to o.2 lb/capita in 

2009. Frozen asparagus has declined greatly from 0.29 lb/capita in 1970 to 0.07 lb/capita

in 2009. Fresh celery per capita availability has declined from 7.3 lb/capita in 1970 to 
27

6.1 lb/capita. Globe artichoke has increased from 1970 at 0.4 lb/capita to 1.5 lb/capita in 

2009.

Table 9. Asparagus U.S. per Capita Availability (lb/year) for 1970, and 2000, 2007 –

2007 (USDA ERS Food Availability, February 1, 2011, USDA Agricultural 

Statistics, 2010).

Asparagus Fresh Canned Frozen Total Asparagus

2009 1.3 0.2 0.07 1.4

2008 1.2 0.2 0.09 1.5

2007 1.2 0.1 0.09 1.4

2000 0.9 0.3 0.07 1.2

1970 0.4 0.6 0.29 1.3

Table 10. Celery U.S. Per Capita Availability (lb/year) for 1970, and 2000, 2007 –

2007 (USDA ERS Food Availability, February 1, 2011, USDA Agricultural 

Statistics, 2010).

Celery Fresh Processed Total Celery

2009 6.1 NA 6.1

2008 6.2 NA 6.2

2007 6.3 NA 6.3

2000 6.3 NA 6.3

1970 7.3 NA 7.3

Table 11. Globe Artichoke U.S. per Capita Availability (lb/year) for 1970, and 2000, 

2007 – 2007 (USDA ERS Food Availability, February 1, 2011, USDA Agricultural 

Statistics, 2010).

Globe 

Artichoke

Fresh Processed Total Globe 

Artichoke 

2009 1.5 NA 1.5

2008 1.5 NA 1.5

2007 1.5 NA 1.5

2000 1.2 NA 1.2

1970 0.4 NA 0.4

Per Capita Consumption from USDA CSF II. Survey:

Based on the USDA CSFII 1994 – 1996, 1998 survey, using two day individual 

consumption for determined leafy vegetable consumption (g/day) is listed in Table 12. 

The highest consumed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable is celery with 3.64 g/day. 

Other stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables are asparagus at 0.751 g/day, globe 

artichoke at 0.115 g/day, and rhubarb at 0.0797 g/dat. The only babyfood reported for 

this crop group is celery at 0.00264 g/day.

Table 12. Consumption of the Stalk, Stem, and Petiole Vegetable Commodities 

Based on USDA CSFII 1994 – 1996, 1998 Survey.
28

COMMODITY CONSUMPTION (g/day) 

Asparagus 0.751

Artichoke, globe 0.115

Bamboo shoots 0.148

Cactus 0.0774

Celery, juice 0.0161

Celery 3.648

Celery - babyfood 0.00264

Palm, heart, leaves 0.00643

Rhubarb 0.0797

Total proposed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

vegetables

 4.59444 

IMPORTS/EXPORTS OF THE PROPOSED STALK, STEM, AND PETIOLE 

VEGETABLE COMMODITIES:

Despite the U.S. being a major producer of stalk, stem, and petiole vegetables 

(Table 3) significant amounts of some of the stalk, stem, and petiole vegetables are 

imported (Table 13). The vegetables are fresh asparagus (Table 14), frozen asparagus 

(Table 15), prepared asparagus (Table 16), prepared artichokes (Table 17), bamboo 

shoots (Table 18), and fresh celery (Table 19) is imported. The amount of a commodity

can vary widely from year to year based on differences in U.S. production, weather 

effects, and consumer demand. 

In 2010 over 281,780 MT of the proposed Stalk, stem, and leaf vegetable 

commodities were imported to the U.S. Over 171,090 MT of fresh asparagus were 

imported in 2010 (Table 14) with 51 % of the fresh asparagus imported from Peru, 

followed by Mexico at 48 % and from Canada 1,189 MT. Over 5,683 MT of frozen 

asparagus were imported in 2101 (Table 15) with over 64 % of the frozen asparagus was 

imported from Peru, 17 % from Mexico, and 9 % from both China and Chile. Prepared 

asparagus (Table 16) had over 98 % imported from Peru (10,072 MT). Also in 2010, 

over 55,634 MT of prepared artichokes was imported with 51 % from Peru, 23 % from 

Spain and 13 % from Chile (Table 17). In 2010 over 30,376 MT of bamboo shoots were 

imported from China (70 %) and 15 % each from India and Thailand (Table 18). Over 

35,251 MT of fresh celery was imported in 2010 with over 89 % from Mexico and about 

10 % from Canada (Table 19).

Table 13. U.S. Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petioles Imports for 2009 - 2010.

(USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 1-3, USDA ERS, FTS – 2007, USDA FATUS, 2008, 2010).

Stone Fruit 2009 (MT) 2010 (MT)

Asparagus, fresh 156,035 171,090

Asparagus, frozen 3,907 5,683
29

Stone Fruit 2009 (MT) 2010 (MT)

Asparagus, prepared 14,252 10,436

Artichokes, prepared 54,611 55,634

Bamboo shoots, preserved 3,626 3,586

Celery, fresh 24,660 35,351

Table 14. U.S. Fresh Asparagus Imports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 

1-3, USDA FATUS, 2011 http://www.fas.usda.gov/gats/ExpressQuery1.aspx

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Peru MT 70,209 79,099 86,625 87,451

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Mexico MT 51,703 58,631 67,323 81,969

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Canada MT 1,054 1,255 1,410 1,189

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Ecuador MT 436 332 296 253

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Argentina MT 88.8 76 164 150

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Chile MT 206 99 143 62

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Colombia MT 242 145 36 9.1

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Panama MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.2

Asparagus, 

Fresh

France MT 4.3 6.4 4.5 1.9

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Germany MT 0.8 0.7 0.2 0.6

Asparagus, 

Fresh

China MT 0.0 0.0 17.7 0.0

Asparagus, 

Fresh

Guatemala MT 96.7 163 16.7 0.0

Grand Total MT 124,042 139,826 156,035 171,090

Table 15. U.S. Frozen Asparagus Imports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr 

Nt 1-3, USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx).

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Asparagus, 

Frozen

Peru MT 3,765 4,731 3,147 3,660

Asparagus, 

Frozen

Mexico MT 53 76 13 9747

Asparagus, 

Frozen

China MT 508 716 597 519

Asparagus, 

Frozen

Chile MT 137 88 137 513

Asparagus, Ecuador MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 17
30

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Frozen

Asparagus, 

Frozen

Belgium-Luxembourg MT 3.9 0.0 12.8 0.0

Asparagus, 

Frozen

Canada MT 0.0 138 0.0 0.0

Asparagus, 

Frozen

France MT 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Asparagus, 

Frozen

Germany MT 33.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Grand Total MT 4,502 5,749 3,907 5,683

Table16. U.S. Prepared Asparagus Imports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr 

Nt 1-3, USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx).

2007 2008 2009 2010

Partner Product UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Peru Asparagus, Prepared MT 10,867 17,752 13,672 10,072

China Asparagus, Prepared MT 659 629 496.2 295

New Zealand Asparagus, Prepared MT 13.3 26.4 59.9 51.8

Spain Asparagus, Prepared MT 22.9 61.5 23.9 17.0

Israel Asparagus, Prepared MT 0.0 8.1 0.0 0.5

France Asparagus, Prepared MT 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.0

Mexico Asparagus, Prepared MT 0.0 18.6 0.0 0.0

Grand Total MT 11,563 18,497 14,252 10,436

Table17. U.S. Artichokes Imports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 1-3, 

USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx

2007 2008 2009 2010

Partner Product UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Peru Artichokes, Prepared MT 22,375 27,126 24,327 28,335

Spain Artichokes, Prepared MT 13,653 11,857 14,159 12,739

Chile Artichokes, Prepared MT 12,463 8,656 10,217 7,231

Ecuador Artichokes, Prepared MT 1,577 2,094 2,124 3,128

Egypt Artichokes, Prepared MT 10.4 0.0 67.1 1,760

Italy Artichokes, Prepared MT 3,134 2,381 1,772 1,190

China Artichokes, Prepared MT 1,439 1,264 1,591 931

Canada Artichokes, Prepared MT 1.0 110 195 188

Mexico Artichokes, Prepared MT 167 92.3 60.0 113

Syria Artichokes, Prepared MT 4.0 5.6 13.5 8.9

Thailand Artichokes, Prepared MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 7.1

Greece Artichokes, Prepared MT 8.3 5.7 4.8 5.3

Tunisia Artichokes, Prepared MT 5.0 1.0 0.8 1.1

Eritrea Artichokes, Prepared MT 18.4 0.0 0.0 0.0

Hong Kong Artichokes, Prepared MT 17.2 0.0 0.0 0.0
31

2007 2008 2009 2010

Partner Product UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Lebanon Artichokes, Prepared MT 3.1 2.8 8.6 0.0

Morocco Artichokes, Prepared MT 201 297 72.1 0.0

Serbia and KosovoArtichokes, Prepared MT 17.3 0.0 0.0 0.0

Grand Total MT 55,108 53,894 54,611 55,634

Table 18. U.S. Bamboo Shoots Imports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 

1-3, USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx

2007 2008 2009 2010

Partner Product UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

China Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 19,219 19,009 18,1039 21,178

India Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 1,5065 1,749 3,251 4,586

Thailand Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 3,646 3,626 3,586 3,577

Taiwan Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 910 644 668 590

Japan Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 191 1839 169 171

Guatemala Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 39.1 106 131 148

Korea, South Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 96.3 42.6 44.3 34.0

Spain Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 56.8 84 45.8 31.2

Dominican Republic Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 25.0 14.8 7.0 24.2

Colombia Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 0.8 0.0 1.9 11.6

Hong Kong Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 32.0 19.9 43.2 9.8

Italy Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 36.1 7.8 2.7 5.1

Greece Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 13.3 3.0 3.2 2.8

France Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 1.6 4.6 2.0 2.6

El Salvador Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 0.0 1.5 0.0 2.3

Lebanon Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 47.8 12.4 3.6 1.5

Vietnam Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 18.4 4.4 0.0 1.0

Philippines Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 0.0 0.0 4.3 0.5

United Arab Emirates Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 7.9 0.0 0.0 0.0

Belgium-Luxembourg Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 7.6 3.6 0.0 0.0
32

2007 2008 2009 2010

Partner Product UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Brazil Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 9.1 1.9 0.0 0.0

Bulgaria Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 38.9 4.7 0.0 0.0

Canada Bamboo Shoots, 

Preserved

MT 293 184 29.7 0.0

Grand Total MT 26,802 25,940 26,180 30,376

Table 19. U.S. Fresh Celery Imports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 1-

3, USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx).

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Celery, Fresh Mexico MT 19,587 19,520 21,204 31,703

Celery, Fresh Canada MT 8,886 6,571 3,433 3,541

Celery, FreshDominican Republic MT 23.1 5.2 23.0 3.8

Celery, Fresh Netherlands MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 3.0

Celery, Fresh China MT 353 0.0 0.0 0.0

Celery, Fresh El Salvador MT 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0

Grand Total MT 28,849 26,096 24,660 35,251

The U.S. is also a major exporter of the proposed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

vegetables including fresh asparagus and fresh celery (Tables 20, 21, 22). The most 

widely exported commodity is fresh celery. U.S. exports totaled over 127.979 MT. Total 

exports increased from 2009 – 2010 by 5,039 MT. 

Table 20. U.S. Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petioles Exports for 2009 - 2010.

(USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 1-3, USDA ERS, FTS – 2007, USDA FATUS, 2009, 2010).

Exports, Metric Tons (MT).

Commodity 2009 (MT) 2010 (MT)

Asparagus, fresh 7,422 9,896

Celery, fresh 115,518 118,083

In 2010, there were over 39,896 MT of U.S. grown fresh asparagus were exported 

(Table 18). Approximately 40 % of the fresh asparagus were exported to Canada (3,944 

MT), 37 % to Japan and 13 % to Switzerland. 

Table 21. U.S. Fresh Asparagus Exports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 

1-3, USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx).

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Asparagus, Fr Canada MT 4,184 5,391 3,947 3,944

Asparagus, Fr Japan MT 1,280 1,380 2,642 3,634
33

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Asparagus, Fr Switzerland MT 1,101 1,021 98 1,246

Asparagus, Fr Netherlands MT 31 126 212 185

Asparagus, Fr Germany MT 50 71 59 183

Asparagus, Fr Australia MT 63 144 5.3 159

Asparagus, Fr United Kingdom MT 112 46 105 155

Asparagus, Fr Singapore MT 13 86 123 118

Asparagus, Fr Hong Kong MT 6 10 15 74

Asparagus, Fr Mexico MT 63 39 2.8 50

Asparagus, Fr Spain MT 12 8.5 0.0 30

Asparagus, Fr France MT 52 38 0.7 27

Asparagus, Fr Italy MT 11 16 56 26

Asparagus, Fr China MT 0.0 43 51 22

Asparagus, FrBelgium-Luxembourg MT 0.0 0.3 63 14

Asparagus, Fr Taiwan MT 105 103 10 9.5

Asparagus, Fr Korea, South MT 10 2.5 9 7.8

Asparagus, Fr Bahamas MT 3.4 3.0 2.2 7.3

Asparagus, Fr Brazil MT 1.3 3.9 0.0 3.9

Asparagus, Fr Barbados MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8

Asparagus, Fr Rest of World MT 1.8 82 20.7 0.0

Grand Total MT 7,101 8,613 7,422 9,896

In 2010, there were over 118,083 MT of U.S. grown fresh celery were exported 

(Table 19). Approximately 80 % of the fresh celery were exported to Canada (94,113 

MT), 4.8 % exported to Taiwan, and about 3.5 % exported to Japan, Singapore, Hong 

Kong, and Mexico. 

Table 22. U.S. Fresh Celery Exports for 2007 – 2010. (USDA NASS, 2010 Fr Nt 1-3, 

USDA FATUS, 2011 http://faostat.fao.org/site/342/default.aspx).

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Celery, Fr Canada MT 96,995 94,524 94,007 94,113

Celery, Fr Taiwan MT 6,518 6,458 7,963 5,682

Celery, Fr Japan MT 2,575 3,217 2,113 4,423

Celery, Fr Singapore MT 3,197 3,864 4,027 4,299

Celery, Fr Hong Kong MT 3,114 3,147 3,313 4,093

Celery, Fr Mexico MT 2,948 3,460 2,350 3,704

Celery, Fr Malaysia MT 1,454 912 1,648 1,586

Celery, Fr Philippines MT 0.0 72 18 69.0

Celery, Fr Ecuador MT 0.0 0.0 69.9 35

Celery, Fr Korea, South MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 22

Celery, Fr China MT 0.0 25 0.0 19

Celery, Fr Bahamas MT 28 19.8 14 12

Celery, Fr Norway MT 0.0 10.4 0.0 10
34

2007 2008 2009 2010

Product Partner UOM Qty Qty Qty Qty

Celery, Fr Barbados MT 0.0 0.0 4.6 5.4

Celery, Fr Saudi Arabia MT 0.0 8.1 0.0 4.6

Celery, Fr United Kingdom MT 214 0.0 0.0 4.0

Celery, Fr Netherlands Antilles MT 0.0 0.0 1.9 2.1

Celery, Fr Honduras MT 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2

Celery, Fr United Arab Emirates MT 559.1 156 0.0 0.0

Celery, Fr Australia MT 32.7 0.0 0.0 0.0

Celery, Fr Rest of World MT 172.7 178 20 0.0

Grand Total MT 117,806 116,052 115,548 118,083

SPECIFIC CROP PRODUCTION AREAS OF THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF 

PETIOLE VEGETABLES (See APPENDIX I Figures 1 – 3, Maps of the 

Asparagus, Celery and Rhubarb Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002). 

There is no specific crop production data in the U.S. for the following 

commodities: bamboo, edible burdock, cardoon, and celtuce. However, potential 

growing areas for the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables occur in the U.S. and 

established production areas in the world will be discussed below:

Agave:

Agave is produced Production in U.S.: primarily Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, 

Nevada, Utah, and Southern California. Other production regions include Mexico, 

Central America, and northern South America.

Asparagus:

In the U.S. in 2005, 54,000 acres (21,852 hectares) total and 99,428 tons (90,200 

tonnes) were produced. California is the primary producer with approximately 55,116 

tons (50,000 tonnes) annually. Other States include Michigan, Washington, Oregon, 

New Jersey, and Utah. Other production regions in 2005 include China with 6,510,000 

tons/5,906,000 tonnes and Peru with 227,109 tons/206,030 tonnes (See APPENDIX I, 

Figure 1. Map of the U.S. Asparagus Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002).

Bamboo shoots:

Bamboo is grown in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, California, and Washington State. 

Other production regions are throughout the tropics, much of Asia and the Pacific

including India and China.

Burdock, edible, tops:
35

Edible burdock is both naturalized and a common weed in North America, but it 

is cultivated as a root crop in Hawaii. Other production regions include Japan, China, 

Java, parts of Europe. Most of the Europe production is for medicinal uses. 

Cardoon:

Cardoon is rarely grown in the U.S. but can be found in ethnic markets and 

gourmet stores. It is considered an invasive weed in California. It is more commonly

produced in Europe, Japan, Brazil, Spain, and Iran.

Celery:

Celery production in the U.S. include 11,735 hectares (29,000 acres) producing 

833,702 tonnes (919,000 tons) of fresh celery in 2007 (USDA 2008, See Appendix I, 

Figure 2. Map of the U.S. Celery Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002). Other 

temperate production regions include India. 

Celery, Chinese:

Chinese celery production in the U.S. is difficult to determine as reports may

combine Chinese celery and stalk celery. Dr. Ken Shuler, Extension Agent Vegetables, 

University of FL, West Palm Beach indicates that Chinese celery is presently grown in FL,

CA, and southern TX, and should be well adapted to the MI celery producing areas. The 

geographical distribution is the same as regular celery. Other production regions include 

China and Europe.

Celtuce:

There is no production in the U.S. but there is some cultivation in Florida. Other 

production regions include China and Egypt.

Fennel, Florence:

Florence fennel is grown in California and Florida, and other production regions

include Europe.

Ferns, edible:

Ferns are not as important economically as seed plants but have considerable 

importance in some societies. Some ferns are used for food, including the fiddleheads of 

bracken, Pteridium aquilinum, ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, and cinnamon fern, 

Osmunda cinnamomea. Diplazium esculentum is also used by some tropical peoples as 

food. Tubers from the King Fern or para (Ptisana salicina) are a traditional food in New 

Zealand and the South Pacific. Fern tubers were used for food 30,000 years ago in 

Europe. Fern tubers were used by the Guanches to make gofio in the Canary Islands. 
36

Licorice fern rhizomes were chewed by the natives of the Pacific Northwest for their 

flavor.

Fuki:

Fuki is grown as a home garden plant for mainly ornamental uses in the U.S. 

Other production regions include China, Japan, Korea, and Russia. 

Kale, sea:

Sea kale has been naturalized on the West Coast of North America. Other 

production regions include being native along shores of Western Europe, the Baltic Sea, 

and the Black Sea.

Kohlrabi:

Kohlrabi is grown in many states of the U.S. including California, Oregon, Washington, 

New Jersey, and Florida. It is common to most of the world particularly Canada, 

Mexico, W. Europe, China, the Mediterranean, India, and Hungary, and Germany.

Palm hearts:

The cabbage palm grows wild in Florida in great abundance but authorization to 

cut for palm hearts is required. Palmetto is native from North Carolina to Florida, 

especially south Florida. The peach palm is cultivated in Hawaii. Other production 

regions for heart-of-palm production in Brazil was 20,000 hectares (49,421 acres) in 

2002; production in Bolivia was 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres); Costa Rica had 8,000 

hectares (19,768 acres) in production in 2002, and production in Colombia was 1,000 

hectares (2,471 acres). The total Neotropical production area of heart-of-palm is greater 

than 43,000 hectares (106,255 acres).

Prickly pear, pads (Cactus):

Cactus is grown in the U.S. in California, Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii; grown 

widely in home gardens and widely cultivated and naturalized in small commercial 

plantings in southwestern and southern U.S. Chile and Mexico supply most of the US 

imports; widely cultivated and naturalized in South America including Brazil, Argentina, 

Chile, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia; Central America; S. Europe, the Mediterranean including 

Italy, Sicily, North Africa, Spain, Greece; Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Egypt; Africa including 

South Africa, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia; Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the 

West Indies, and Micronesia. Approximately 100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) are used 

for fruit production in commercial plantations worldwide. Mexico, which is the greatest

consumer of the fruit, produces approximately 400,000 tonnes (440,925 tons) fresh mass 

of fruit per year on more than 70,000 hectares (172,974 acres). Mexico exports more 

than 2,000 tonnes (2,205 tons) of fruit annually, mostly to the U.S. Italy (Sicily) is the 
37

second most important country for producing the fruit. Italy contains 3,500 hectares 

(8,649 acres) of intensively managed plantations that produce approximately 70,000 

tonnes (77,162 tons) of fruit annually. An additional 10,000 plus hectares (24,711 acres) 

produce some fruit. Other countries including Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and 

Tunisia grow over 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) for fruit production. Major production 

also occurs in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, 

Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria, Morocco, and the U.S. The plant is cultivated on over 1.6 

million hectares (3,953,686 acres) for forage and fodder. Fruit yields vary and range 

from 4 tonnes (4.4 tons) of fruit fresh mass/year/hectare (non-irrigated, marginal regions) 

to 30 tonnes (33 tons) /year/hectare (intensive management). Opuntia engelmannii var. 

lindheimeri: naturalized in South Africa and Mexico including the Mojave, Sonora and 

Chihuahua deserts. 

Rhubarb:

Rhubarb is grown in many states, particularly Washington, Oregon, Michigan, 

California, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin (See Appendix I, Figure 2. Map of the U.S. 

Celery Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002). Other production regions include 

Canada, Europe, and China.

Udo:

Limited information in the U.S. and other production regions include Japan and

its surrounding regions.

Zuiki

Zuiki is commercially cultivated in Hawaii for local consumption and export to 

the continental U.S. Other production regions: include China, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia,

Malaysia, and Australia.

SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL AND COMPARISON OF CULTURAL PRACTICES OF 

THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLES: 

Specific cultural practices for the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables which 

include asparagus, celery, fennel, and kohlrabi will be discussed in this section. Also, a 

comparison of the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable planting depth, seeds/lb, 

seeds/100 ft row, and row spacing’s are shown in Table 23 and a listing of days to 

germinate, time planting to harvest, yield/plant and range of yields for each crop are 

shown in Table 24, respectively. 

Agave:
38

Many of the agave species are edible in some way and nearly all are useful for fiber. 

Characteristically, the plant grows in a large rosette with long, tough and thick leaves that 

taper to a point, often have spines around the margins, and appear to spring directly out of 

the ground. The most commonly grown species for human consumption are Agave

americana, A. angustifolia, and A. tequilana, but many others are eaten, either grown or 

collected from the wild. Size and other characteristics vary greatly by species, but some 

types may have rosettes up to 4 m (13 ft) across with leaves nearly 1.8 m (6 ft) in length. 

Agaves are monocarpic and grow for many years before they flower a single time and 

then die. In some species, the flower stalk may reach up to 7.9 m (26 ft) in height, 

usually with large yellow or white flowers borne in a spike. In many species the root, 

thick central stem, and flower stalk are edible, although they must be well roasted first. 

The flowers are also edible in many species, and the seeds are occasionally eaten as well. 

Care should be taken prior to use, as the juice of the leaves of some species can cause 

contact dermatitis and cut leaves and other parts of the plant should be handled only with 

gloves prior to being dried or cooked. Aside from its major use as a source of fiber, 

arguably the most famous usage of agave is for the sap of its flower stalk, which may be 

fermented in mescal or tequila (depending on the species used) or processed into agave 

“nectar”, a popular natural sweeter. Prior to consuming any part of a wild agave, care 

should be taken to ensure a positive species identification, as not all species are edible 

even after cooking and there is significant variation within each species.

Asparagus:

Asparagus is an herbaceous perennial, native to east-central Europe, but now 

widely cultivated and escaped throughout much of the temperate world. Asparagus 

plants may reach 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height during the growing season and die back 

completely after frost. The leaves are scale-like and reduced, with tiny modified stems 

growing needle-like from the axils, giving the entire plant a feathery appearance. The 

tiny flowers (4.5 - 6.5 mm/0.18 - 0.26 in long) are bell shaped and green to white. The 

plant grows new from a crown of rhizomes underneath the ground each spring. The 

asparagus “spears” are a highly prized vegetable, and are really the very young shoots cut 

before leaves or branches have a chance to develop. Mature asparagus plants have 

feathery foliage referred to as ferns. There are three main kinds of asparagus: green 

(which is the most common in the U.S.), white (which is green asparagus that has been 

blanched using mounded dirt or plastic to cover the growing stems), and purple (which is 

considered to have a sweeter and more delicate flavor than green). Asparagus is grown 

both commercially and in home gardens, and is economically important in several 

countries. Three methods are used to establish an asparagus bed: transplanting one year 

old crowns, direct-seeding in the field, and transplanting 8 - 12 week old seedling plants. 

The underground portion consists of stems or rhizomes, and the edible aerial stems grow 

upward from them. Young "crowns" consisting of roots and rhizomes are grown from 

seed planted in beds and transplanted to the field. A considerable amount of labor, 

including irrigation and weed control, is required to establish the plants. They should be 

grown in a sandy loam soil to facilitate digging the crowns the following year for 

transplanting. Thus, one year of spear production is lost due to transplanting crowns. 

Due to the high cost of hybrid asparagus seed, some growers will germinate seed in flats 
39

in a greenhouse and grow these seedlings for 10 - 12 weeks before planting in the field. 

These seedlings are called "transplants." They can be transplanted to the field in the 

spring or in the fall if greenhouse space for growing seedlings is limited during the 

spring. A one-year-old crown is the crown and fleshy root system of a one-year-old plant 

grown from seed. Starting asparagus plantings with one-year-old crowns is still the 

easiest and most popular method used by Eastern and Midwestern U.S. growers. 

Research has shown that using one-year-old crowns is more economical and higher 

yielding than using two- and three-year-old crowns. The transplants or crowns are 

spaced from 12 - 18 inches between plants in the row and 5 to 6 feet between rows. 

Fields with good care will produce for up to 15 years or longer. The tender, succulent 

aerial stems are cut for 2 to 3 months as they emerge in spring. Then cutting stops and 

they are allowed to grow to nourish the underground part for the following year's crop. 

Cutting may be deep in the soil with just the tip emerging for "white" or near the soil 

surface when spears are 6 to 8 inches high for green asparagus. All-male varieties are 

preferred, as males typically produce longer and yield better than female plants. 

Asparagus cannot be harvested during the year of crown planting because it must 

be allowed to grow and develop a strong storage root system. Using vigorous varieties, 

high-quality crowns, good management, and having a long growing season to permit 

maximum fern growth, it is possible to harvest for 2 to 4 weeks the first year after crown 

planting. The harvest season can be extended to 4 to 6 weeks the next year and to 6 to 8 

weeks in subsequent years. Buds on an asparagus crown are arranged in a "dominant 

hierarchy" or "pecking order" system. The first bud to emerge as a spear is the largest in 

diameter. When a spear from a crown is harvested, it signals another bud on that crown 

to send up another spear. With each successive spear that is harvested, the spear diameter 

decreases because the lower-order buds are smaller and produce smaller diameter spears. 

The largest spears occur between the second and fifth week of harvest and decrease 

rapidly thereafter, and this is why asparagus harvesting should stop after a certain number 

of weeks to allow the crown to send up small diameter spears that will lignify and 

become ferns to manufacture carbohydrates to send down to the crowns for next year's 

crop. Spear diameter during the first year after crown planting will be smaller and 

possibly more difficult to market than the larger spears produced after the first harvest 

season. Because the length of harvest season will vary from year to year depending on 

air temperature, stopping the harvest when one-fourth to three-fourths of the spears have 

a diameter of less than 3/8 inch (about the diameter of a pencil) is a better guide than 

harvesting for a specified number of weeks. Over-harvesting will weaken the crown, 

reducing the amount of carbohydrates stored for the following year, and will lead to 

further decline of the planting, putting plants under stress and making them more 

susceptible to insects and diseases. Asparagus spears can be cut or snapped to produce 

spears of marketable length, which is usually between 7 and 9 inches. Asparagus spears 

may be cut below the soil surface with a knife, or they may be hand-snapped above the 

soil surface. Cutting asparagus requires more labor, but increases yield 20 to 25 % 

because spears are longer. However, cutting spears below the soil greatly increases the 

chance of the knife injuring a bud or emerging spear on the same crown. When handsnapping, the spear usually breaks above the area containing fiber. In other words, the 

portion of the spear left in the field will be fibrous, while the harvested spear is tender

and is all edible. The small stub left in the soil after snapping dries up and disintegrates. 
40

A new spear does not come up at that spot, but comes up from another bud that enlarges 

on another part of the crown. Snapped all-green asparagus has no trim-off waste and 

should command a higher price than cut asparagus with white butts. 

White (blanched) asparagus is produced in the absence of sunlight. It is 

commonly grown in Asia and Europe. However, fresh white asparagus is rare even in 

major U.S. markets and supports a price structure of two to three times that of green 

asparagus. White asparagus is easily grown as there is a consumer demand for it. The 

traditional growing method was to mound up soil over the plant row to an 8 to 10 inch 

height just before spears start to grow in the spring. Once the tip of the soil mound 

started to crack above the emerging spear, the asparagus knife was thrust into the mound, 

cutting the spear before it was exposed to light. This growing method is very labor 

intensive. When harvesting white asparagus, avoid exposing spears to light for periods 

longer than 15 minutes or they will turn green. After harvesting, spears are placed into 

opaque bags and storage is similar to green asparagus.

Bamboo shoots:

Bamboo is a woody, perennial, evergreen grass found throughout much of Asia, 

the Pacific, and parts of Africa. A huge group with incredible variability; some species 

grow over 30.5 m (100 ft) tall, while others remain relative small and shrub-like. All 

species have a woody, jointed stem and lanceolate, entire, alternate leaves. The stem is 

usually dark green and shiny, and the leaves light green to yellow green. The flowers are 

inconspicuous and small. The group ranges from tropical species which grow in jungles, 

to frost tolerant species which colonize the Himalayas. Bamboo is also the fastest 

growing plant in the world, with some species able to grow a total of 4 ft (121 cm) in a 

24-hour period, and have even been measured growing 3.3 ft (1 m) in the space of an 

hour. Many species are economically important, and most have shoots which are edible 

when young and which form an important part of many Asian diets. In addition, the 

seeds of several species are valued as a famine food. Bamboo can be propagated by seed, 

sown at surface, but more commonly by rhizome division. Clumping bamboos are 

extremely productive. D. asper can produce 60 shoots a year, with 2 - 3 pounds of edible 

core on each shoot. Bamboo is cultivated in plantations with 400 plants/ha, 5 m row 

spacing’s and 6 – 8 m between clumps. The culms (stems) are often used in construction, 

and have a lifespan of 5 - 7 years. Culms for commercial use should be harvested at the 

peak of growth, 3 - 5 years old.

Burdock, edible, tops:

Burdock is a hardy, biennial plant, reaching up to 6.6 ft (2 m) tall. Burdock grows 

thickly, and is much branching with large, alternating, cordiform leaves, which are borne 

on a long petiole and are hairy underneath. The clusters of prickly purple flowers grow 

in terminal clusters on each branch. The fruit is an achene, which is surrounded by burrlike capitula, which sticks to the fur of animals for dispersal. It has a very long, thin, 

tapering taproot. The tops die down in the winter and new growth springs from the root. 

Burdock was much used as a vegetable in Europe during Medieval times, but has since 

fallen out of favor and its primarily cultivated and consumed in Japan in other parts of 
41

Asia. The root is the primary part valued, but the young stalks and leaves are also 

consumed, like asparagus and spinach. The peeled stem is also eaten. Burdock is 

propagation by seed and often will self-sow as it tends to be weedy. For best results, 

soak overnight and sow in seed tray, then transplant seedlings to field before taproot can 

develop. Space 10 - 23 cm (4 - 9 in) apart, or 5 - 7.6 cm (2 - 3 in) apart within rows 

spaced 30.5 cm (12 in) apart. It requires little care after planting, although mulching will 

keep the weeds down, and can be planted in early spring for harvest in fall, or in fall for 

spring or early summer harvest. Autumn planting should be done as late as possible to 

prevent bolting before winter.

Cardoon:

Cardoon is a prickly perennial native to the Mediterranean, and is closely related to 

globe artichoke. Growth is up to 1.8 m (6 ft) with large pinnate leaves bearing sharp 

spines. The thickened leaf petioles are eaten as a vegetable. Leaf stalks are bundled 

before harvest in order to blanch the petioles and make them more desirable. They are 

usually tied up before harvest to blanch the inner stems and thus reduce the bitterness, 

and they are nearly always eaten cooked. The raw petioles are very bitter, but are eaten 

in some places, particularly after being marinated. The flower buds may be eaten much 

like artichokes. The root is edible and may be eaten like parsnip. Cardoon can be highly 

invasive and is considered a weed in California and Australia.

Celery:

Celery is grown for the thick, succulent leaf stalks or petioles the first year which 

are esteemed as salad and to a lesser extent as a cooked vegetable. Celery is a biennial 

plant, which produces vegetative growth (the edible stalks, or petioles) during the first 

year and seed stalks during the second year. The leaves rise from a crown at ground 

level. Leaf stems are up to 30 cm (1 ft) long, with the greatly compound leaf blades 

extending an additional foot during growth. Plants are usually started in beds, but seed 

may be field sown in cool climates. Outer leaves develop first and to largest size, inner 

leaf stems are smaller and more succulent. Formerly most of the celery was blanched by

placing heavy paper or boards against each side of the rows to exclude most of the light. 

At present, green or non-blanched celery is mainly marketed. Outermost leaves, 

particularly if the stems are very coarse or scarred, are frequently removed before 

packing. Plants must be grown rapidly for most succulent and desirable quality. For 

seed production, celery plants are exposed to cold, mainly by overwintering in mild 

climates. They then develop the seed stalks, 0.6 - 0.9 m (2 - 3 ft) tall. Seeds are 

numerous in compound umbels. For seed production, celery plants are exposed to cold, 

mainly by overwintering in mild climates, and then harvested by pulling the plants, 

allowing them to dry, and then threshing. It is harvested about 90 days after 

transplanting, but if the plant were left to grow for the second year and were exposed to 

low temperatures, it would produce a longer stem and a seed head. Celery is a cool-season 

crop that grows best in temperatures under 65 degrees, but will tolerate a range of 45 to 75 -

80 degrees. Freezing temperatures and hot weather conditions should be avoided for 

optimum growing seasons. In CA, celery growing areas can produce up to 2.5 crops per acre 
42

per year. Planting and harvesting schedules are coordinated to provide a steady supply of 

fresh celery throughout the year with a peak in November for Thanksgiving.

Celery, Chinese:

Chinese celery is a biennial plant, typical grown as an annual. Closely resembles 

the wild celery, with thinner, hollow leafstalks and a more pungent flavor than European 

celery. Chinese celery has a branching rather than bunching habit, which makes it easier 

to harvest individual leafstalks. The leaves are flat and lobed, with jagged edges, and the 

whole plant may reach up to 1.2 ft (37 cm) in height. The stems may be dark green, 

yellow, or pale green to white and are sometimes blanched by piling dirt around the base. 

Mainly grown for its strongly aromatic leaves and stalks which are cut like parsley, the 

whole plant top is often chopped up for use. Rarely if ever eaten fresh, Chinese celery

looks like the 'American' celery, except that its stalks are less compact (< 1/2 in. diam.), 

hollow, more in number, and range from 10 to 15 in. tall with the average height 10 inches. 

Celery stalks vary in height from 6 to 15 inches, and are < 1 in. diameter. 

Chinese celery is an important Chinese and Vietnamese vegetable that adds flavor 

to dishes such as soups and stir fries. The leaves themselves may be used as a culinary

herb, and both the leaves and stalks can be dried for later use. Chinese celery can be 

planted indoors for up to 6 weeks until they grow to 3 to 4 in, and are then transplanted to 

the field in the spring when the danger of frost is over. Celery can also be planted indoors 

for up to 12 weeks before transplanting. Both types of celery can also be seeded at a depth 

of 1/16 in. in July or August and will take 10 to 21 days to germinate. Chinese celery is 

spaced at 4 to 6 in. apart in the row with 12 in. between rows, while regular celery is planted 

5 to 10 in. apart and up to 24 in. between rows. Chinese celery matures from transplanting 

to harvest in < 90 days, while early maturing cultivars of regular celery matures in 90 days 

and can range up to 125 days for a late maturing cultivar. The stalks are harvested when 

they are < 14 in. tall, and regular celery can range from 15 to 24 in. tall. Both Chinese and 

American celery stalks can be blanched by mounding soil around them to produce a 

bleached light green stalk. 

Celtuce:

Celtuce is an annual cool season herbaceous plant, originating in Southern China. 

Celtuce is a variety of lettuce that does not form heads but instead has a lush, thick leaf 

growth that bears a resemblance to bolted lettuce. It has a thick stem or flower stalk 

which harvested before the plant flowers and is prized as a vegetable, particularly in 

China. The stem is usually harvested at a length of around 5.9 - 7.9 in (15 - 20 cm) and a 

diameter of around 1.2 - 1.6 in (3 - 4 cm). The leaves are also edible, although old leaves 

may become bitter. Young leaves particularly are used in salad mixes, although the 

leaves are considered much less desirable than the stem due to the milky sap that forms 

soon after it matures. The flavor of celtuce is said to be delicate and unique, and the 

texture is crisp and tender. The stem is edible raw, but is usually cooked or pickled 

before eating. The stem should be peeled before consumption. Even though it is a cool 

season crop, although can tolerate warmer conditions once established. Does not 
43

germinate well in heat (optimum germination temperature is 59 - 68 °F /15 - 20 °C). 

Except special summer cultivars, most celtuces are sensitive to bolting in hot summer. 

Shortage of water and fertilizer as well as big day-night temperature difference may

contribute to premature bolting. Recommended planting density is 7.9 - 10.2 in (20 - 26 

cm) between plants in a row. For commercial production, transplanting is recommended, 

although direct seeding is possible, and it is somewhat frost tolerant.

Fennel, Florence:

This plant is an annual, native to Europe but is now grown in the U.S. The plant 

reaches 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft). It is cultivated for the thickened and enlarged leaf bases. 

These make a bulb-like structure just above the ground, up to 7.6 - 10.2 cm (3 - 4 in) 

long, and oval in cross section. By covering with soil, these are sometimes blanched. 

They have an aromatic and distinctive flavor, and are generally used as a boiled 

vegetable. The foliage is also used as an herb. All parts of the plant have an anise-like 

flavor. The seed-like fruits and root are occasionally used, and a tea may be made from 

the leaves. It is hardy to zone 7 and is not frost tender. It prefers a dry, sunny position, 

and can inhibit the growth of some other species around it.

Fern, Edible:

Ferns are a group of about 12,000 species of non-flowering, vascular plants which 

reproduce via spores. They were one of the earliest lineages of vascular plants, and they

range in size from tiny floating aquatic plants to tree ferns up to 20 m in height. Many 

species of fern are consumed in various ways, but the most common species used as leafy

vegetables are generally small to medium ferns, no more than 2 m in height at maturity, 

with pinnate, much divided leafy fronds. The young fronds emerge from the ground 

curled up and are harvested before they can uncurl, and are known in North America as 

fiddleheads. Fronds are generally not edible once they have uncurled. Fiddleheads are 

rarely cultivated and are often gathered from the wild for personal consumption, or sold 

to markets and restaurants. They have a very limited season, typically early spring for a 

short time as the fronds first emerge. Many species of fern are not edible even when 

young, and fiddleheads are usually eaten cooked as they often contain toxins which may

are destroyed in the cooking process. Ferns are not as important economically as seed 

plants but have considerable importance in some societies. Some ferns are used for food, 

including the fiddleheads of bracken, Pteridium aquilinum, ostrich fern, Matteuccia 

struthiopteris, and cinnamon fern, Osmunda cinnamomea. Diplazium esculentum is also 

used by some tropical peoples as food. Tubers from the King Fern or para (Ptisana 

salicina) are a traditional food in New Zealand and the South Pacific. Fern tubers were 

used for food 30,000 years ago in Europe. Fern tubers were used by the Guanches to 

make gofio in the Canary Islands. Licorice fern rhizomes were chewed by the natives of 

the Pacific Northwest for their flavor.

Fuki:
44

Fuki is a perennial dioecious herb native to temperate eastern Asia. Tiny white, 

heavily scented flowers are borne in dense corymbs atop a heavily bracted scape, which 

appears in the spring before the leaves. The leaves are up to 2.6 ft (80 cm) across and 

borne on long, thick petioles which come out of a spreading rhizome in the ground and 

may cover large areas alongside rivers and in bogs. The petioles may reach up to 6.6 ft (2 

m) and are valued as a vegetable, mainly in Japan and China. The leaves can be up to 16 

inches wide, held 3 - 4 feet high. The flower buds are also consumed, and occasionally 

the flower stems. Full to partial shade; will wilt in full sun even when kept moist. 

Spreads rhizomatous and can become weedy if not contained, and is propagated by seed.

Kale, Sea:

Sea kale is a large-leaved perennial about 3 ft (0.9 m) high and wide, native to the 

coasts of Western Europe, the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and occasionally found in 

North America. Sea kale resembles large silvery gray cabbages. Nearly all parts of the 

plant are edible, but the primary crop is the young shoots, which are eaten in the spring, 

like asparagus, and often blanched. The plant has floppy, blue green foliage, glabrous, 

and resembling true kale. The small, white, four-parted flowers are numerous, borne in 

loose heads in the spring, and are also edible. They are fragrant and flavorful. The fruit 

is a seed borne singly in a globular pod. Sea kale grows wild in maritime climates and is 

highly tolerant of salt and wind. It may be cultivated or gathered from the wild. The 

roots may be forced like Belgium endive and blanched. Shoots are harvested in 4 to 5 

weeks at 6 - 9 inches. Plants may be grown from seed or from root cuttings, and usually

are given a year to become firmly established before any harvesting. The second year 

and thereafter the young, etiolated shoots are harvested when 4 - 8 in (10 - 20 cm) high. 

Usually they are blanched by covering the crown deeply with soil, through which the 

young shoots grow, or by otherwise darkening. The plant may produce for up to 10 

years. 

Kohlrabi:

Kohlrabi is a cabbage relative, reaching about 2 ft (61 cm) tall and wide, known 

only in cultivation. It likely originated in northern Europe, but it grown over much of the 

world including mountainous areas of the tropics. The leaves resemble those of turnips 

or collards and grow directly out of a bulbous, swollen part of the stem, for which it is 

grown. The flowers are yellow and cross-shaped and the tiny black seeds are born in 

sickle-shaped pods contain many seeds each. The enlarged stem is typically harvested 

when 2-4 in (5.1-10.2 cm) across, and is most sweet and tender when small. As the stem 

gets larger it becomes tougher and less desirable. Kohlrabi is extremely popular in parts 

of Europe, the Middle East, India, and China, and although it is less common elsewhere, 

it is still grown on some scale and available in many parts of the world. It is considered 

to be a versatile and highly underrated vegetable by many gardeners, as it is easy to grow, 

has a mild flavor, and is very nutritious. Although most kohlrabi is green in color, white 

and purple cultivars are not unusual. Plants are grown from seed, and must be grown 

rapidly for good quality stems. It is fairly tolerant of both heat and drought, and can 

tolerate temperatures down to 10 °F (-12.2 °C). .
45

Palm, hearts:

Palm hearts or heart of palm is a vegetable harvested from the growing bud of 

certain palm trees. Harvesting of the inner core kills the tree. Cultivated peach palm has 

supplanted wild harvested palms in most producing countries, except for Brazil, where 

Euterpe species predominant. Peach palms are self-suckering and produce multiple 

stems, up to 40 on a plant. Harvesting of these stems does not destroy the plant. The 

peach palm, Bactris gasipaes, known in Ecuador as “chontadure” and in Costa Rica as 

“palmito” is most widely used for canning. This palm is the only domesticated palm in 

tropical America. The Florida cabbage palm reaches a height of up to 90 feet at maturity, 

most are 10 - 20 feet tall, but it is the 8 - 10 feet palms that are cut for the heart or 

cabbage. The heart is the growing bud at the apex within and protected by the stem. The 

palm offers three potential products: Palm heart, the tender leaves above the palm

growing point that are wrapped within the tender sheath of an older leaf; Palm stem, the 

tender stem portion immediately below the growing point; and Palm leaf, the tender 

leaves above the palm heart that are not wrapped within the tender sheath of the older 

leaf; of which only the heart is currently commercialized. “All palms are propagated by 

seed. Time to harvest is from 5 to 10 years. Most palm trees are cut down to harvest the 

heart. For peach palm, under orchard cultivation with about 2,000 plants per acre, the 

palm is a multi-shoot palm with each clump yielding a harvestable stem to 4 feet from the 

base up to the lowest petiole every 9 to 15 months and can weigh about 20 pounds. Each 

stem can produce 0.5 pound of edible palm heart and 1 pound of edible stem. For heartof-palm crops, plants should be grown in high density (> 5,000 plants per hectare), high 

input stands, where standard spacing is 1 by 2 meters (3 by 7 feet).

Prickly, pear, pads (Cactus):

Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a large, segmented, branched, succulent, spiny

shrub (cactus) that grows to a height of 2 to 5 meters (7 to 16 feet) and a width of 3 

meters (10 feet). Roots are shallow and measure 10 to 20 centimeters (4 to 8 inches). A 

woody stem is formed from old pads or cladodes. Dull green to grey cladodes are large, 

flat, pad-like, succulent stem segments which are branched, leaf-like, oblong, ovate, or 

broadly obovate in shape, and 25 to 60 centimeters (10 to 24 inches) long by 20 to 40 

centimeters (8 to 16 inches) wide. Margins are entire. Cladodes can hold large amounts 

of water. New cladodes are produced in a single flush on the terminal cladodes in the 

spring. Cladodes contain areoles (similar to lateral buds) that are spaced a few 

centimeters apart and contain 1 to 6 white or yellowish spines (measuring 1 to 3 

centimeters (0.4 to 1.2 inches) long) and glochids. Each cladode can contain a few 

hundred areoles. Each areole can produce one flower that occurs near the apex 

(perimeter) of a cladode. Yellow or orange flowers are solitary, large, cup-shaped, and 

range in size from 5 to 10 centimeters (2 to 4 inches) in diameter. Flowers open for only 

one day to limit water loss. Individual flowers contain both male and female 

reproductive organs, an inferior ovary that occurs beneath the perianth parts and spirallyarranged yellow stamens, 150 to 400 ovules, a thickened greenish style and a stigma. 

Flowers can be self-pollinated. Most fruit is produced on 1 year old cladodes at the top 
46

and periphery of the plant. Each cladode can produce 4 to 20 fruit. Purple, red-purple, 

yellow-orange, greenish-orange, greenish or red fruit is a berry that is pear-shaped, 

roundish, or barrel-shaped, and 4 to 10 centimeters (1.6 to 4 inches) long by 4 to 9 

centimeters (1.6 to 3.5 inches) in diameter. The skin contains spines and glochids. The 

pulp is red, red-purple, yellow-orange, or greenish in color, fleshy, watery, and succulent. 

The flavor is sweet to slightly acidic and resembles watermelon. Fruit contains 150 to 

400 hard edible seeds that are similar in size and texture to those in grapes. Some 

countries regard the plant as an invasive noxious weed. Opuntia engelmannii var. 

lindheimeri is a thicket-forming, heavy-bodied shrub (cactus) that can grow to a height of 

0.9 to 3 meters (3 to 9 feet) and a width of 1.5 to 2.4 meters (5 to 8 feet). The trunk is 

cylindrical and can be erect to spreading. Cladodes (joints) are green to bluish green in 

color, obovate, subcircular, round, oval or orbicular in shape, asymmetrical, flat, waxy, 

juicy, and 15 to 30 by 12.5 to 25 centimeters (6 to 12 by 5 to 10 inches) in size. 

Tubercles are 3.8 to 6.4 centimeters (1.5 to 2.5 inches) apart. Cladodes contain dense 

tufts of minute yellow to brown barbed glochids (0.3 centimeter (0.1 inch) long) and 1 to 

6 translucent, yellow, creamy white, brown or black spines (up to 4 centimeters (1.6 inch) 

long) per areole. Some varieties are spineless. Red, yellow or orange flowers are bowlshaped, contain one pistil, many yellow stamens, many greenish-yellow sepals, and 

measure 5 to 13 centimeters (2 to 5 inches) wide. Most flowers are crowded on the edge 

of the cladodes. Red to purple fruit (tuna) is variable in shape and size. The thick rind is 

covered with scattered tufts of glochids and small areoles. The skin is thin. Pulp is juicy. 

Fruit contain many seeds. Flowering occurs from the end of winter to summer. Fruiting 

occurs in the summer, but can be timed by low wintertime temperatures, the application 

of fertilizers, or the removal of the spring flush of flower buds. Bud removal can lead to 

a second flowering and the production of fruit in November and December. Shade and 

gibberellic acid can inhibit flower-bud initiation. Flower opening to fruit maturity occurs 

in approximately 70 to 150 days. Fruit production occurs in 5 to 6 years from seed and 2 

to 3 years from cuttings. Trees can bear fruit for 30 to 40 years. Propagation is by seed, 

tissue culture and cuttings. Cuttings are used in commercial practices. Stem segments 

(pads) with one to three cladodes are selected during late spring to early summer. 

Detached cladodes are dried for 1 to 3 weeks before planting to minimize fungal 

infections. The basal cladode should be planted upright, with 30 to 50 percent of its 

surface area in the soil and spaced 30 to 40 centimeters (12 to 16 inches) apart. New 

roots will develop from the areoles in 2 weeks. No irrigation is required for 

establishment. Vegetative propagation can also be done with flower buds and fruit. For 

commercial production, plants are planted in a rectangular grid or in rows oriented northsouth. Spacing for fruit production should be 3 by 4 meters (10 by 13 feet) or 400 to 

1,600 plants per hectare. Light irrigation and fertilization aids production. Pruning and

shaping is used to facilitate movement of equipment between plants and fruit picking. 

Thinning of flower buds can produce larger fruit. Fruit ripening is favored by

temperatures above 25 °C (77 °F). Temperatures below 15 °C (59 °F) delay fruit 

ripening and extend the harvest period. Fruit are harvested over a 2 to 6 week period that 

is accomplished by multiple pickings. Fruit is harvested with gloved hands and knives 

just after the peel color changes from green to its final color. Fruit are harvested on the 

outer portions of the canopy. A small piece of the underlying cladode is removed with 

the fruit to prolong fruit shelf life. During processing, the cladode is removed, a de-
47

prickling machine removes the spines and sizes are sorted. Fruit can be stored for 2 to 6 

weeks at temperatures near 5 °C (41 °F). Pads are harvested twice per year. 

Commercially pricky pear is the most important cactus species. Cactus fruit is cultivated 

in more than 20 countries. 

Rhubarb:

Rhubarb is a cool season perennial plant, known only in cultivation from ancient 

times and probably originating in China, that reaches up to 4.9 ft (1.5 m) in height when 

mature. It forms large fleshy rhizomes and large leaves with long, thick petioles, which 

are the edible portion. Rhizomes and the crown persist for many years, and the leaves 

and petioles grow from the crown in early spring. Leaf blades (and roots), which are 

highly, poisonous, are up to a foot or more in width and length. The leaves and roots can 

cause nausea, dizziness, convulsions and even death. The edible petioles are up to 18 in 

(45.7 cm) long, 1 - 2 in (2.5 - 5 cm) in diameter, generally somewhat hemispherical in 

cross section, like celery. They are ribbed and range in color anywhere from a light pink 

to a bright, scarlet red and are highly distinctive. Roots may be taken up and bedded in 

cellars or houses in winter, forcing growth in darkness to produce etiolated leaf-stems, 

which are much prized. Rhubarb is one of the earliest spring vegetables, and used to be 

extremely popular in the U.S. and Europe. Although this is the primary species of 

rhubarb grown commercially, there are other species of wild and cultivated rhubarb 

which hybridize readily. It is propagation is by seed or division of rootstock. Sow seeds 

in autumn or divide in spring or autumn. Rhubarb may be produced in containers or in 

greenhouses, which typically yield an earlier crop with redder stems than field-grown 

rhubarb. 

Udo:

Udo is large herbaceous perennial, native to Japan and China, reaching up to 1.8 

m (6 ft) when mature. It is grown for its tender, etiolated spring shoots, somewhat like 

asparagus, only much longer, reaching up to 2 ft (61 cm) at market. The plant is a strong 

growing perennial, producing the edible shoots from the roots each spring. Only the 

young shoot is edible; when the stem is older it becomes tough and hollow. It is grown 

primarily in Japan and to a limited extent by home gardeners in the U.S. The blanched 

stalks are mild in flavor and considered a delicacy in Japan, China, and in higher class 

restaurants. Udo is propagated by stem or root cuttings or by seed. In culture, the roots 

are established in beds or rows, like asparagus. As the young shoots start in spring, they

are kept covered with soil for complete blanching. The shoots harvested are up to 2 ft (61 

cm) long and 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter at the base. 

Zuiki:

Zuiki is an aroid herbaceous perennial plant with a large rhizome and very large 

arrow head shaped leaves. The long pale green petioles extend from a thickened corm. 

This aroid is cultivated for its edible petioles (low oxalate content). The corms of this 
48

variety are not usually eaten. It is propagated vegetatively by corms. Cultivated zuiki 

have less acridity and require less processing than wild forms. 

Comparisons of the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole planting depth, seeds/lb, seeds/100

ft row, and row spacing’s are shown in Table 23 and a listing of days to germinate, time 

planting to harvest, yield/plant and range of yields for each crop are shown in Table 21, 

respectively. Planting depths range from 0.125 - 0.5 inches, and seed size is up to 1,500 

seeds/100 ft row, and between row spacing’s are 18 -24 inches for celery and kohlrabi 

and from 48 – 60 inches for asparagus, and between plant spacing in a row ranges 12 –

18 inches. Days to germination range to 8 – 25 days (Table 24). Average yields of 

celery for fresh market are 53,500 lb/acre while good yields are about 70,000 lb/acre. 

Table 23. Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Planting Depth, Seeds/lb, 

Seeds/100 ft, and Row Spacings (Splittstoesser, W.E. 1990, Carolina 

Seed Co, 2006, Harris Seeds, 2007, Rupp Vegetable Catalog, 2010, 

Siegers Seed, 2010, Territorial Seed Co., 2009). 

Commodity Planting 

Depth 

(inches)

Seeds/lb Seeding 

Rate (lb/A)

Average 

Number of 

seeds or 

plants/100 ft)

Spacings 

between 

row and 

[between 

plants in the 

row] in 

inches

Asparagus 0.5 -1.0 12,800 4 – 5 60 plants or 

one oz

48 – 60 

[12 - 18]

Bamboo shoots 1.0 - 400 

plants/ha, 

6 – 8 oz 

seed/A 

gives 

1 oz equals 

10,000 plants

5 m

6 – 8 m 

Celery 0.125 960,000 0.5 – 0.75 200 plants 18 - 24

[6 - 12]

Fennel, 

Florence

0.5 0.25 oz

Kohlrabi 0.5 144,000 1/4 1,500 seeds 18 -24

[15 – 18]

*number of transplants.

Table 24 Fruiting Vegetable Days to Germinate, Time Planting to Harvest, 

Yield/plant and Range of Yields (Hessayon, 1997, Cranberry, 1999, Carolina Seed 

Co, 2006, Harris Seeds, 2007, Siegers Seed, 2010, Territorial Seed Co., 2009, Park 

Seed, 2011, Markle, et al, 1995, USDA Agricultural Statistics, 2010). Days may vary 

depending upon cultivar, growing area and climatic conditions.
49

Commodity Approximate 

Days from 

Seeding to 

Germination 

(days)

Planting 

to 

Harvest

Approximate 

Yield/plant

Yield/100 

foot row

Range of 

Yields

Asparagus 15 2 years 20 – 25 

spears/mature 

plant

One crown 

yields 6 –

8 lb

1,500 –

4,000 lb/A

Plants/A 

4,800 –

8,700.

Celery 12 – 25 90 - 125 

days

12 lb/10 ft of 

row

100 

heads/100 

ft row

69,100 –

70,800 lb/A.

Average 

yields of 

celery for 

fresh market 

are 53,500 

lb/acre while 

good yields 

are about 

70,000 

lb/acre. 

Yields of 

celery for 

processing 

are about 35 

tons/acre. 

Fennel 120 days

Kohlrabi 8 - 10 55 – 75 

days

20 globe /10 ft 50 lb/ 100 

ft row

12,000 –

16,000 lb/A.

Rhubarb - 3 – 4 

weeks in 

second 

year of

planting 

and 6 – 8 

weeks as 

crowns 

become 

more 

mature.

- - A yield of 

12,000 –

20,000 lb/A 

is common 

at the first 

harvest

Ferns are not as important economically as seed plants but have considerable 

importance in some societies. Some ferns are used for food, including the fiddleheads of 

bracken, Pteridium aquilinum, ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris, and cinnamon fern, 
50

Osmunda cinnamomea. Diplazium esculentum is also used by some tropical peoples as 

food. Tubers from the King Fern or para (Ptisana salicina) are a traditional food in New 

Zealand and the South Pacific. Fern tubers were used for food 30,000 years ago in 

Europe. Fern tubers were used by the Guanches to make gofio in the Canary Islands. 

Licorice fern rhizomes were chewed by the natives of the Pacific Northwest for their 

flavor.

For rhubarb, yields of rhubarb depend on the number of pickings, and the age and 

condition of the field. In the Pacific Northwest yields may range from 6 to 12 tons per 

acre for red varieties. A yield of 8 - 10 tons/acre is most common at the first harvest. 

Fields may be harvested a second time with yields generally reduced by 50 percent from 

the first harvest. Green varieties tend to yield more. A well-maintained field may remain 

productive for 15 or more years.

WORKER ACTIVITIES (Partially Adapted from USDA Crop Profiles (AK, AZ, 

CA, FL, GA, MI, NJ, SC, WA), and Agricultural Extension Publications).

Asparagus:

Asparagus worker practices can be seen from this chart of estimated costs to 

produce asparagus. 

Practices Needed to Establish Asparagus (First Year)

Input

Soil preparation for planting

(soil test, lime, plow, disk)

Fertilizer (N,P,K)

Asparagus crowns (6,000 @ $130.00 per 1,000)

Planting labor (furrowing, planting, covering)

Hand hoeing (if herbicide not labeled)

(12 hours/week X 10 weeks X $5.00/hour)

Insecticide, fungicide (5 sprays)

Machinery costs

Inputs for Asparagus (Second Year)

Year 1 establishment cost 

Pre-emergence herbicide, 2 sprays 

Insecticide, fungicide, 6 sprays 

Harvesting and marketing (500 lbs@$0.30/lb.)

(an average between direct marketing

and wholesale marketing costs) 
51

Practices Needed to Establish Asparagus (First Year)

Input

Machinery, fuel, lube, repairs 

Production

Asparagus spears (500 lbs) 

Inputs for Asparagus (Third Year)

Pre-emergence herbicide, 2 sprays 

Insecticide, fungicide, 6 sprays 

Harvesting and marketing (1,000 lbs @ $0.30/lb.) 

Machinery, fuel, lube, repairs 

Production

Asparagus spears (1,000 lbs) 

Inputs for Asparagus (Fourth Year)

Pre-emergence herbicide, 2 sprays 

Insecticide, fungicide, 6 sprays 

Harvesting and marketing (2,000 lbs @ $0.30/lb.) 

Machinery, fuel, lube, repairs 

Production fourth year

Asparagus spears (2,000 lbs) 

Asparagus varieties should be both high yielding and disease resistant. Asparagus 

is a dioecious plant, meaning that there are both male and female plants. Generally, 

females produce larger spears than males, but the males produce greater numbers of 

smaller diameter spears. Only female plants produce berries. High yielding all male 

asparagus lines are most typically used in commercial production. The main benefit from 

an all-male hybrid is that it doesn’t produce seed, which can later germinate and create a 

significant weed problem in the form of several volunteer asparagus seedlings. Asparagus 

spears produced from all male hybrids are usually very uniform. 

For many years, the most common varieties have been from the Washington 

series (‘Mary’, ‘Martha’, ‘Waltham’), developed by the USDA culture which are 

dioecious. However, several of the all-male hybrids developed in NJ. ‘Jersey Giant’, 

‘Jersey Knight’, offer proven higher yields and increased rust resistance and tolerance to 

Fusarium crown rot and are often the preferred choice Other all-male hybrid varieties 

released from the Jersey series with excellent resistance to fusarium include ‘Jersey

Jewel’, ‘Jersey King’ (green spears with purple bracts), ‘Jersey General’, and ‘Jersey

Titan’ (green spears with purple bracts). These have done well in Michigan and Canada. 

A newer all male hybrids released from the University of Guelph called ‘Guelph 

Millenium’ has performed very well in Canada. ‘Purple Passion’ is a variety that 
52

produces attractive purple spears for an added twist. This unique variety could provide a 

niche market opportunity. Varieties from California have been bred for warm climates 

and do not possess the longevity or hardiness needed in Northern climates. One of the 

key attributes associated with California varieties has been their strong production 

potential during very warm conditions and delaying the onset of fern development. 

However in northern climates, yield decline has often been observed in these varieties 

shortly after the establishment years. 

Celery:

In AZ, celery is a grown during the fall and the winter months. Most celery is 

transplanted in September and may continue through December. In CA, celery is grown 

year-round. Prior to planting celery, the field is deeply tilled, disked, land planed, the 

beds are formed and then the field is pre-irrigated. A preplant herbicide may be applied 

prior to bed formation. If a preplant fungicide is utilized it is usually applied after bed 

formation but prior to planting. Most commercial celery is planted from greenhousegrown transplants as celery seed is very difficult to germinate and is slow to establish. 

Transplants decrease the field-growing period, provide uniformly sized plants and confer 

a competitive advantage over newly emerging weeds. Celery transplants may be either 

overhead irrigated or sub-irrigated by soaking of seedling flats. Production of uniformly 

sized seedlings is also required for the efficient operation of the mechanized transplanting 

equipment. Greenhouse growers mow plant tops several times during the production 

cycle to produce such uniformity. This practice results in a stout 6" plant with a welldeveloped root system. Under both field and greenhouse conditions excess foliar 

moisture encourages disease development. Therefore, overhead irrigation requires 

repeated fungicidal applications to maintain disease-free plants. Drip irrigation has 

proven to be a valuable alternative system that is increasing in use. Growers indicate drip 

irrigation significantly reduces disease incidence and a more uniform stand at harvest. Celery

production demands relatively large amounts of fertilizers. After approximately 70 days in 

the greenhouse, celery seedlings are transplanted onto double-rowed 40-inch beds. The 

transplants are spaced 9 to 10 inches apart and, in CA, celery matures and is harvested 75-

140 days later depending on season and weather. In AZ, celery is grown during the fall and 

winter months and requires 3 to 4 months (90 to 120 days) to mature after transplanting. 

Harvesting begins in November and usually completed by January, but may continue 

through April. In CA, celery is a grown year-round. Option celery growth temperatures 

ranges from 30°F to 75°F in CA, and 40 to 70°F in AZ. Celery is grown on soil types 

range from a dry loam to a sandy loam with a pH of 7.5 - 8.0 (AZ). In Florida, celery is 

grown on organic, muck soils. Proper soil preparation is more important in celery than in 

most other crops. Celery, due to its shallow root system, requires a steady and uniform 

supply of moisture. Transplants are immediately sprinkler-irrigated after planting 

followed by drip, furrow or sprinkler irrigation during the rest of the season. Celery field 

are minimally cultivated, i.e., once or twice in a season. Drip irrigation is usually used 

for celery production; furrow irrigation can be used, often with a small amount of 

fertilizer added to the furrow water.
53

In CA, the Central and South Coastal growing regions account for 98.8% of 

California celery production. In the southern portion of the region, seedlings are 

transplanted from early August through mid-April and the mature crops are harvested 

from November through mid-July. In the regions northern portion (i.e. the Santa Maria 

Valley in Santa Barbara County); seedlings are transplanted from late February through 

August, following a weather-driven celery-free period from approximately midDecember to February. Mature crops are harvested from late May to December. CA 

growers must follow a county government-mandated celery-free period from July 15 

through August 4 as a defensive measure to control outbreaks of western celery mosaic 

virus. Greenhouse seedling operations also conform to a mandated 8-consecutive day

celery-free period every year during growing of transplants for export to Monterey, 

Ventura, and Imperial Counties. Celery may be hand harvested or machine harvested, 

but that which is grown in Oregon is hand harvested. Harvest when stalks are of 

sufficient size but before any pith has developed in the petioles. In some U.S. production 

areas, celery is trimmed to produce "hearts" which are packaged 2 or 3 per package with 

the stalks that are trimmed off being used for processing. It is critical that harvested 

stalks be quickly cooled.

Celery may be hand harvested or machine harvested, but that which is grown in 

Oregon is hand harvested. Harvest when stalks are of sufficient size but before any pith 

has developed in the petioles. In some U.S. production areas, celery is trimmed to 

produce "hearts" which are packaged 2 or 3 per package with the stalks that are trimmed 

off being used for processing. It is critical that harvested stalks be quickly cooled. In 

general (for all growers and growing regions), celery production begins in greenhouses 

from healthy seeds, optimum soil type and well-controlled irrigation. Good seedling 

production is an essential first step in celery production. Celery greenhouse seedlings are 

transplanted to the field, using mechanical transplanters and the mature crop is harvested 

by hand. Crews cut, trim, size, wash and pack the crop in the field. Outer petioles 

(stalks) are removed, the celery is trimmed to a uniform length, which is usually 14 or 15 

inches (36 to 38 cm), and it is packed into cartons or crates. Celery that will be used as 

sticks, diced, or crescents may be machine harvested. It is taken to a packinghouse, where 

it is washed and processed. In general (for all growers and growing regions), celery

production begins in greenhouses from healthy seeds, optimum soil type and wellcontrolled irrigation. Good seedling production is an essential first step in celery

production. Celery greenhouse seedlings are transplanted to the field, using mechanical 

transplanters and the mature crop is harvested by hand. Crews cut, trim, size, wash and 

pack the crop in the field. Outer petioles (stalks) are removed, the celery is trimmed to a 

uniform length, which is usually 14 or 15 inches (36 to 38 cm), and it is packed into 

cartons or crates. Celery that will be used as sticks, diced, or crescents may be machine 

harvested. It is taken to a packinghouse, where it is washed and processed.

In Michigan production may exceed 40 tons per acre with about 60% of MI celery

packed for fresh market. About 25% of MI celery is processed for frozen food, soup, 

juice, or other products. About 15% of the crop is packed as hearts, using stalks that are 

too small for regular pack. Celery produces highest yields and best quality at 

temperatures of 60 to 80 degrees F. The MI, celery seed is sown in the greenhouse 
54

starting February 1 for transplanting in the field after April 1. After April 20, seedbeds 

can be established in the field. The last seed is normally planted about June 1 for 

transplanting in mid-July. MI celery production notes that spores of two common leaf 

blights of celery (Cercospora and Septoria) are carried on the seed. The seed is 

harvested by hand as it matures, to obtain seed that is at a very uniform stage of maturity. 

The seed is then carefully sized to achieve an additional degree of uniformity. The soil in 

transplant beds is fumigated in the fall, when soil temperatures are above 50 degrees F, to 

kill insects, nematodes, disease organisms and weeds. 

Rhubarb: 

Rhubarb in Oregon is all hand harvested. For processing, both ends of the petiole are 

trimmed so that no leaf tissue remains. For fresh market a small amount (1/4 inch) of leaf 

tissue is usually left attached to the petiole and the basal end is not trimmed. Splitting of 

the petiole will be more serious if the entire leaf is removed. Stalks should not be pulled 

during the first year of growth. Stalk color is best after the field is 2 to 3 years old. In 

subsequent years, harvesting can be expected to start in March and to end in June. This 

will vary with management practices, with the variety being grown, and is somewhat 

driven by market demand. Plants should not be over-pulled at any time, as a certain 

amount of foliage is required for the development of the present crop as well as next 

year's crop. A well-cared-for field will last for l0-15 years or longer. In the Willamette 

Valley, early rhubarb is harvested for processing from April 25 to May 25. The prime 

harvest period is from April 25 to May 15. Late rhubarb is harvested from June 25 to 

July 25. The prime harvest period for late rhubarb is June 25 to July 7.

PEST PROBLEMS FOR THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE 

VEGETABLE CROPS: (Developed from USDA Crop Profiles from AZ, CA, FL, MD, 

MI, NC, NJ, OR, and USDA Agricultural Extension Bulletins, and Research Literature). 

There are several common pest problems that occur among the stalk, stem, and 

leaf petiole vegetable group. The most important pest problems associated with this 

group of commodities are plant diseases including postharvest diseases, as well as some 

insects and mites, and weed problems that reduce yield and quality. Weeds include 

annual grasses such as: crabgrass, barnyardgrass, foxtails; perennial grasses such as 

quackgrass, and Johnsongrass; and annual and perennial broadleaf weeds such as black 

nightshade, lambsquarter, pigweed, purslane, ragweed and velvetleaf. Weed control in 

asparagus is especially essential since the most critical time in the life of an asparagus 

bed is the first two to three growing seasons, especially the period from mid-August until 

frost. Competition with weeds for light, nutrients, and moisture will greatly reduce vigor 

the following year. A significant amount of food is stored in the crowns during the latter 

part of the growing season. Damage or early fern removal before frost during the first 

year results in visibly reduced fern height and vigor at the beginning of the following 

growing season.
55

Examples of insects are cutworms, asparagus aphid, asparagus beetles, thrips, 

asparagus fern, caterpillar, beet armyworm, and Japanese beetles. Fusarium root rot, 

Phytophthora crown and spear rot, purple spot, asparagus rust, white mold (Sclerotinia) 

and gray mold (Botrytis). Various viruses affect the stalk, stem and leaf petiole 

vegetables such as celery.

Asparagus:

Several insect pests affect asparagus. Damaging insects include the asparagus 

beetle, spotted asparagus beetle, and asparagus aphid. The asparagus beetle is a common 

pest wherever asparagus is grown. Both adults and larvae feed on the plant. In the spring 

they feed on the spears and reduce the quality of the crop. In the summer they defoliate 

the ferns and reduce the food supply to the crowns, thus affecting future yields. Spotted 

asparagus beetle is also widespread but is more common in the Eastern United States. 

Natural predators include a chalcid wasp and lady beetle larvae. Asparagus aphid has 

spread across most of the country, and has become a serious pest requiring extensive 

control, and causes bushy, stunted new growth called “witches broom.” The common 

and spotted asparagus beetle adults lay eggs perpendicularly on the tips of asparagus 

spears, making them unmarketable. Harvesting on a timely basis and not letting spears 

become over mature are the best prevention measures. The common asparagus beetle can 

severely damage asparagus in the fern stage. It chews and strips off the green material on 

the fern stalks, causing dieback and reducing the amount of photosynthesis taking place 

to provide carbohydrate storage in the roots for next year's crop. Spotted asparagus 

beetle larvae feed mainly on the berries of the female plants. Growing male hybrids 

eliminates the problem.

Asparagus is also affected by several diseases such as: Fusarium, which causes 

assorted crown and root rots and wilts, results in poor stands and yellowing and wilting of 

seedlings in new plantings. In established plants, wilting of individual ferns occurs and 

the foliage turns yellow to tan. Diseased crowns will have a yellowish-red internal 

discoloration, and the major roots will be rotted. If Fusarium does become serious, the 

field may have to be destroyed and not replanted to asparagus. Asparagus rust (Puccinia 

asparagi) can be a problem if the cultivars being grown are not rust-resistant. Rust can 

cause premature defoliation or death of the ferns, reducing yields and increasing the 

incidence of root or crown diseases. Needle blight (Cercospora asparagi) has recently

become a problem disease of newer hybrid asparagus cultivars. Like rust, needle blight is 

a defoliating disease prevalent during periods of high humidity or abundant rain and 

warm temperatures. Purple spot, a fungal disease that infects young spears of asparagus, 

is caused by Stemphylium vesicarum. Infection causes sunken purple spots that reduce 

the value of the crop. Burying asparagus debris in the late fall or late winter significantly

reduces the severity of the disease. 

Weed control is also very important in asparagus, controlling weeds is a serious 

challenge. Since asparagus is a perennial crop that increases in bed-width each year, 

cultivation for weeds “in the row” during spear harvest, and following harvest during fern 

production, is not possible. Elimination of perennial weeds such as bermudagrass, 

quackgrass, Johnsongrass, and nutgrass prior to planting is especially critical. Annual 
56

weeds can be controlled through a combination of herbicides, cultural, mechanical, and 

biological control techniques. To control winter annual weeds that have emerged in the 

field, cultivate at a shallow depth after the winter ferns (i.e., trash ferns from previous 

season) have been mowed or burned off. Following harvest the field should be disked or 

tilled again to eliminate weeds that have emerged since the last cultivation and to prepare 

the field for summer fern production. Cultivating between the rows with a high-clearance 

tractor and 3-point hitch-mounted row cultivators will control the bulk of interrow weeds 

during the growing season During harvest of spears and during fern production, in-row 

cultivation opportunities are limited. Yet, these in-row weeds pose the greatest threat 

because weed competition with ferns interferes with crown storage and reduces yield the 

following growing season. During fern production, alternative weed control options in 

the row include hand weeding, mulching, and/or the use of weeder geese. On large-scale 

operations, mulching can be mechanized using straw spreaders or forage wagons carrying 

green chop or shredded dry mulch. Cover crops are another useful tool in asparagus 

weed management. Dying mulch is a cover crop planted out of season. While growing it 

suppresses weeds; then it dies back out on its own without requiring the use of herbicides, 

mowing, or tillage. Winter rye planted in the spring has been used successfully in this 

manner in several agronomic and horticultural crops. White cutworms and the dark-sided 

cutworms can damage asparagus spears, and feed on the growing tip of the spear, but also 

feed readily on the butts of previously harvested spears. Spears should be snapped as 

close to the ground as possible to discourage cutworm feeding on harvested spear butts. 

Asparagus rust is a fungus disease that attacks fern growth; reducing the amount of 

photosynthesis and food translocated to the crown for next year's crop. 

Purple spot fungus (Stemphyllium vesicarium) can sometimes cause small purple 

spots, often in great numbers, on spears ready to be harvested. This fungus overwinters 

on plant debris and is a problem in reduced tillage systems. Cercospora blight is a very

destructive fungus disease that can devastate asparagus in the south-central and 

southeastern U.S., especially where rainfall and humidity levels favor infection. The 

fungus overwinters on fern residues left on the soil, and spores produced on this debris 

infect ferns after harvest when conditions are favorable for infection. Favorable 

conditions include humidity of 95% or higher and average temperatures of 77 to 86 

degrees F. Symptoms first appear on lower portions of the ferns after row closure and 

periods of high humidity. 

Major pests of bamboo are weeds which interfere with spreading of its rhizomes.

Celery:

Insect pests of celery include aphids, leafhoppers, carrot weevils, flea beetles, 

leafminers, armyworms and loopers. It is important to control leafhoppers, a common 

carrier of viruses. Celery is a poor competitor with weeds; therefore, effective weed 

control is necessary. Diseases of celery include damping-off, root rot, pink rot 

(Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), basal stalk lesions (Rhizoctonia), early blight (Cercospora 

apii), late blight (Septoria apiicola), bacterial blight (Pseudomonas cichorii), western 

celery mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), aster yellows, fusarium yellows 
57

(Fusarium oxysporum), and nematodes. Soil samples should be taken to determine if 

nematode control is necessary. 

Pests of rhubarb include turnip aphids, flea beetles, root maggots and wireworm. 

Rutabagas are susceptible to clubroot, root knot, leaf spot, white rust, white spot, and 

anthracnose. Several pest problems of asparagus are common to rhubarb.

Chinese celery shares pest problems common to other celery types such as aphids, 

leaf miners, celery fly, spider mites, cabbage loopers, fungal diseases, nematode, and weed 

problems are also similar. 

POLLINATION OF STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLES

(Adapted from Russell Goodman, 1994, Honeybee Pollination of Fruit Tree Crops. AG 

20092, Westerfield, R., Pollination of Vegetable Crops, 2000).

Pollination is one of the most important factors in fruit and vegetable production. 

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of 

a flower. Pollination is less significance when they are growing vegetables for their 

foliage or roots. However, many leafy vegetable do not require pollination because the 

fruit (seed bearing body) is not harvested. These include stem vegetables (e.g. celery and 

rhubarb). 

Pollination becomes important when we grow vegetables for their seeds, fruit, or 

seed pods. Without pollination the seeds and fruit will not develop. Most plants have 

male and female flowers parts on the same flower and are easily pollinated by wind or 

insects.

Vegetables may be grouped into four categories according to the way they

pollinate. Group 1 vegetables have flowers that can receive only their own pollen. They

are called self-pollinizers. Examples are endives, escarole, and chicory leaves. 

Vegetables in group 2 form seed only with pollen from an unrelated plant such as 

cabbage and radish. The cross-pollinated vegetables in group 3 may either set seed from 

their own pollen (self-pollinated) or from pollen received from another plant (crosspollinated). They can be divided into two subgroups: (a) vegetables pollinated by airborne pollen and (b) vegetables pollinated by insect-borne pollen. Celery is usually

pollinated by air borne pollen. Usually vegetables pollinated by insect borne pollen

include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, 

parsley, and rutabaga. Vegetables in group 4 have both male and female plants. Seeds 

are formed only when male plants furnish pollen and include asparagus and spinach. 

Many insects visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar as food. As they forage, 

these insects spread pollen grains among flowers, accomplishing pollination. Many

flowers offer sugary liquid nectar as an added enticement for these pollinating insects. 

Among insect pollinators, bees are especially efficient because they eat pollen and nectar 
58

exclusively, visit many flowers of the same species during a single trip and have hairy

bodies that easily pick up pollen grains.

The formation of seed in more complex plants depends on sexual reproduction in the 

flower. This process can be quite complex and is of fundamental interest to plant 

breeders. It is important that plantings be sufficiently separated when crossings are not 

wanted. Growers of vegetable plants for seed production have specific cultural practices 

that must be followed for the seed crop as well as isolation distance requirements for 

these crops.

COMPARISON OF HARVESTING, POSTHARVEST HANDLING, RAW 

AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY (RAC), EDIBLE PORTIONS, AND 

PROCESSED FOOD ITEMS FOR THE STALK, STEM AND LEAF PETIOLE 

VEGETABLES:

If vegetables are not harvested at the proper stage of maturity, physiological 

processes occur that permanently change their taste, appearance and quality. The texture, 

fiber and consistency of all vegetables are greatly affected by the stage of maturity at 

harvest, by postharvest handling and by the time interval between harvesting and 

consumer consumption.

Harvesting most vegetables when they are young and storing them properly will 

help extend their shelf life. In some cases, newer hybrid varieties have helped add shelf 

life to certain vegetables. Lowering the internal temperature also helps to slow both the 

respiration process and quality decline. This is one reason for harvesting vegetables early 

in the day before the heat from the sun has warmed them. After the harvest, most 

vegetables should be kept cool and out of direct sunlight until they are either processed or 

consumed. While harvesting too soon may result in only a reduction in yield, harvesting 

too late can result in poor quality due to development of objectionable fiber and the 

conversion of sugars into starches. Fully-mature vegetables left on the plant also attract 

more disease and insect problems. The following Table 25 shows suggestions for 

determining the proper stage of maturity for harvesting many vegetables. 

Table 25. Suggested Harvest Timing for Various Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetables. (Adapted from Westerfield, R. 1999. CAES Publ. C935).

Leafy 

Vegetable

Part Eaten Optimum 

Maturity

Harvested 

Too Early

Harvested 

Too Late

Celery Stem Plant 

stands 12" 

to 15" 

tall; 

mediumthick 

Stem too 

small.

Seed stalk 

formed; 

bitterness.
59

Leafy 

Vegetable

Part Eaten Optimum 

Maturity

Harvested 

Too Early

Harvested 

Too Late

stem.

Rhubarb Stem Stem 8" 

to 15" 

long is 

best.

Small size; 

immature.

Fleshy stem 

becomes 

fibrous.

The maturity of each commodity in the proposed Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

group as well number of days to harvest and number of harvests per season are listed in 

Table 26. 

Table 26, Detailed Maturity and Harvesting of Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole

Vegetable Crops.

Commodity Growing Season

Agave Typically spring, after anywhere from 10 to 60 years of growth. Care 

should be taken prior to use, as the juice of the leaves of some species 

can cause contact dermatitis and cut leaves and other parts of the 

plant should be handled only with gloves prior to being dried or 

cooked.

Asparagus Emergence of spears to harvest: About a week for green and purple 

asparagus. Spears first emerge in early spring. Harvest continues for 

up to 90 days The tender, succulent aerial stems are cut for 2 to 3 

months as they emerge in spring. Then cutting stops and they are 

allowed to grow to nourish the underground part for the following 

year's crop. Cutting may be deep in the soil with just the tip emerging 

for "white" or near the soil surface when spears are 6 to 8 inches high 

for green asparagus. All-male varieties are preferred, as males 

typically produce longer and yield better than female plants.

Bamboo, shoots Shoots emerge in early spring and can generally only be harvested for 

one month before the last shoots are too tough to be edible. Culms 

take two years to mature. The culms have a lifespan of 5 - 7 years, 

and are are often used in construction.

Burdock, edible, 

tops

Can be planted in early spring for harvest in fall, or in fall for spring 

or early summer harvest. Autumn planting should be done as late as 

possible to prevent bolting before winter. Two to four weeks for 

young shoots and leaves. Mature roots can be harvested from about 

21⁄2 to 10 months after seeding, depending on climate and size of root.

Cardoon Takes 4 to 5 months to mature. Leaf stalks are bundled before 

harvest in order to blanch the petioles and make them more desirable.

Celery Seeding to field planting: 2 1⁄2 to 3 months; field planting to harvest, 3 

to 4 months for fresh celery. For seed production, celery plants are 

exposed to cold, mainly by overwintering in mild climates, and then

harvested by pulling the plants, allowing them to dry and then 
60

Commodity Growing Season

threshing. Celery may be hand harvested or machine harvested, but 

that which is grown in Oregon is hand harvested. Harvest when 

stalks are of sufficient size but before any pith has developed in the 

petioles. In some U.S. production areas, celery is trimmed to produce 

"hearts" which are packaged 2 or 3 per package with the stalks that 

are trimmed off being used for processing. It is critical that harvested 

stalks be quickly cooled for storage.

Celery, Chinese Six weeks to first harvest. Stalks may be harvested individually or 

the whole top cut just above ground level so that regrowth can occur 

and harvests can continue for several months as long as the weather 

remains cool. 

Fennel, Florence About 3 months for edible leaf base harvest.

Fern, edible Many species of fern are consumed in various ways, but the most 

common species used as leafy vegetables are generally small to 

medium ferns, no more than 2 m in height at maturity, with pinnate, 

much divided leafy fronds. The young fronds emerge from the 

ground curled up and are harvested before they can uncurl, and are 

known in North America as fiddleheads. Fronds are generally not 

edible once they have uncurled. Thus far, fiddleheads are rarely 

cultivated and are often gathered from the wild for personal 

consumption, or sold to markets and restaurants. They have a very

limited season, typically early spring for a short time as the fronds 

first emerge. 

Fuki Flowers emerge early in spring and bloom for 2 - 3 weeks then leaves 

follow and are harvested.

Kohlrabi Plants are grown from seed, and must be grown rapidly for good 

quality stem. Seeding to harvest is about 2 months.

Palm hearts All palms are propagated by seed. Time to harvest is from 5 to 10 

years. Most palm trees are cut down to harvest the heart. For peach 

palm, under orchard cultivation with about 2,000 plants per acre, the 

palm is a multi-shoot palm with each clump yielding a harvestable 

stem to 4 feet from the base up to the lowest petiole every 9 to 15 

months and can weigh about 20 pounds. Each stem can produce 0.5 

pound of edible palm heart and 1 pound of edible stem. Palm hearts 

or heart of palm is a vegetable harvested from the growing bud of 

certain palm trees. Harvesting of the inner core kills the tree. The 

peach palm, Bactris gasipaes, known in Ecuador as “chontadure” and 

in Costa Rica as “palmito” is most widely used for canning.

Prickly, pear, 

pads (Cactus)

Flowering occurs from the end of winter to summer. Fruiting occurs 

in the summer, but can be timed by low wintertime temperatures, the 

application of fertilizers, or the removal of the spring flush of flower 

buds. Bud removal can lead to a second flowering and the production 

of fruit in November and December. Shade and gibberellic acid can 

inhibit flower-bud initiation. Flower opening to fruit maturity occurs 

in approximately 70 to 150 days. Fruit production occurs in 5 to 6 
61

Commodity Growing Season

years from seed and 2 to 3 years from cuttings.

Rhubarb Propagation is by seed or division of rootstock. Sow seeds in autumn 

or divide in spring or autumn. Rhubarb may be produced in 

containers or in greenhouses, which typically yield an earlier crop 

with redder stems than field-grown rhubarb. A stand of rhubarb is 

most productive beginning its third year and lasting through its sixth 

year. Start of spring growth to first harvest is about 3 - 4 weeks with 

a two harvest cycles

Udo Propagation is by stem or root cuttings or by seed. In culture, the 

roots are established in beds or rows, like asparagus. As the young 

shoots start in spring, they are kept covered with soil for complete 

blanching. The shoots harvested are up to 2 ft (61 cm) long and 1.5 in 

(3.8 cm) in diameter at the base. The plant is a strong growing 

perennial, producing the edible shoots from the roots each spring. 

Season from growth start in spring to harvest varies from 2 to 4 

weeks.

Zuiki Propagated vegetatively by corms. Cultivated aroids have less 

acridity and require less processing than wild forms.

For asparagus do not harvest asparagus the year of planting. Harvest for two 

weeks the second year after planting and increase to 6 – 8 weeks as the planting matures. 

Stop harvesting by June 15 if fern vigor was good the previous fall. Stop sooner if spear

thickness drops. Prolonged cutting increases stress on the plant and can increase root and 

crown rot. If foliage diseases were severe or fern vigor was low the previous fall, stop

harvesting 10 days sooner than normal. Leave soil unrigged on young beds for the first 2 

to 3 weeks of harvest. On old beds, and in fields where freezing of early emerged spears

occurs frequently, begin ridging at start of harvest season. In areas where freeze damage 

to spears occurs frequently, mulch the beds with straw after herbicide application to delay

spear emergence. Remove spears from field promptly after cutting to maintain freshness 

and low fiber content.

Approximate artichoke yields in California average 450 cartons, with good yields at 550 

cartons/acre for established plantings. Select buds for size, compactness, and age. 

Harvest by cutting stem 1 to 1.5 inches below base of the bud. All buds that are of 

suitable size should be removed. Old stems should be removed as soon as all buds have 

been harvested to allow new stems to grow.

Celery may be hand harvested or machine harvested, but that which is grown in 

Oregon is hand harvested. Harvest when stalks are of sufficient size but before any pith 

has developed in the petioles. In some U.S. production areas, celery is trimmed to 

produce "hearts" which are packaged 2 or 3 per package with the stalks that are trimmed 

off being used for processing. It is critical that harvested stalks be quickly cooled. Celery

should be harvested when the petioles (stalks) from the soil line to the first node are at 

least 6 inches long. Plants must be compact and tight without excessive open space in the 

center of the stalk. The crop should be ready for harvest 85 to 120 days after 
62

transplanting, depending on the variety. A block of celery with a single maturity date 

should be no larger than can be harvested at one time so the celery can be harvested at 

peak quality. Quality of the crop will decline with time due to increased amount of 

pithiness, yellow leaves and seed stalks. Average yields are 25 to 35 tons per acre.

Kohlrabi it is very important to harvest spring-sown kohlrabi when they are small.

They will get larger than tennis balls in fair soil, but by this time they are of very poor 

quality. To get tender, sweet kohlrabi, pick them when they are less than 2 - 2.5 inches in 

diameter. Fall-grown kohlrabi is less likely to get woody and may remain at good quality

until Christmas when it is 4 - 5 inches in diameter.

Yields of rhubarb depend on the number of pickings, and the age and condition of 

the field. Green varieties tend to yield more. A well-maintained field may remain 

productive for 15 or more years. Rhubarb in Oregon is all hand harvested. For 

processing, both ends of the petiole are trimmed so that no leaf tissue remains. For fresh 

market a small amount (1/4 inch) of leaf tissue is usually left attached to the petiole and 

the basal end is not trimmed. Splitting of the petiole will be more serious if the entire 

leaf is removed. Stalks should not be pulled during the first year of growth. Stalk color is 

best after the field is 2 to 3 years old. In subsequent years, harvesting can be expected to 

start in March and to end in June. This will vary with management practices, with the 

variety being grown, and is somewhat driven by market demand. Plants should not be 

over-pulled at any time, as a certain amount of foliage is required for the development of 

the present crop as well as next year's crop. A well-cared-for field will last for l0-15 

years or longer. 

Comparison of the Raw Agricultural Commodities (RAC) and Processed 

Commodities for the Proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group (see 

Tables 27 and 28).

The raw agricultural commodities (RAC) for the amended Leafy Vegetable Crop 

Group similar (Table 27). There are no processed commodities or livestock feedstuffs for 

this proposed group. 

Table 27. Proposed Salk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group 40 CFR Vol. 58, 

No. 187, 9/29/1993, pp. 50888 – 50893. Portion of Food Commodities Analyzed 

Pesticide Residues: Proposed Rule), and Table 1 Raw Agricultural and Processed 

Commodities Derived from Crops (EPA Residue Chemistry Guidelines OPPTS 

860.1000).

Commodity Portion Analyzed (RAC) and/or 

Feedstuff (F)

Processed Commodity 

(PC) and /or Use as a 

Feedstuff (F) 

Proposed Stalk, 

Stem, and Leaf 

Petiole Vegetable

Analyze the whole commodity after 

removal of obviously decomposed or 

withered leaves. Rhubarb leaf stems 

None.
63

only; globe artichokes, flowerhead 

only; celery and asparagus, remove 

adhering soil.

The proposed members of the Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole crop group 22 all have 

edible portions that are stalks, stems and or leaf petioles (see Table 28).

Table 28. Description of the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Commodities Parts 

Harvested and The Edible Portion.

Commodity Plant Parts Utilized Description

Agave Stalk, nectar Stalk consumed for the sweet pulp; 

nectar for tequila or sweetener.

Asparagus Shoots Young shoots only.

Burdock, edible, 

tops (leaves)

Stems and shoots Young shoot eaten like asparagus, 

peeled stems eaten in Italy.

Cardoon Petiole Existing member of crop group 4B.

Celery Petiole Existing member of Leaf Petiole 

subgroup 4B.

Celery, Chinese Petiole and leaves Existing member of Leaf Petiole 

subgroup 4B. 

Celtuce Stem and leaves Existing member of Leaf Petiole 

subgroup 4B.

Fennel, Florence Petioles/leaf bases Existing member of Leaf Petiole 

subgroup 4B (also a member of herbs 

and spice group). Enlarged bulbous 

leaf base.

Fern, edible Leaf front uncurled Uncurled leaf fronds are eaten, 

immature fronds are called “crosiers”.

Fuki Petioles Leaves and leaf petioles eaten

Kale, sea Shoots Shoots are similar to rhubarb.

Knotweed Shoots Young shoots only. Invasive in U.S. but 

widely consumed in Asia. Also being 

developed as a source of resveratrol.

Kohlrabi Swollen stem Young stems 

Prickly pear Stem Technically the "pad" is the stem and 

the prickles are the leaves. The fruit is 

the best known commodity but pads 

eaten in Mexico and known as 

"nopales"

Rhubarb Petiole Existing member of Leaf Petiole crop 

subgroup 4B

Swiss chard Petioles and leaves Existing member of Leaf Petiole 

subgroup 4B.

Udo Shoots Shoots are similar to asparagus.
64

Commodity Plant Parts Utilized Description

Zuki Petiole

LIVESTOCK FEED ITEMS:

There are no significant animal feed items associated with the proposed Stalk, 

stem, and leaf petiole crop group (Table 27). 

CROP ROTATIONS FOR THE STALK, STEM, LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLES 

(Adapted from Schneider, 1990, 1998, Swiader, 1992, 

(http://www.dannylipford.com/vegetable-garden-crop-rotation-made-easy/). 

Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops, rather than the same 

vegetable or members of the same family of vegetables, in the same land each year. Crop 

rotation benefits vegetable crops in two ways: first, it will prevent the build-up of soilborne pests and diseases; second, it allows for the replenishment and efficient use of soil 

nutrients. Vegetables should not be grown the same area year after year or more than 

once every three or four years in the same field.

Vegetable insect pests tend to feed on similar plants and members of the same 

plant family. For example, an insect pest that attacks and eats cabbage will lay its eggs 

before it dies. If cabbage or a member of the Brassica family is planted in the same field

the next year, the eggs of the insect will hatch and the pests will find exactly the food 

they need to continue the pest life cycle. Soil borne diseases from fungi, bacteria, and 

viruses also can be hosted by specific plants as well. Removing host plants or alternating 

unrelated plants into the garden can break the cycle of pests and disease. Weed problems 

in vegetables may also be reduced by rotations, since different herbicides can be used in 

rotations to control various weeds. Rotations to a cover crop like a cereal grin or alfalfa 

can help reduce the weed competitiveness with various vegetable crops.

Crop rotation also helps prevent soil nutrients from being depleted. Vegetables 

draw upon a wide range of soil nutrients for growth: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium 

are the key or major soil nutrients. Members of the same vegetable family usually draw 

the same nutrients from the soil. Crop rotation will prevent the soil from wearing out: 

heavy nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium feeding crops such as tomatoes are rotated 

with soil-building crops such as beans which add nitrogen and organic matter to the soil.

The stalk, stem, and leaf petiole crops are listed in bold, and several of them are 

perennial crops and are not rotated (Table 29). Celery is included in the same 

recommendations as the tomato family below. Asparagus, bamboo, cactus, and rhubarb 

are perennials and are not rotated on a yearly basis. Planting asparagus into an old 

asparagus field may also cause an alleleopathic response or suppression of growth of the 

new plants by substances that are released from old root pieces. New hybrid varieties are 
65

somewhat tolerant to the fungus than older varieties, and the growth of the hybrids is 

vigorous enough to yield well in spite of the presence of the disease. However, some 

growers have observed that waiting four years is insufficient. Also, the eight major 

vegetable plant families and specific notes on individual family crop rotations. 

First is the Brassica family: 

• Cabbage Family (Brassica, Cruciferae):

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, collards, cress, kale, 

kohlrabi, radishes, and turnips. These are heavy feeders. These crops should follow 

legumes. After these crops the field trial garden to go fallow for a season or plant a cover 

crop or add plenty of compost and organic matter to the garden.

• Lettuce Family (Composite, Asteraceae): 

Artichoke, globe, chicory, endive, lettuce. These are heavy feeders. Follow these crops 

with legumes.

• Beet Family (Chenopodiaceae): Beets, spinach, Swiss chard. These are heavy feeders. 

Rotate these crops with legumes or fallow.

• Squash Family (Cucurbitaceae): Cucumbers, melons, summer and winter squash, 

pumpkins, watermelon. These crops are heavy feeders. Plant these crops after members 

of the grass family. Follow these crops with legumes.

• Carrot Family (Umbelliferae): Carrots, celery, anise, coriander, dill, fennel, parsley.

These are light to medium feeders. These crops can follow any other group. Follow these 

crops with legumes, onions, or leave fallow for a season. In MI, it is recommended that 

celery be rotated with other crops whenever possible to avoid a buildup of pests in the 

soil. Onions or potatoes are good rotation crops with few pests in common with celery. 

Corn or sudangrass should be included in the rotation every five years. A winter cover 

crop of barley or rye will reduce wind erosion and add active organic matter to the soil.

• Tomato Family (Solanaceae Family): Tomato, pepper, eggplant, and potatoes, celery, 

anise, coriander, dill, fennel, parsley. These are heavy feeders. These crops should 

follow a legume like clover or alfalfa or grass like rye.

• Legume or Bean Family (Leguminosae): Beans including snap bean, lima bean, 

vegetable soybean, chickpea, cowpea, etc. These are light feeders. Plant these crops 

after a grain crop such as sweet corn.

• Grass Family (Graminaceae/Poaceae): Sweet corn and popcorn. These are heavy 

feeders. Plant these crops after a legume like alfalfa or a bean.
66

The examples of crop rotations in Figure 1 below includes all the other leafy vegetable 

crop families groups (Cabbage/Brassica, Lettuce, and Carrot) equivalent to EPA Crop 

Groups 4 and 5 is grouped below. The rotation is a four year rotation. 

Simple Four-Year Crop Rotation

To follow a simple four-year crop rotation, divide fields into four areas or plots: Field 

Plot One, Plot Two, Plot Three, and Plot Four. In each of the next four years, a different 

crop or different members of the crop families in a different field plots following this 

rotation:

This four-year crop rotation intersperses members of the other vegetable families 

among members of the Tomato, Onion, Bean, and Brassica/cabbage families. The leaves 

are the leafy vegetable families. Here is how they are grouped: 

Year 1. Tomato Family and others (Solanaceae family)

Beets

Celeriac and celery

Salsify

Year 2. Bean Family (Leguminosae family)

Year 3. Cabbage Family and others (Brassica family)

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Radish

Rutabaga

Turnip

Year 4. Onion Family and others (Allium family)

Perennial Vegetables are not included in crop rotation since they grow in the same spot 

for several years in a row and include:

Asparagus

Cactus

Globe artichoke

Jerusalem artichoke

Rhubarb

Figure 1. Sample Four Year Crop Rotation Plan.
67
68

TABLE 29. DETERMINATION OF STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE

VEGETABLE COMMODITIES WHO’S CULTURAL PRACTICES DO NOT 

NORMALLY INCLUDE CROP ROTATIONS.

COMMODITY

CROP 

ROTATED (Y/N) NOTES

Artichoke, globe N 

All of the commercial production of globe 

artichokes is in California. The artichokes 

are maintained in perennial culture in the 

same fields for 5 to 10 years. 

Asparagus N

Grown in the same field for < 20 years. 

Takes two years after planting to produce 

the first crop. Ideally, growers should 

wait at least four years from plowing 

under an old asparagus planting until 

replanting it to asparagus, to give the roots 

time to decompose and also to reduce the 

population of soil borne Fusarium. In a

virgin soil (free of Fusarium), the 

expected life of an asparagus field (any 

variety) is 15 - 20 years. Growers feel that 

peak production occurs in the 6th or 7th 

year, with the best production occurring 

during years 7 - 12. There is a decline of 

production of about 5% per year in the 

10th year and every year thereafter. After 

the 15th year, the field may no longer be 

economically profitable. Established 

asparagus growers recover their 

investment after the 5th year and years 5-

10 are their most profitable years.

Cactus N Grown in same areas for over 40 years.

Rhubarb N Grown in the same field for 8 to 10 years.

COMPARISON OF POTENTIAL RESIDUE LEVELS IN THE STALK, STEM, 

AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE COMMODITIES:

Magness, Markle, and Compton in 1971 classified food and feed crops based on 

predicting the potential for pesticide residues based on exposure of the edible parts to 
69

applied pesticides, which led to the development of the crop groups. All the leafy

vegetables commodities fit into two categories: Category VI and VII and are based on 

their potential exposure to pesticides. The majorities of the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

vegetables are in Category VII which includes “vegetables with edible parts, mainly

leaves, fully exposed to pesticides applied during the growing season”. These include 

“vegetables with edible parts, leaves, petioles, flower bracts, or stems, partially protected 

from direct contact with pesticides by outer leaves or leaf canopy generally removed 

prior to marketing”. These include globe artichoke, bamboo shoots, celery, celtuce, 

Florence fennel, kohlrabi, and rhubarb.

Since there is no crop group the current Leafy vegetable, except Brassica crop 

group 4 has been very successful in establishing 43 tolerances for the crop group, and 13 

for the leaf petiole subgroup 4B. The leaf petiole subgroup members will move from 

subgroup 4B to the proposed new Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole crop group. Based on 

existing tolerances in 40 CFR and the USDA FAS MRLdatabase, a comparison of these 

tolerances for the representative commodities are listed in Tables 31 and 32 for the U.S. 

and Codex MRL’s.

Comparison of asparagus U.S. tolerances and Codex tolerances show that in the 

case of carbaryl, and methomyl they are the same and for azoxystrobin, dimethoate, 

malathion, and permethrin the tolerances are higher in the U.S. (Tables 31 and 32). U.S. 

tolerances for celery in five cases are higher than Codex MRL (Table 32). For kohlrabi 

the one pesticide (azoxystrobin) has a Codex MRL at a higher level (Table 30). Palm 

hearts have a tolerance on glyphosate at 0.2 ppm (Table 31). 

Table 30. Tolerances established on Proposed Stalk and Stem Vegetables for Asparagus, 

Celtuce, and Kohlrabi. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; note that 

shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Asparagus (ppm) Celtuce (ppm) Kohlrabi (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

2,4-D 5 -- -- -- -- --

Abamectin -- -- 0.1 -- -- --

Acetamiprid -- -- 3 -- 1.2 --

Acibenzolar-S-methyl -- -- 0.25 -- 1 --

Azoxystrobin 0.04 0.01 30 -- 3 5

Benoxacor 0.01 -- 0.01 -- 0.01 --

Bensulide -- -- 0.15 -- 0.15 --

Beta-cyfluthrin -- -- 6 -- 2.5 --

Bifenthrin -- -- 3 -- 0.6 --

Boscalid -- -- 45 -- 3 5

Buprofezin -- -- 35 -- 12 --

Captan -- -- 0.05 -- 0.05 --

Carbaryl 15 15 3 -- 10 --

Carfentrazone-ethyl -- -- 0.1 -- 0.1 --
70

Asparagus (ppm) Celtuce (ppm) Kohlrabi (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Chlorantraniliprole 13 -- 13 -- 4 --

Chlorothalonil 0.1 -- -- -- 5 --

Chlorpyrifos 5 

(regional)

-- -- -- 1 --

Clethodim 1.7 -- 0.6 -- 3 --

Clopyralid 1 -- 2 --

Clothianidin -- -- 3 -- 1.9 --

Cryolite -- -- -- -- 7 --

Cyazofamid -- -- -- -- 1.2 --

Cyfluthrin -- -- 6 -- 2.5 --

Cymoxanil -- -- 6 -- -- --

Cyromazine -- -- 7 -- -- --

Cypermethrin -- -- -- -- 2 (1)

Cyprodinil -- -- -- -- 1 --

Cyromazine -- -- -- -- 10 --

d-Phenothrin 0.01 -- 0.01 -- 0.01 --

DCPA -- -- -- -- 5 --

Diazinon -- -- -- -- 0.7 0.2

Dicamba 4 -- -- -- -- --

Difenoconazole -- -- -- -- 1.9 --

Dimethoate 0.15 

(regional)

0.05 -- -- -- --

Dimethomorph -- -- 2 0.02

Dinotefuran -- -- 5 -- 1.4 --

Disulfoton 0.1 

(regional)

0.02 -- -- -- --

Diuron 7 -- -- -- -- --

Table 30. Tolerances established on Proposed Stalk and Stem Vegetables for Asparagus, 

Celtuce, and Kohlrabi. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; note that 

shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Asparagus (ppm) Celtuce (ppm) Kohlrabi (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Emamectin -- -- 0.1 -- 0.05 --

Esfenvalerate -- -- -- -- 2 

(regiona

l)

--

Famoxadone -- -- 25 -- -- --

Fenamidone -- -- 60 -- 5 --

Fenhexamid 0.02 -- -- -- -- --

Fenpropathrin -- -- -- -- 3 --

Flonicamid -- -- 4 -- 1.5 --

Fluazifop-p-butyl 3 

(regional)

-- -- -- -- --

Fluazinam -- -- -- -- 0.01 --
71

Asparagus (ppm) Celtuce (ppm) Kohlrabi (ppm)

Flubendiamide -- -- 11 -- 3 --

Fludioxonil -- -- 0.01 -- 2 --

Flumioxazin 0.02 -- 0.02 -- -- --

Fluopicolide -- -- 25 -- 5 --

Flutolanil -- -- -- -- 0.1 --

Fosetyl-Al 0.1 

(regional)

-- -- -- 60 --

Fluoxastrobin -- -- 4 -- -- --

Fosetyl-Al -- -- 100 -- -- --

Gamma Cyhalothrin -- -- -- -- 0.4 --

Glyphosate 0.5 -- 0.2 -- 0.2 --

Halosulfuron-methyl 0.8 -- -- -- -- --

Imidacloprid -- -- 6 -- 3.5 --

Indoxacarb -- -- 14 -- 12 --

Inorganic bromide 100 -- -- -- -- ---

Lambda Cyhalothrin -- -- -- -- 0.4 --

Linuron 7 -- -- -- -- --

Malathion 8 1 8 -- 8 --

Mancozeb 0.1

(negligibl

e residue)

0.1 -- -- -- --

Mandipropamid -- -- 20 -- 3 --

Maneb -- -- -- -- 10 --

Mesotrione 0.01 -- -- -- -- --

Metalaxyl 7 0.05 5 -- 0.1 --

Metaldehyde -- -- -- -- 2.5 --

Methomyl 2 2 -- -- 0.2 --

Methoxyfenozide -- -- 25 -- 7 --

Metribuzin 0.1 -- -- -- -- --

Myclobutanil 0.02 -- -- -- -- --

Table 30. Tolerances established on Proposed Stalk and Stem Vegetables for Asparagus, 

Celtuce, and Kohlrabi. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; note that 

shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Asparagus (ppm) Celtuce (ppm) Kohlrabi (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Napropamide 0.1 -- -- -- 0.1 --

Norflurazon 0.05 -- -- -- -- --

Novaluron -- -- -- -- 0.5 --

Paraquat dichloride 0.5 -- -- -- 0.05 --

Pendimethalin 0.15 -- -- -- 0.1 --

Pentachloronitrobenzene -- -- -- -- 0.1 --

Permethrin 2 1 5 -- -- --

Prometryn -- -- 0.5 -- -- --
72

Asparagus (ppm) Celtuce (ppm) Kohlrabi (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Propiconazole -- -- 5 -- -- --

Pymetrozine 0.04 -- 0.6 -- 0.5 --

Pyraclostrobin -- -- 29 -- 5 --

Pyridalyl -- -- 20 -- 3.5 --

Pyridate -- -- -- -- 0.03 --

Pyriproxyfen 2 -- 3 -- 0.7 --

S-metolachlor 0.1 -- 0.1 -- 0.6 --

Sethoxydim 4 -- 4 -- 5 --

Spinetoram 0.04 --- 8 -- 2 --

Spinosad 0.2 -- 8 -- 2 2

Spiromesifen -- -- 6 -- 2 --

Spirotetramat -- -- 9 -- 2.5 --

Sulfentrazone 0.15 -- -- -- 0.2 --

Tebuconazole 0.05 -- -- -- -- --

Tebufenozide -- -- 2 -- 5 --

Terbacil 0.4 -- -- -- -- --

Thiamethoxam -- -- 4 -- 4.5 --

Thiodicarb -- -- 35 -- -- --

Trifloxystrobin 0.07 -- 3.5 -- -- --

Triflumizole -- -- -- -- 8 --

Trifluralin 0.05 -- -- -- 0.05 --

Zeta-cypermethrin -- -- 10 -- 2 1

Table 31. Tolerances established on Proposed Stalk and Stem Vegetables for Florence 

Fennel, Artichoke, and Palm Hearts. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; 

note that shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Fennel, Florence, 

Fresh Leaves and 

Stalk (ppm)

Artichoke (ppm) Palm Heart (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Abamectin 0.1 -- -- -- -- --

Acephate 10 -- -- -- -- --

Acetamiprid 3 -- -- -- -- --

Acibenzolar-S-methyl 0.25 -- -- -- -- --

Azoxystrobin 30 10 4 5 -- --

Benoxacor 0.01 -- -- -- -- --

Bensulide 0.15 -- -- -- -- --

Beta-cyfluthrin 6 -- -- -- -- --

Bifenthrin 3 -- 1 -- -- --

Boscalid 45 5 -- -- -- --

Buprofezin 35 -- -- -- -- --

Captan 0.05 -- -- -- -- --

Carbaryl 3 -- -- -- -- --
73

Fennel, Florence, 

Fresh Leaves and 

Stalk (ppm)

Artichoke (ppm) Palm Heart (ppm)

Carfentrazone-ethyl 0.1 -- -- -- 0.1 --

Chlorantraniliprole 13 -- 4 -- -- --

Chlorothalonil 15 -- -- -- -- --

Clethodim 0.6 -- 1.2 -- -- --

Clothianidin 3 -- -- -- -- --

Cyfluthrin 6 -- -- -- -- --

Cymoxanil 6 -- -- -- --

Cyromazine 7 -- -- -- -- --

d-Phenothrin 0.01 -- 0.01 -- -- --

Diazinon 0.7 

(regional)

-- -- -- -- --

Deltamethrin -- -- 0.5 -- -- --

Dicloran 15 -- -- --

Diflubenzuron -- -- 6 -- -- --

Dimethoate 2 -- -- -- -- --

Dinotefuran 5 -- -- -- -- --

Diuron -- -- 1 -- -- --

Emamectin 0.1 -- -- -- -- --

Endosulfan 8 -- -- -- -- --

Esfenvalerate -- -- 1 -- -- --

Famoxadone 25 -- -- -- -- --

Fenamidone 60 -- -- -- -- --

Flonicamid 4 -- -- -- -- --

Fluazifop-p-butyl -- -- -- -- -- --

Flubendiamide 11 -- -- -- -- --

Fludioxonil 0.01 -- -- -- -- --

Flumioxazin 0.02 -- -- -- -- --

Fluopicolide 25 -- -- -- -- --

Table 31. Tolerances established on Proposed Stalk and Stem Vegetables for Florence 

Fennel, Artichoke, and Palm Hearts. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; 

note that shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Fennel, Florence, 

Fresh Leaves and 

Stalk (ppm)

Artichoke (ppm) Palm Heart (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Fluoxastrobin 4 -- -- -- -- --

Fosetyl-Al 100 -- -- -- -- --

Glyphosate 0.2 -- 0.2 -- 0.2 --

Halosulfuron-methyl -- -- -- -- -- --

Imidacloprid 6 -- 2.5 -- -- --

Indoxacarb 14 -- -- -- -- --

Linuron 0.5 -- -- -- -- --
74

Fennel, Florence, 

Fresh Leaves and 

Stalk (ppm)

Artichoke (ppm) Palm Heart (ppm)

(regional)

Malathion 8 -- -- -- -- --

Mancozeb 5 -- -- -- -- --

Mandipropamid 20 -- -- -- -- --

Maneb 5 -- -- -- -- --

Mesotrione -- -- -- -- -- --

Metalaxyl 5 -- 0.05 -- -- --

Metaldehyde -- -- 0.07 -- -- --

Methamidophos 1 -- -- -- -- --

Methidathion -- -- 0.05 0.05 -- --

Methomyl 3 -- -- -- -- --

Methoxyfenozide 25 -- 3 -- -- --

Mevinphos 1 -- -- -- -- --

Myclobutanil -- -- 0.9 -- -- --

Naled 3 -- -- -- -- --

Napropamide -- -- -- -- -- --

Oxamyl 10 -- -- -- -- --

Oxyfluorfen -- -- 0.05 -- -- --

Paraquat dichloride -- -- 0.05 -- -- --

Pendimethalin -- -- 0.1 -- -- --

Permethrin 5 -- 5 -- -- --

Prometryn 0.5 -- -- -- -- --

Propiconazole 5 -- -- -- -- --

Propyzamide -- -- 0.01 -- -- --

Pymetrozine 0.6 -- -- -- -- --

Pyraclostrobin 29 -- -- -- -- --

Pyridalyl 20 -- -- -- -- --

Pyriproxyfen 3 -- 2 -- -- --

Quinoxyfen -- -- 1.4 -- -- --

S-metoachlor 0.1 -- -- -- -- --

Sethoxydim 4 -- 5 

(regional)

-- -- --

Spinetoram 8 -- 0.3 -- -- --

Spinosad 8 -- 0.3 -- -- --

Table 31. Tolerances established on Proposed Stalk and Stem Vegetables for Florence 

Fennel, Artichoke, and Palm Hearts. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; 

note that shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Fennel, Florence, 

Fresh Leaves and 

Stalk (ppm)

Artichoke (ppm) Palm Heart (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Spiromesifen 6 -- -- -- -- --

Spirotetramat 9 -- -- -- -- --
75

Streptomycin 0.25 -- -- -- -- --

Tebufenozide 2 -- -- -- -- --

Thiamethoxam 4 -- 0.45 -- -- --

Thiobencarb 0.2 

(regional)

-- -- -- -- --

Thiodicarb 35 -- -- -- -- --

Trifloxystrobin 3.5 -- -- -- -- --

Trifluralin 0.05 -- -- -- -- --

Zeta-cypermethrin 10 -- -- -- -- --

Zinc phosphide -- -- 0.01 

(regional)

-- -- --

Table 32. Tolerances established on Proposed Leafy Petiole Vegetables for Celery, 

Cardoon, and Edible Burdock, Edible Tops. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 

21, 2011; note that shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Celery (ppm) Cardoon (ppm)

Burdock, Edible 

Tops (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

2,4-D -- -- -- -- 0.1 --

Abamectin 0.1 -- 0.1 -- -- --

Acephate 10 -- -- -- -- --

Acetamiprid 3 -- 3 -- -- --

Acibenzolar-S-methyl 0.25 -- 0.25 -- -- --

Azoxystrobin 30 5 30 -- 50 --

Benoxacor 0.01 -- 0.01 -- -- --

Bensulide 0.15 -- 0.15 -- -- --

Beta-cyfluthrin 6 -- 6 -- -- --

Bifenthrin 3 -- 3 -- -- --

Boscalid 45 -- 45 -- -- --

Buprofezin 35 -- 35 -- -- --

Captan 0.05 -- 0.05 -- 0.05 --

Carbaryl 3 -- 3 -- 75 --

Carfentrazone-ethyl 0.1 -- 0.1 -- 0.1 --

Chlorantraniliprole 13 (7) 13 -- -- --

Chlorothalonil 15 (10) -- -- -- --

Clethodim 0.6 -- 0.6 -- -- --

Clothianidin 3 -- 3 -- -- --

Cyfluthrin 6 -- 6 -- -- --

Cymoxanil 6 -- 6 -- -- --

Cyprodinil -- -- -- -- 10 --

Cyromazine 7 (4) 7 -- -- --

d-Phenothrin 0.01 -- 0.01 -- 0.01 --

Diazinon 0.7 

(regional)

-- -- -- -- --

Dicloran 15 -- -- -- -- --

Dimethoate 2 (0.5) -- -- -- --

Dinotefuran 5 -- 5 -- -- --
76

Celery (ppm) Cardoon (ppm)

Burdock, Edible 

Tops (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Emamectin 0.1 -- 0.1 -- -- --

Endosulfan 8 -- -- -- -- --

Famoxadone 25 -- 25 -- -- --

Fenamidone 60 -- 60 -- -- --

Flonicamid 4 -- 4 -- -- --

Flubendiamide 11 -- 11 -- -- --

Fludioxonil 0.01 -- 0.01 -- 30 --

Flumioxazin 0.02 -- 0.02 -- -- --

Fluopicolide 25 -- 25 -- 15 --

Fluoxastrobin 4 -- 4 -- -- --

Fosetyl-Al 100 -- 100 -- -- --

Glyphosate 0.2 -- 0.2 -- 0.2 --

Table 32. Tolerances established on Proposed Leaf Petiole Vegetables for Celery, 

Cardoon, and Edible Burdock, Edible Tops. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 

21, 2011; note that shading indicates a crop group tolerance)

Celery (ppm) Cardoon (ppm)

Burdock, Edible 

Tops (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Imidacloprid 6 -- 6 -- 4 --

Indoxacarb 14 -- 14 -- -- --

Linuron 0.5 

(regional)

-- -- -- -- --

Malathion 8 -- 8 -- -- --

Mancozeb 5 -- -- --

Mandipropamid 20 20 20 -- -- --

Maneb 5 -- -- -- -- --

Metalaxyl 5 -- 5 -- 15 --

Methamidophos 1 -- -- -- -- --

Methomyl 3 -- -- -- -- --

Methoxyfenozide 25 15 25 -- 30 --

Mevinphos 1 -- -- -- -- --

Naled 3 -- -- -- -- --

Oxamyl 10 -- -- -- -- --

Permethrin 5 (2 5 -- -- --

Prometryn 0.5 -- 0.5 -- -- --

Propiconazole 5 -- 5 -- -- --

Pymetrozine 0.6 -- 0.6 -- -- --

Pyraclostrobin 29 -- 29 -- 16 --

Pyridalyl 20 -- 20 -- -- --

Pyriproxyfen 3 -- 3 -- 2 --

S-metolachlor 0.1 -- 0.1 -- -- --

Sethoxydim 4 -- 4 -- -- --
77

Celery (ppm) Cardoon (ppm)

Burdock, Edible 

Tops (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex US Codex

Spinetoram 8 -- 8 -- 10 --

Spinosad 8 2 8 -- 10 --

Spiromesifen 6 -- 6 -- -- --

Spirotetramat 9 4 9 -- -- --

Streptomycin 0.25 -- -- -- -- --

Tebufenozide 2 -- 2 -- -- --

Thiamethoxam 4 -- 4 -- -- --

Thiobencarb 0.2 

(regional)

-- 35 -- -- --

Thiodicarb 35 -- -- -- -- --

Trifloxystrobin 3.5 1 3.5 -- -- --

Trifluralin 0.05 --- -- -- 0.05 --

Zeta-cypermethrin 10 -- 10 -- -- --

Table 33. Tolerances established on Proposed Leaf Petiole Vegetables for Chinese Celery

and Rhubarb. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; note that shading indicates 

a crop group tolerance)

Celery, Chinese (ppm) Rhubarb (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex

Abamectin 0.1 -- 0.1 --

Acephate -- -- -- --

Acetamiprid 3 -- 3 --

Acibenzolar-S-methyl 0.25 -- 0.25 --

Azoxystrobin 30 70 30 --

Benoxacor 0.01 -- 0.01 --

Bensulide 0.15 -- 0.15 --

Beta-cyfluthrin 6 -- 6 --

Bifenthrin 3 -- 3 --

Boscalid 45 -- 45 --

Buprofezin 35 -- 35 --

Captan 0.05 -- 0.05 --

Carbaryl 3 -- 3 --

Carfentrazone-ethyl 0.1 -- 0.1 --

Chlorantraniliprole 13 -- 13 --

Chlorothalonil -- -- 4 --

Clethodim 0.6 -- 0.6 --

Clothianidin 3 -- 3 --

Cyfluthrin 6 -- 6 --

Cymoxanil 6 -- 6 --

Cyromazine 7 -- 7 --

d-Phenothrin 0.01 -- 0.01 --
78

Celery, Chinese (ppm) Rhubarb (ppm)

Diazinon -- -- -- --

Dichlobenil -- -- 0.06 --

Dicloran -- -- 10 --

Dimethoate -- -- -- --

Dinotefuran 5 -- 5 --

Emamectin 0.1 -- 0.1 --

Endosulfan -- -- -- --

Famoxadone 25 -- 25 --

Fenamidone 60 -- 60 --

Flonicamid 4 -- 4 --

Fluazifop-p-butyl -- -- 0.5 

(regional)

--

Flubendiamide 11 -- 11 --

Fludioxonil 0.01 -- 0.01 --

Flumioxazin 0.02 -- 0.02 --

Fluopicolide 25 -- 25 --

Table 33. Tolerances established on Proposed Leaf Petiole Vegetables for Chinese Celery

and Rhubarb. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; note that shading indicates 

a crop group tolerance)

Celery, Chinese (ppm) Rhubarb (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex

Fluoxastrobin 4 -- 4 --

Fosetyl-Al 100 -- 100 --

Glyphosate 0.2 -- 0.2 --

Halosulfuron-methyl -- -- 0.05 --

Imidacloprid 6 -- 6 --

Indoxacarb 14 -- 14 --

Linuron -- -- 0.5 --

Malathion 8 -- 8 --

Mancozeb -- -- -- --

Mandipropamid 20 -- 20 --

Maneb -- -- -- --

Mesotrione -- -- 0.01 --

Metalaxyl 5 -- 5 --

Methamidophos -- -- -- --

Methomyl -- -- 0.2 --

Methoxyfenozide 25 -- 25 --

Mevinphos -- -- -- --

Naled -- -- -- --

Napropamide -- -- 0.1 --
79

Celery, Chinese (ppm) Rhubarb (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex

Oxamyl -- -- -- --

Paraquat dichloride -- -- 0.05 --

Permethrin 5 -- 5 --

Prometryn 0.5 -- 0.5 --

Propiconazole 5 -- 5 --

Propyzamide -- -- 0.1

(regional)

--

Pymetrozine 0.6 -- 0.6 --

Pyraclostrobin 29 -- 29 --

Pyridalyl 20 -- 20 --

Pyriproxyfen 3 -- 3 --

S-metoachlor 0.1 -- 0.1 --

Sethoxydim 4 -- 0.3 

(regional)

--

Spinetoram 8 -- 8 --

Spinosad 8 -- 8 --

Spiromesifen 6 -- 6 --

Spirotetramat 9 -- 9 --

Table 33. Tolerances established on Proposed Leafy Petiole Vegetables for Chinese 

Celery and Rhubarb. (FASonline: mrldatabase.com; tolerances as of May 21, 2011; note that shading 

indicates a crop group tolerance)

Celery, Chinese 

(ppm)

Rhubarb (ppm)

Compound US Codex US Codex

Streptomycin -- -- -- --

Tebufenozide 2 -- 2 --

Thiamethoxam 4 -- 4 --

Thiobencarb -- -- -- --

Thiodicarb 35 -- 35 --

Trifloxystrobin 3.5 -- 3.5 --

Trifluralin -- -- -- --

Zeta-cypermethrin 10 -- 10 --

A comparison of established tolerances on the proposed Stalk, stem, and leaf 

petiole crop group members also supports that residue levels will be similar between 

members of the proposed crop group (See Tables 30, 31, 32). Table 30 presents 

comparative tolerances for proposed stalk and stem vegetables for asparagus, celtuce, and 

kohlrabi, Table 31 presents tolerances established on tolerances for proposed stalk and 

stem vegetables Florence fennel, artichoke, and palm hearts, while Table 32 presents 

tolerances established on Leaf petiole vegetables for celery, cardoon, and edible burdock, 
80

edible tops, and Table 33 presents tolerances for Leaf petiole vegetables for Chinese 

celery and rhubarb. Comparative tolerances for twenty pesticides show that for eleven 

pesticides have the higher tolerances for celery than for asparagus, four tolerances are 

higher for asparagus, and six are at the same level. The proposed representative 

commodities (asparagus and celery) also cover over 99 % of the total Stalk, stem, and 

leaf petiole crop group commodity production in the U.S., and they also tend to be an 

equal or more conservative estimate of tolerances and potential residues. Having both 

asparagus and celery will adequately help in the establishment of crop group tolerances. 

We expect that all proposed members of the proposed Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

vegetable crop group will have similar residue levels based on similarities of the raw 

agricultural commodities (RAC’s), cultural practices, and pest problems. 

REQUIRED NUMBER OF CROP FIELD TRIALS FOR THE BRASSIA HEAD 

AND STEM VEGETABLE AND COMPARISON OF EPA CROP PRODUCTION 

REGIONS WITH THE NAFTA CROP PRODUCTION REGIONS:

A reevaluation of crop production data from the 2007 USDA Agricultural Census 

shows that the proposed Brassica head and stem crop group representative commodity

has not changed significantly from the 1991 data used in the current field trial guidelines 

(EPA OPPTS 860.1500). However, the field trial regions may have changed and would 

be updated by a future HED ChemSAC workgroup. If a crop group tolerance is being 

pursued the number of field trials for the individual commodities asparagus and celery

may be reduced from 16 to 12, depending which field trial sampling scenario is followed

(Table 34). Also, the concept of dietary consumption will be reviewed sometime in the 

future as a guideline revision. 

Table 34. EPA Crop Production Regions Suggested Distribution of the 

Proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group Field Trials > 3 for Both the 

Representative Commodities and other Commodities in the Crop Group based on 

Current EPA Guidelines (OPPTS 860.1500) 

Commodity Field 

Trials 

#

Region 

# 1

Region 

# 2

Region 

# 3

Region 

# 5

Region 

# 6

Region 

# 8

Region 

# 10

Region 

# 12

Asparagus* 8 1 2 3 2

Celery 8 2 1 5

Cabbage, 

Chinese

3 1 2

Total** 12 or 

16 

1 1** 2 2 1 6 or 

8**

1**

*Asparagus and celery are the proposed representative commodities for the Stalk, Stem, 

and Leaf Petiole Crop Group. 

** Total for a Crop Group tolerance number of trials are reduced by 25 % for a crop 

group tolerance.
81

Recently Canada has released a Regulatory Directive 2010-05 (Table 35) that will 

update their field trial requirements and will be implemented after December, 2011 

((http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_pol-guide/dir2010-05/index-eng.php . The Canadian 

revisions are shown in Table 35.

Table 35. Canada Revisions to Residue Chemistry Crop Field Trial Requirements, 

December 21, 2010. Canada Regulatory Directive DIR 2010-05. (http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_pol-guide/dir2010-05/index-eng.php

Commodity Field 

Trials #

Region 

1A

Region 

5

Region 

5A

Region 

5B

Region 

12

Asparagus 3 - 2 1 -

Celery 5 - 2 - 3 -

Rhubarb 2 1 - - - 1

The location of each commodity in the proposed Stalk, Stem, Petiole Crop Group

is shown in Table 36. The most common EPA Crop Productions for this group are 

Regions 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 190, and 12. Regions 3 and 13 represent Florida, Guam, and 

Hawaii.

Table 36. EPA Crop Production Regions for the Proposed Stalk, Stem, Petiole Crop 

Group. [Representative Commodities (*) for the Crop Group.

Commodity** 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Agave X X X X X X X X

Aloe vera X X X X X

Asparagus* X X X X X X X X X X X X

Bamboo shoots X X

Burdock, edible, 

tops

X

Cardoon X X X

Celery* X X X X

Celery, Chinese X X X X X X X X X X

Celtuce X X

Florence Fennel X X

Fern, edible X X X

Fuki X X

Kale, sea X X

Kohlrabi X X X

Palm hearts X X X

Prickly pear, pads X X X X X X X X X

Rhubarb X X X X X X

Udo X

Zuiki X

* Proposed Representative commodities are Asparagus and Celery.

** Commodities that are not representative commodities have field trial regions 

generally based on the USDA Plants Database, 2006. 
82

CODEX CLASSIFICATION OF PROPOSED COMMODITIES AND EPA FOOD 

AND FEED COMMODITY VOCABULARY: See Table 37 Comparisons of Stalk, 

Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group 22 and Codex ( ). (Data prepared by Dr’s. Yuen-Shaung 

NG, Dr. Bernard A. Schneider, US EPA and Bill Barney, USDA IR-4, 2007, 2011).

Another important aspect of crop grouping is the harmonization effort with the 

Codex Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds. The proposed EPA crop group for 

Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole is very similar to the corresponding Codex Stalk and Stem 

Vegetables (Group 017). The Codex Group 017, Stalk and Stem Vegetables consist of 

ten commodities (Table 37). The U.S. has seventeen proposed commodities and twelve 

are direct matches. There are six commodities proposed in the U.S. crop group not yet in 

Codex (agave, Chinese celery, edible fern, fuki, udo, and zuiki. Codex has witloof 

chicory sprouts (VS 469) that is not being proposed for the U.S. group since its cultural 

practices are much different than other members of the group. Witloof chicory is also 

called Belgium endive. A revision of the Codex Classification is underway with 

consideration to include adding new commodities, creating subgroups, and selecting 

representative commodities. 

We continue to note that the current Codex crop group does not have 

representative commodities. A revision of the Codex Classification is underway with 

consideration to include adding new commodities, creating subgroups, and selecting 

representative commodities. The IR-4/EPA Crop Grouping Working Group and the 

International Crop Grouping Consulting Committee (ICGCC) are making every effort to 

cooperate with the Codex revision effort. The new Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable Crop Group and the representative commodities proposed in this petition 

would facilitate the harmonization of the U.S. and the Codex crop classification systems. 

In the next proposed revision to the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds we 

would expect these changes to be considered as part of the Codex Stalk and Stem 

Vegetables Group in the harmonization effort that Bill Barney, USDA IR - 4 is 

coordinating with the Codex delegation. Therefore, this proposal will not only increase 

harmonization with the Canadian and NAFTA crop grouping system, but it is compatible 

with the international system of Codex. The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 placed 

increased emphasis on using Codex MRLs in setting tolerances for pesticides in the U.S. 

Table 37. EPA/Codex Stalk, Stem, and Petiole Vegetable Crop Group Comparison. 

The Codex Group Name is “Stalk and Stem Vegetables (Group 017, Code Number 

VS 78).” (Based on Ng and Schneider, 2011).

LETTER CODEX 

COMMODITY 

NUMBER

CODEX COMMODITY NAME

(* Proposed Commodity)

PROPOSED 

EPA PREFER COMMODITY 

NAME

- - - AGAVE

VR 4547 GLOBE ARTICHOKE, SEE GROUP 017; 

ARTICHOKE GLOBE

NOT INCLUDED

- - - ALOE VERA

VS 620 ARTICHOKE, GLOBE NOT INCLUDED

VS 621 ASPARAGUS ASPARAGUS

VS 622 BAMBOO SHOOTS BAMBOO SHOOTS
83

LETTER CODEX 

COMMODITY 

NUMBER

CODEX COMMODITY NAME

(* Proposed Commodity)

PROPOSED 

EPA PREFER COMMODITY 

NAME

VS 623 CARDOON CARDOON

VS 624 CELERY CELERY

VS 4595 CELERY LEAVES (SEE GROUP 027 

HERBS)

NONE CELERY INCLUDES LEAF AND 

STALKS

- - - CELERY, CHINESE

VS 625 CELTUCE CELTUCE

VA 380 FENNEL, BULB FENNEL, FLORENCE, STALK

VA 4163 FENNEL, SWEET, SEE FENNEL, ROMAN FENNEL, FLORENCE, STALK

- - - FERN, EDIBLE

- - - FUKI

FI 356 PRICKLY PEAR PRICKLY PEAR, PADS

FI 4133 INDIAN FIG, SEE PRICKLY PEAR PRICKLY PEAR, PADS

VB 405 KOHLRABI KOHLRAB

VS 626 PALM HEARTS PALM HEARTS

VS 627 RHUBARB RHUBARB

VL 499 SEA KALE KALE, SEA

VS 78 STALK AND STEM VEGETABLES STALK, STEM, and LEAFY VEGETABLE 

GROUP

- - - UDO

VS 469 WITLOOF CHICORY (SPROUTS) NOT INCLUDED

- - - ZUIKI

PREPARATION, FOOD FORMS, COOKING METHODS, SPECIFIC USES, 

MEDICINAL USES, FRUIT YIELDS, AND MARKETING STANDARDS FOR 

PROPOSED MEMBERS OF THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE 

VEGETABLE GROUP:

The members of this proposed crop group have similar food preparations, uses, 

and all are consumed fresh or consumed raw or cooked from frozen in various recipes 

including salads, soups, stews, stir fried, steamed, microwaved, roasted, baked, and 

boiled. Food forms include raw, cooked, boiled, blanched, steamed, and shredded. 

Detailed preparation and cooking methods and specific uses for the Stalk, stem, and leaf 

vegetable crop group are listed in Table 37. Agave can be used as nectar or sugar syrup 

substitute or for making tequila. Bamboo shoots can be pickled or fermented. Rhubarb 

is commonly used to make pies and as a food thickener in pie ingredients. There are also

ornamental uses for some of these crops such as agave.

Table 38. Preparation, Cooking Methods and Specific Uses for the Stalk, Stem, and 

Leaf Petiole Vegetable Commodities:

Commodity Preparation for Cooking and Specific Uses

Agave The flower stalk may be cut, usually prior to full bloom, and roasted and 

eaten as a vegetable. The central stem with root attached (known as the 

heart) is also roasted prior to eating. A traditional method is to remove the 

leaves, dig a pit around the plant, fill it with coals, and slow-roast it for 

many hours before digging it up and eating it. The flowers may be boiled 

and are often served with eggs for breakfast. The sweet sap from the flower 

stalk may be fermented to produce pulque, mezcal, or tequila (depending on 
84

Commodity Preparation for Cooking and Specific Uses

the species of origin and type of processing) or processed into agave nectar 

which is used as a home and commercial sweetener. The juice of some 

species, extracted by cutting the bud in the center of the rosette to form a 

basin in which the sap collects, may be consumed fresh and is known as 

aguamiel Used as a liquor, medicinal, fiber, food thickener, stem vegetable, 

root vegetable, sweetener, soap making, housing, musical instruments, 

ornamental, needles and pins for sewing

Asparagus Asparagus should be used as soon as possible after being cut. The white 

variety must be peeled before use, as it develops a tough and bitter skin 

during the blanching process. Asparagus can be prepared in nearly any 

manner and is often boiled, fried, made into soups and stews, cooked and 

used in salads, roasted, microwaved, and stir-fried. Asparagus is also often 

canned. It has a very short cooking time, and long cooking should be 

avoided to prevent the breakdown of flavor and texture.

Bamboo, shoots Young shoots are usually cooked, although some species can be eaten fresh. 

Other species contain toxins and need to be cooked with several changes of 

water before they are safe to eat. It is important to properly identify the 

species of bamboo before cooking is attempted. The shoots are used in stirfries, soups, curries, and stews as a vegetable. They may also be pickled or 

fermented and used as a condiment. The sap of the young stalks may be 

made into a wine or a soft drink. The pith of very young stalks may also be 

pickled. The seeds are pickled, candied, or used for making beer Vegetable, 

condiment, liquor, beverage, tea, animal fodder, ornamental, barrier, 

building material, cloth, paper, household utensils, flooring, furniture, 

roofing, tools, shoes, rope, packing material, charcoal production, musical 

instruments, containers, medicinal uses.

Burdock, edible, 

tops

The root is the primary part valued, but the young stalks and leaves are also 

consumed, like asparagus and spinach. The peeled stem is also eaten. Very 

young roots may be eaten raw, but older roots are more often peeled and 

cooked. May be steamed, boiled, or fried and used as a typical root 

vegetable. The root may also be cut into strips and dried for later use. The 

root is used to produce a sweetener suitable for use by diabetics, and is used 

to make a popular soft drink in the UK. Roots have a mild flavor when 

young, which grows stronger as the plant ages. If the root has a bitter 

flavor, soaking before use is recommended. The young leaves may be eaten 

raw or cooked, like spinach, and have a mucilaginous texture when cooked. 

The young stalks and branches are also eaten raw or cooked, preferably after 

peeling. The petioles are used as a substitute for cardoon, and the flower 

stalks are peeled for the white pith inside, which is tender and delicate, and 

usually steamed or boiled and served like asparagus. The seeds can be 

sprouted and eaten like bean sprouts or pressed to produce an edible drying 

oil.

Cardoon The thickened leaf petioles are eaten as a vegetable. They are usually tied 

up before harvest to blanch the inner stems and thus reduce the bitterness, 

and they are nearly always eaten cooked. The raw petioles are very bitter, 

but are eaten in some places, particularly after being marinated. The flower 

buds may be eaten much like artichokes. Cardoon is much less popular 

today as a vefgetable but remains a common vegetable in Spain and Italy, as 

well as some cultivation in Asia and South America. In addition to its use 
85

Commodity Preparation for Cooking and Specific Uses

as a vegetable, cardoon is a source of vegetable rennet used to make 

vegetarian and vegan cheeses. 

Celery As vegetable celery stalks are used whole or chopped for use in dishes such 

as soups or stews. Celery seed is dried and used whole as a spice vegetable, 

seasoning, or in salads.

Celery, Chinese The stems may be dark green, yellow, or pale green to white and are 

sometimes blanched by piling dirt around the base. Mainly grown for its 

strongly aromatic leaves and stalks which are cut like parsley, the whole 

plant top is often chopped up for use. Rarely if ever eaten fresh, Chinese 

celery is an important Chinese and Vietnamese vegetable that adds flavor to 

dishes such as soups and stir fries. The leaves themselves may be used as a 

culinary herb, and both the leaves and stalks can be dried for later use 

Boiled or used as a potherb. Both Chinese celery and American celery

are grown for their edible stalks and leaves. The leaves and stalks are 

cut, chopped and cooked in soups and stews for flavoring. Leaves may 

be dried for use as an herb and use in soups. The Chinese use more 

American celery for cooking, since it has a milder taste and is tenderer. 

The Chinese celery has a more aromatic smell and stronger flavor than 

American celery. Both are stir-fried or use fresh in salads. 

Fennel, Florence Young leaves particularly are used in salad mixes, although the leaves are 

considered much less desirable than the stem due to the milky sap that forms 

soon after it matures. The flavor of celtuce is said to be delicate and unique, 

and the texture is crisp and tender. The stem is edible raw, but is usually 

cooked or pickled before eating. The stem should be peeled before 

consumption. Before going to market the lower leaves are usually removed 

leaving only the stem and a plume of young leaves at the top. The leaves 

and stem are separated and the leaves may be used fresh or cooked. The 

stem is usually peeled and may be eaten raw, but is more frequently 

chopped up and cooked by boiling or stir-frying. However, the vast 

majority of the celtuce grown in China is pickled and sold commercially 

Vegetable, salad ingredient, pickling, and medicinal uses. Most parts of the 

plant are used fresh; eaten raw or cooked.

Fern, edible Immature fronds, called crosiers, buckhorns or fiddleheads are used in soups 

or boiled and served on toast. They are also pickled.

Fuki The main part of the plant consumed is the long petiole, which is cooked 

much like rhubarb. It can be boiled, pickled, or preserved in miso. After 

boiling it can be baked, or used in winter soups. In Japan, it is traditionally 

salted and soaked in water before cooking to remove the “harshness”, or 

some of the bitter flavor. The flower buds may be eaten green with miso, or 

boiled in soy sauce Vegetable, medicinal, ornamental, ground cover, as 

umbrellas for children.

Kale, sea Young shoots may be used like asparagus, usually cooked but sometimes 

used fresh in salads. They are most often steamed and if not overcooked 

they will retain a pleasant crispness. The root is also edible and can be 

roasted and eaten as a vegetable. It is rich in starch and sugar. The flower 

buds and heads are also cooked and eaten somewhat like broccoli, and are 

said to have a sweet flavor. The mature leaves can also be eaten, much like 

collards, although they can be tough and somewhat bitter Stalk vegetable, 

like asparagus. Salads; leaves sometimes as potherb. Edible flower heads 
86

Commodity Preparation for Cooking and Specific Uses

like broccoli

Kohlrabi Although the primary crop is actually the swollen, bulbous, stem which 

grows above ground, it is prepared much like a root vegetable and is 

sometimes referred as such. The stems are typically peeled before use, 

although this may not be necessary for very small ones. It may be sliced 

and used fresh as a snack or appetizer with dip or a smear, grated and used 

in salads, either fresh or after being briefly blanched to sweeten it. It can be 

boiled, baked, fried, or steamed and may be cooked quickly to retain its 

crispness or slow roasted to obtain a softer texture. It is used in vegetables 

dishes, soups, casseroles, and stir-fries. The leaves may also be eaten and 

can be prepared much like kale or collards, but the tough petioles and midribs should be removed and the flavor is not as desirable as other leaf crops. 

They should be blanched before consumption and may be tough. Very 

young leaves from thinning of kohlrabi plantings may be used as salad 

greens.

Palm hearts Heart of palm is typically eaten in salads. The center core or cabbage of the 

plant is edible and creamy white. The edible part consists of the base of the 

young developing fronds or tender leaves from the meristem before they 

expand and green. Also the young unfolding leaves or fronds of Arenga

(sugar palms) are used as a green vegetable. The fruit (drupe) of the sawpalmetto is edible, recently, dried and used as a pharmaceutical extract.

Prickly, pear, 

pads (Cactus)

Most pulp is consumed fresh after chilling. Care must be taken to remove 

the spines and glochids (fine spines). Glochids are usually removed by 

mechanical brushing. Pulp can be removed by gripping the fruit on the two 

ends and cutting out the pulp, which is the size of a golf ball. Lime or 

lemon juice can add flavor to fresh fruit. Pulp can be dried or cooked and 

made into jelly, candy and preserves; pulp is used in ice cream, milkshakes, 

fruit salads, compotes, sorbets, puree, jams, marmalades, wines, and soft 

drinks. Pulp is also added to some Indian and Mexican savory dishes. 

Flowers are sometimes consumed raw. Seeds are swallowed whole while 

eating the fruit or consumed after drying, roasting, or grinding. Immature 

young stems (pads or nopales) are consumed as vegetables (cooked and 

used like French beans) or pickles. Spineless varieties can be entirely free 

of the large visible spines, but still have glochids. Opuntia engelmannii var. 

lindheimeri fruit are consumed raw. Fruit can be processed into preserves, 

syrups, fermented juice, tuna cheese, and tea.

Rhubarb Rhubarb stems are often peeled and/or de-stringed prior to use, although 

whether this is done may depend on the individual stalk and the preference 

of the cook. Acidity varies greatly by individual plant. Care should be 

taken to remove all traces of the leaves before eaten. Rhubarb is almost 

always cooked before consumption (although sometimes eaten fresh with 

sugar), usually boiled until soft (45 minutes to an hour or more). It is most 

often paired with fruit, particularly in pies, jams, and preserves, due to its 

acidity. However, it is also cooked with meat, in soups, or as part of a 

savory tart or vegetable dish. Vegetable or almost like a fruit in sauces, 

jams, jellies, and pies.

Udo The blanched stalks are mild in flavor and considered a delicacy in Japan, 

China, and in higher class restaurants. Stalks are mild in flavor and 

considered a delicacy in Japan, China, and in higher class restaurants Prior 
87

Commodity Preparation for Cooking and Specific Uses

to use; shoots are boiled in salt water, or are sliced and held in cold water, to 

remove a turpentine-like resin. They are then eaten raw as a salad or 

cooked. They are often cut up and added to miso soup and other dishes. 

The flavor may be slightly lemony.

Zuiki The aroid petiole is sold whole (approximately 1 m long) or cut into smaller 

sections with the leaf blade completely removed. In Vietnam, some of the 

leaf blade is left on the petiole. The young leaves and petioles are cooked as 

a vegetable. Zuiki (bạc hà) is a key ingredient in making a Vietnamese 

soup called canh chua (sour soup). The epidermis of the petiole is peeled 

and then sliced in cross sections and slightly blanched in soup to retain its 

crisp texture. The petioles may also be peeled and consumed raw in salads

The Stalk and stem and leaf petiole vegetables cooking ingredient equivalents are 

listed in Table 39. For example, one pound of asparagus is equal to 16 to 20 spears. One 

pound of celery stalks is equal to four cups, and one pound of rhubarb stalks is equal to 

four to eight stalks.

Table 39. Cooking Ingredient Equivalents for the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetables. (e-cookbooks, www.e-cookbooks.net/ingredeq.htm).

Commodity 

Ingredient

Amount Equivalent

Asparagus, fresh 1 lb 16 – 20 spears

3 cups trimmed

2 1⁄2 cups cooked

Asparagus, frozen 10 oz 2 cups

equals 1 1/2

Asparagus, canned 14 1⁄2 - 16 oz 12 – 18 spears

Celery 1 bunch 1 lb untrimmed 

2 cups sliced or diced

2 -3 medium ribs 1 cup chopped or sliced

1 lb stalks 4 cups chopped

1 medium bunch 4 to 6 servings

Hearts of Palm, 

canned

14 oz 5 – 6 stalks

Kohlrabi 2 lb 4 medium bulbs

3 1⁄2 cups cubed cooked

Rhubarb, fresh 1 lb 2 cups cooked

4 to 8 stalks

MEDICINAL USES OF PROPOSED STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE 

VEGETABLE CROP GROUP: 
88

There are several medicinal uses of the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetables 

and these are discussed in Table 40. Celery and Chinese celery may be useful in 

reducing blood pressure. Several are useful in treating stomach ailments.

Table 40. Medicinal Uses for the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable 

Commodities:

Commodity Medicinal Uses

Agave Many traditional medicinal uses in Central and South America such 

as Agave extracts are used for their anti-colic, anti-inflammatory and 

anti-spasmodic properties.

Aloe vera Stomach aliments.

Asparagus Various folk remedies; a diuretic and laxative.

Bamboo, shoots Chinese medicine has long used bamboo to treat infections. Other 

Eastern medicinal systems, like Indian traditional medicine, use 

bamboo to concoct a tonic that helps alleviate symptoms of

respiratory diseases. Bamboo is also used to treat fevers, resolve 

phlegm, and relieve lung inflammation.

Burdock, edible, 

tops

Much used as a medicinal plant, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine 

and as a home remedy in parts of Europe, mainly as a general detoxifier and 

diuretic.

Cardoon Used in herbal medicine for liver and for gall bladder ailments.

Celery Celery contains vitamin C and several other active compounds that 

promote health, including phthalides, which may help lower 

cholesterol, blood pressure.

Celery, Chinese Helps regulate blood pressure.

Celtuce In Chinese herbal medicine used for stimulating hair growth, improving 

milk quality for nursing mothers, and in the treatment of kidney disease

Fennel, Florence Home remedy for digestive ailments.

Fuki Various folk remedies; the juice is used as a remedy for snakebite in China.

Kohlrabi Leaf is considered a digestive and tonic.

Prickly, pear, 

pads (Cactus)

Pads, flowers and fruit are used for medicinal purposes. Plants are used to 

treat kidney ailments, burns and diabetes; diuretic, analgesic, cardiotonic, 

laxative, and antiparasitic properties. Juice is used to treat nausea, fever, 

and ulcers. Roasted fruit is used to cure coughs. The rind is used to cure 

kidney diseases. Flowers and stems are antispasmodic, diuretic and 

emollient. Flowers are astringent and used to reduce bleeding and treat 

stomach problems. Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri fruit is made into 

tea that is used to cure gallstones. Tender young cladodes (joints) are used 

as poultices to reduce swelling.

Rhubarb Used in many traditional remedies, particularly as a laxative and astringent.

Udo Used like ginseng in traditional Chinese medicine.

Zuiki Laxative and antioxidant.
89

USDA MARKETING STANDARDS FOR THE PROPOSED STALK, STEM, AND 

LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE CROP GROUP (USDA Agricultural Marketing 

Service, AMS, 1944, 1946, 1956, 1959, 1964, 1968, 2001, 2008, 2010):

The USDA AMS (USDA AMS 1944, 1946, 1956, 1959, 1964, 1968, 2001, 2008, 

and 2010 has established standards for marketing many of the Stalk, stem, and leaf 

petiole vegetable commodities and each will be discussed below. These marketing 

standards grades are an outgrowth of the widely accepted principle that price should be 

directly proportional to quality. The grower who delivers high quality vegetable will 

receive a premium price because such vegetables enable the processor to pack a better 

quality product. 

Globe artichoke (USDA, AMS, 2006) U.S. No. 1 grade must meet the following 

requirements: properly trimmed; fairly well formed; not overdeveloped; fairly compact, 

free from decay, and fairly uniform in size. ''U.S. No. 1 Long Stem'' consists of 

artichokes which meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade except that the stems 

must be smoothly cut to a minimum length of at least 8 inches.

Fresh asparagus (USDA, AMS, 2006) ''U.S. No. 1'' consists of stalks of asparagus 

which are fresh, well trimmed, and fairly straight; which are free from decay and free 

from damage caused by spreading or broken tips, dirt, disease, insects, or other means. 

The diameter of each stalk is not less than one-half inch. Two-thirds of the stalk length 

shall be the color of the lot. Defects include 10 % for stalks in any lot which fail to meet 

the requirements of this grade other than for trimming, including therein not more than 5 

percent for defects causing serious damage. ''U.S. No. 2'' consists of stalks of asparagus 

which are fresh, fairly well trimmed, and not badly misshapen; which are free from decay

and free from serious damage caused by spreading or broken tips, dirt, disease, insects or 

other means, ands the diameter of each stalk is not less than five-sixteenths inch. The 

diameters for each lot are described:

Very Small....................................... Less than 5/16 inch.

Small................................................ 5/16 inches to less than 8/16 inch.

Medium............................................ 8/16 inches to less than 11/16 inch.

Large................................................ 11/16 inch to less than 14/16 inch.

Very Large....................................... 14/16 inch and up.

California has different stalk diameters such as small is 3/16 inches and larger and large 

is 7/16 inches and larger. 

Green asparagus (USDA, AMS, 1972) for processing "U.S. No. 1" consists of 

spears of asparagus which meet the following requirements: fresh; and, well formed; free 

from decay; and, broken tips, knife cuts, hail and freezing damage, dirt, insects, and 

diseases. Size of each spear should be not less than one-fourth inch diameter, and for 

length not more than 7-1/2 inches, and color the spear shall have green color extending at 

least 4 1⁄2 inches below the tip. The diameter of the spears are considered small if onefourth inch to less than three-eighths inch in diameter, medium three-eighths inch to less 

than five-eighths inch in diameter, and large five-eighths inch or larger in diameter with 

the diameter the greatest thickness of the spear measured at a point 5 inches from the tip, 
90

except that spears which are less than 5 inches in length shall be measured at the base of 

the spear.

Celery fresh market standards (USDA, AMS, 1959) "U.S. Extra No. 1" consists 

of stalks of celery of similar varietal characteristics which are well developed, well 

formed, clean, well trimmed, compact, and which are free from blackheart, brown stem, 

soft rot, doubles and free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, horizontal 

cracks, pithy branches, seed stems, suckers, wilting, blight, other disease, insects or 

mechanical or other means. Stalks shall be green unless specified as fairly well blanched, 

or mixed blanch. The average midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall be not 

less than 7 inches. The number of stalks of celery in the container may be specified by

numerical count or in terms of dozens or half-dozen. Variations from the number 

specified shall be permitted as follows: provided, that the average for the lot is not less 

than the number specified: with variations permitted in the specified number per in 

individual package: 

Packages of 

24 stalks or less . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 stalk variation.

25 to 50 stalks, inclusive . . . . . . . . 3 stalk variation.

51 to 70 stalks, inclusive . . . . . . . . 4 stalk variation.

More than 70 stalks . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 stalk variation.

In Michigan standards are that stalks must be fairly well developed and well 

formed, good heart formation, uniform green color, fresh and crisp, well trimmed, 

compact, and clean. The average midrib length of the outer petioles must be at least 8 

inches between the butt and the first node, and the stalks must be no more than1.5 inches 

shorter than the width of the container (the direction the celery lies from butt to tip). 

Container width must be given in whole, even numbers, such as 14 or 16 inches. Full 

size boxes must average 65 lb gross weight and 58 lb net weight when packed. The 

stalks must be free from blackheart, brown stem, soft rot, pink rot, and other diseases. 

There can be no damage from freezing, growth cracks, horizontal cracks, pith, seed 

stems, or suckers.

The U.S. standards for field grown rhubarb (USDA, AMS, 1966) "U.S. Fancy" 

consists of stalks of rhubarb of similar varietal characteristics which are very well

colored, fresh, tender, straight, clean, well trimmed and not pithy; which are free from 

decay, and free from damage caused by scars, freezing, disease, insects, or mechanical or 

other means. The diameter of each stalk is not less than 1 inch, and the length not less 

than 10 inches. Very well colored stalks means that a pink or red color predominates on 

three-fourths or more of the length of the stalk.

AVAILABILITY AND STORAGE LIFE OF THE BRASSICA HEAD AND STEM 

VEGETABLE S AS PROPOSED CROP GROUP MEMBERS IN THE 

MARKETPLACE: 
91

Most of the Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables have major markets and are 

widely available during the year. Asparagus is available throughout the year from Peru 

and from California February through June (Table 41). Washington production is April 

through June. Mexico also has asparagus available most of the year. Common in the 

U.S., Europe, Asia, parts of N. Africa, and New Zealand. The green variety is most 

common in the U.S., although purple varieties are available. White asparagus is a 

favorite in Europe (blanched by covering with soil, mulch or use of polytunnels).

Table 41. Availability of Asparagus in the U.S. Marketplace (A = Available, P = 

Peak) Packer, 2010). 

Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

California A P P P A

Washington A A A

Chile A A

Mexico P P P A A A A A A A

Peru A A A A A A A A P P A A

Celery is also available in the marketplace year around from California (Table 

42). Florida produces celery January through June, followed by Michigan June through 

August. Celery is also popular in Europe.

Table 42. Availability of Celery in the U.S. Marketplace (A = Available, P = Peak) 

Packer, 2010). 

Location Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

California A A A A A A A A A A A A

Florida A A A A A A

Michigan A A A A A

Texas A A A A

Availability of other stalk, stem, and leaf vegetable commodities are for agave products, 

such as tequila and nectar, are nearly ubiquitous around the world. Agave stems, stalks, 

roots, or flowers are mainly consumed on a local level or found in local markets where 

they are grown or harvested from the wild.

Bamboo shoots are bought canned throughout much of the world. Fresh is 

usually limited to areas near where it is cultivated or in Asian specialty markets in the 

U.S.

The edible tops of burdock are available in parts of Europe, particularly Italy, or 

gathered from the wild anywhere. Roots are common in Asian markets in the U.S. and 

abroad; quite common in Japan and Korea. 

Cardoon is hard to find in U.S. markets, but can be found in ethnic markets and 

gourmet stores. It is more common in Europe, Japan, and Brazil.
92

Chinese celery is available in Asian markets in the U.S., and also found in 

Europe, though mostly replaced by parsley as an herb and stalk celery as a vegetable. It 

is very common in Asia, particularly China and Vietnam.

Celtuce is also mostly found in Asian specialty markets in the U.S. and Europe, 

although very common in China. 

Florence fennel is commonly found in the U.S. and Europe as a vegetable.

Fuki: is mainly found in local markets in China and Japan.

Sea kale in the U.S. mainly found in home gardens, and it is slightly more 

common in Europe where there is commercial growth and trade.

Kohlrabi is readily available in most large supermarkets or produce markets in the 

U.S.

Large quantities of heart-of-palm are exported to Europe and the United States 

each year, and available as canned products.

Prickly, pear, pads have their fruit and young stems are sold in informal street 

markets by street vendors in South America and in major markets throughout the world 

including Europe. The most important markets in Mexico are near Mexico City, 

Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Fruit from many species of Opuntia are sold in informal 

markets in Mexico, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America and Southern 

Europe.

Rhubarb is widely available in U.S. markets.

At present udo is available only in ethnic or gourmet markets in the U.S.

Zuiki: is commonly available in markets in Hawaii and Asian markets in the 

United States.

STORAGE LIFE OF THE STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE 

VEGETABLES:

The approximate storage life of the Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables is

listed in Table 43. Most of these vegetables have limited storage life with a range from 

14 to 21 days for artichokes and kohlrabi and 10 – 21 days for asparagus. Celery has a 

long storage life of 1 – 2 months.
93

Table 43. Approximate Storage Life of Stalk, Stem, and Petioles Leafy Vegetables. 

(Adapted Hardenburg, et al., 1986, Gast, 1991, University of California Postharvest 

Technology, 2010, http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/pfvegetable). 

Vegetable Typical Storage/Shelf Life

Artichoke, globe 14 – 21 days

Asparagus 10 - 21 days

Cactus 14 – 35 days

Celery 1 – 2 months

Kohlrabi 14 – 21 days

Asparagus is a highly perishable crop, some method of cooling after harvest is 

necessary. Precooling to remove field heat prior to shipment is commonly practiced via 

hydrocooling. Hydrocooling is accomplished by flooding, spraying, or immersing 

vegetables in chilled water. Following hydrocooling, asparagus should be kept 

refrigerated. According to the USDA, fresh asparagus is highly perishable and 

deteriorates rapidly above 41° F. Thus, the spears should be cooled immediately after 

cutting, preferably by hydrocooling, and placed at a low temperature. In addition to 

general deterioration, growth, loss of tenderness, loss of flavor, loss of vitamin C, and 

development of decay take place at moderately high temperatures. Asparagus can be 

kept successfully for about 3 weeks at 35° F. It can be held for about 10 days at 32° F., 

but is subject to chilling injury when held longer at this temperature.

Celery after leaving the field, the packed celery is taken to a cooling facility, 

where it is cooled either by forced air or hydrocooling and then packed onto refrigerated 

trucks and transported to the market. Trimmings and outer petioles are often used for 

processing, in soups, juices and convenience dinners. When the large outer stalks are 

stripped to sell the remainder as celery hearts, the outer stalks are processed. Celery for 

processing is shipped in bulk to the processing plant. At the distribution center, if cooled 

to 32 °F and 95 % relative humidity, celery can be stored from 2 to 4 weeks. Celery

absorbs odors from other commodities and is not stored in close proximity to other crops. 

Any celery sold for processing is washed and cut up before leaving for the processor. 

Fresh celery is primarily sold to retailer-wholesalers, terminal market brokers, wholesale 

handlers and the military.

Store kohlrabi at 32 F and 98 to 100 % relative humidity. Topped kohlrabi should 

keep for 2 to 3 months if stored under the recommended conditions. Some space between 

containers for air circulation is desirable, and a high relative humidity is recommended to 

prevent shriveling and toughening of texture. Packaging in perforated film can be used to 

reduce moisture loss. Kohlrabi with leaves has a storage life of only 2 weeks at 32 F.

Storage should be at or near 32 F to prevent the development of diseases. Major storage 

diseases are bacterial soft rot and black rot.

Rhubarb should be stored at 32 F and 95 to 100% relative humidity. Fresh 

rhubarb stalks in good condition can be stored 2 to 4 weeks at 32 F and high relative 

humidity. Rhubarb can be hydro-cooled or air-cooled, and the temperature of the stalks 

should reach 32 or 33 F within 1 day of harvest. The topped bunches or loose stalks 
94

should be packed in crates, and the crates should be stacked to allow ample air 

circulation; otherwise, there is danger of heating and mold growth. Fresh rhubarb that is 

cut into 1-inch pieces and packaged in 1 lb perforated polyethylene bags can be stored 2 

to 3 weeks at 32 F with high relative humidity.

CHANGES TO EPA DATABASES NEEDED FROM ESTABLISHMENT OF A

NEW CROP GROUP: STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE GROUP 22:

The establishment of a new Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable crop group 22 

will affect the need to update many Risk Assessment Models, Residue Chemistry 

Guidelines, OPP databases, and/or HED Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

The affected EPA databases may include the following:

(1) Risk Assessment Models - The terminology in the Food Exposure Modules of our 

current Risk assessment Models from DEEM-FCID, LIFELINE, and CARES will need 

to be updated to reflect new terminology and the new Crop Group terminology.

(2) EPA Residue Chemistry Test Guidelines (OPPTS 860.1000, Background), 

Table 1 Raw Agricultural and Processed Commodities and Feedstuffs Derived from 

Crops and EPA Residue Chemistry Test Guidelines (OPPTS 860.1000, Background), 

EPA Residue Chemistry Test Guidelines (OPPTS 860.1500, Crop Field Trials), Table 5 

Suggested Distribution of Field Trials by Region for Crops Requiring > 3 trials and Table 

6 Regional Distribution of Crop Production. 

Any differences between the EPA and NAFTA Crop Production Regions after the 

NAFTA Regions are updated will be addressed by the ICCGR Workgroup or by the EPA 

HED ChemSAC with attendance by Canada, PMRA and Mexico. The EPA Residue 

Chemistry Test Guidelines (OPPTS 860.1500, Crop Field Trials) Table 5 Suggested 

Distribution of Field Trials by Region for Crops Requiring > 3 trials and Table 6 

Regional Distribution of Crop Production will be updated to reflect more recent crop 

production information. There is currently no conflict with Canada. 

(3) Health Effects Division Standard Operating Procedures: HED SOP 99.3 -–

“Translation of Monitoring Data” issued March 26, 1999. This policy provides guidance 

on translating pesticide-monitoring data from one commodity to other similar 

commodities. Most of the monitoring data is from the USDA Pesticide Data Program 

(PDP) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The policy is based on the crop 

groupings in the 40 CFR 180.41. 

In the current SOP there are no entries for any of the proposed members of the 

Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group. 

(4) HED SOP 99.6 - “Classification of Food Forms with Respect to Level of 

Blending” issued August 20, 1999. This SOP provides rationale and guidance to HED on 
95

revised criteria for inputting residue values and pesticide usage information into acute 

dietary exposure and risk assessments based on commodities. These revisions permit the 

Agency to fully utilize data generated by the USDA Pesticide Data Program. 

Some of the proposed members of the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable 

Group, Leafy Vegetable except Brassica crop group 4 and the Brassica leafy vegetable 

crop group 5 HED SOP 99.6. See Table 44 below. 

Many members of the proposed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable group are 

considered non-blended commodities since they can be eaten as a vegetable. Canned and 

frozen stalk and stem commodities are partially blended since they are mixed for canning 

or freezing. They are uncooked be uncooked, and cooked baked, boiled, or frozen and 

canned. 

TABLE 44. Classification of Food Forms with Respect to Level of Blending for the 

Proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group 22. (HED SOP 99.6, April 20, 

1999). 

COMMODITY CROP 

GROUP 

FOOD FORM CLASSIFICATION 

(B – Blended; NB –

Not blended; PB –

Partially blended)

O 14 - Boiled PB 

Asparagus O 11 - Uncooked NB

Asparagus O 14 - Boiled NB

Asparagus O 32 – Canned: Cooked PB

Asparagus O 42 – Frozen: Cooked PB

Bamboo shoots O 11 - Uncooked PB

Bamboo shoots O 12 – Cooked: NFS PB

Bamboo shoots O 14 - Boiled PB

Cactus pads (nopal) O Cactus pads (nopal) NB

Celery 4 12 – Cooked: NFS NB

Celery 4 13 - Baked NB

Celery 4 14 - Boiled NB

Celery 4 15 - Fried NB

Celery 4 31 – Canned: NFS PB

Celery 4 32 – Canned: Cooked PB

Celery 4 34 – Canned: Boiled PB

Celery 4 42 – Frozen: Cooked PB

Celery juice 4 31 – Canned: NFS PB

Kohlrabi 5 14 - Boiled NB

Palm hearts O 14 - Boiled PB

Rhubarb 4 12 – Cooked: NFS NB

Rhubarb 4 13 - Baked NB

Rhubarb 4 43 - Frozen PB
96

(5) HED SOP 2000.1 – “Guidance for Translation of Field Trial Data from 

Representative Commodities in the Crop Group Regulation to Other Commodities in 

Each Crop Group/Subgroup” issued September 12, 2000. 

There is no guidance in the SOP for the proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable group and its proposed subgroups. The proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable commodities will be listed below followed by a listing of the proposed 

representative commodities below: 

Proposed Crop Group 22: Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable

Representative Commodities: Asparagus and celery.

CROP GROUP COMMODITY REPRESENTATIVE COMMODITY

Agave Asparagus

Aloe vera Asparagus

Asparagus Asparagus

Bamboo shoots Asparagus

Cardoon Celery

Celery Celery

Celery, Chinese Celery

Celtuce Asparagus

Fennel, Florence Asparagus

Fern, edible Asparagus

Fuki Celery

Kale, sea Asparagus

Kohlrabi Asparagus

Palm heart Asparagus

Prickly pear, pads Asparagus

Rhubarb Celery

Udo Celery

Zuiki Celery

The proposed new translations of field trials from the representative commodities 

to other commodities in the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Subgroups 

would be as follows:

Stalk, Stem and Leaf Petiole Proposed New Crop Subgroup 22A: Stalk and Stem 

Subgroup.

Representative Commodity: Asparagus

CROP SUBGROUP COMMODITY REPRESENTATIVE COMMODITY

Agave Asparagus

Aloe vera Asparagus

Asparagus Asparagus

Bamboo shoots Asparagus
97

CROP SUBGROUP COMMODITY REPRESENTATIVE COMMODITY

Celtuce Asparagus

Fennel, Florence Asparagus

Fern, edible Asparagus

Kale, sea Asparagus

Kohlrabi Asparagus

Palm heart Asparagus

Prickly pear, pads Asparagus

Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Crop Subgroup Proposed New Crop Subgroup 22B: 

Leaf Petiole Subgroup.

Representative Commodity: Celery

CROP SUBGROUP COMMODITY REPRESENTATIVE COMMODITY

Cardoon Celery

Celery Celery

Celery, Chinese Celery

Fuki Celery

Rhubarb Celery

Udo Celery

Zuiki Celery

______________________________________________________________________

(6) HED Dry Matter Database will be updated to add the Table below:

Table45. Health Effects Division Dry Matter and Seeding Rate Database. 

Stalk, Stem, and Petiole Vegetable Crop Group. Prepared by Dr’s NG and B. A. 

Schneider. 2006, 2011.

Commodity % Dry Matter

Agave, nectar 76.3, 78.5

Agave, peduncle 12.8, 17.2

Artichoke, globe 16.0

Asparagus 7.0 %, 8.0, 8.3

Bamboo shoots 9.0

Cactus 8.9

Cactus, prickly pear 12.0, 17.0, 19.0

Celery 5.0, 5.2, 5.9

Celtuce 5.5

Fennel, Florence 9.8, 12.0

Fern, edible 11.4

Kohlrabi 8.3, 9.0, 9.7

Palm, hearts, leaves 30.5

Rhubarb 6.0
98

Commodity % Dry Matter

Udo -

Zuiki -

COMMODITY DEFINITIONS [(40 CFR § 180.1(g)]:

At present, celery is the only one current established commodity definitions that 

impact the proposed stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetables. Commmodity definitions 

fro edible ferns and palm heart are being proposed. The definitions are listed below:

Tolerances and exemptions established for pesticide chemicals in or on the general category

of raw agricultural commodities listed in column A apply to the corresponding specific raw 

agricultural commodities listed in column B. However, a tolerance or exemption for a 

specific commodity in column B does not apply to the general category in column A.

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Celery Celery, Florence fennel (sweet anise, sweet fennel, finochio) 

(fresh leaves and stalks only).

ChemSAC (Reviewer=s Guide and Summary of HED ChemSAC Approvals for 

Amending Commodity Definitions [40 CFR '180.1(h)] and Crop Group/Subgroups [40 

CFR '180.41], Schneider, B., June 14, 2002) had approved a revision to add Chinese 

celery to the commodity definition for celery as follows:

“

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Celery Celery, Florence fennel (sweet anise, sweet fennel, finochio) 

(fresh leaves and stalks only), Chinese celery. 

“

With the proposed establishment of a new crop group for Stalk, stem, and leaf 

petiole vegetables, the need for a celery commodity definition to cover Chinese celery is 

negated since the proposed Leaf Petiole Vegetable subgroup 22C has celery as the 

representative commodity that covers Chinese celery. Also Florence fennel, fresh leaves 

and stalks has been shown in this petition to fit closer to the Stem and Stalk subgroup 

22A with asparagus as the representative commodity. Celery is the proposed 

representative commodity for crop subgroup 22B Leaf petiole. Therefore, we 

recommend deleting the commodity definition for celery as part of the establishment of 

the Stalk, stem and leaf petiole vegetable crop group.

However, to avoid confusion from current celery tolerances, we have no objection 

to not deleting this commodity definition.
99

A new commodity definition for edible ferns is recommended so that the various 

types of edible ferns can be easily distinguishable and defined. The edible commodity 

fern definition is as follows:

“

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Fern, edible

Fern, edible; Fiddlehead including: Black lady fern, Deparia 

japonica (Thunb.) M. Kato; Bracken fern, Pteridium 

aquilinum (L.) Kuhn; Broad buckler fern, Dryopteris dilatata 

(Hoffm.) A. Gray; Cinnamon fern, Osmundastrum 

cinnamomeum (L.) C. Presl; Lady fern, Athyrium filix-femina 

(L.) Roth ex Mert.; Leather fern, Acrostichum aureum L.; 

Mother fern, Diplazium proliferum (Lam.) Thouars; Ostrich 

fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod.; Vegetable fern, 

Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw.; Zenmai fern, Osmuda 

japonica Thunb. 

“

A new commodity definition for palm heart is also recommended so that the 

various palm heart varieties can be easily distinguishable and defined. The palm heart 

commodity definition is as follows:

“

(A) General Category (B) Specific Commodities

Palm hearts

Palm hearts, various species including: Peach Palm, Bactris 

gasipaes Kunth; Palmyra palm, Borassus flabellifera L.; 

African fan palm, Borassus aethiopum Mart.; Coconut, Cocos 

nucifera L.; Cabbage palm, Euterpe oleracea Mart.; Wine 

palm, Raphia spp.; Royal palm, Roystonea oleracea (Jacq.) 

O.F. Cook; Salak palm, Salacca zalacca (Gaertn.) Voss; Saw 

palmetto, Serenoa repens (W. Bartram) Small; Cabbage 

palmetto, Sabal palmetto (Walter) Schult. & Schult. f.

“

TOLERANCE EXPRESSION GUIDANCE:

Until the Federal Register Notice is issued revising the Crop Group Regulation to 

establish a new crop group 22 for Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetables, with two new 

crop subgroups the commodities approved for the crop group will have to be listed as 

separate commodities at the same tolerance level as the representative commodity for the 

group. This also applied to the new Crop subgroups, the individual commodities will 

have to be listed separately with each at the same tolerance level. When ChemSAC 

approves the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group 22, the Risk Integration, 

Minor Use, and Emergency Response Branch (RIMUERB) of the Registration Division 
100

can immediately implement the amended Crop Group with new tolerance expressions 

located in the Section F submissions. The following tolerance expression examples will 

provide an expedited way to establish tolerances in or on Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole 

crop group, especially for new reduced risk pesticides, without requiring additional 

residue data for all the crops noted. This will create a practice in the United States, which 

is already formalized in Canada, and promote international harmonization. Several 

tolerance expression examples for guidance purposes for use by RIMUERB and HED 

reviewers will be listed below:

Example 1. What is the tolerance expression for the new Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable Group 22?

Answer to Example 1:

The tolerance expression for the new Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Group 22

will be “Vegetable, Stalk, Stem and Leaf Petiole, group 22.”

Example 2. How will the Crop group and subgroups appear in the Federal Register for 

the proposed crop group regulation [40CFR 180.41(c)]? This example is for the Field 

and External Affairs Division (FEAD) and Registration Division (RD) use in preparing 

the new Federal Register Regulation. The example follows the same format as the 

current Crop Grouping Regulation Federal Register Notice (FR 60, No.95, 5/17/95, 

26626-26643

Answer to Example 2:

§ 180.41 Crop group tables.

* * * * *

(c) * * *

(22) Crop Group 22: Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Group.

(i) Representative commodities. Asparagus and Celery.

(ii) Commodities. The following Table 1 is a list of all commodities included in 

Crop Group 22.

TABLE 1 – CROP GROUP 22: STALK, STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE GROUP

“Crop Group 22: Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Crop Group”.

Representative commodities. Asparagus and Celery

Table. The following Table 1 lists all the commodities listed in Crop Group 22 and 

identifies the related crop subgroups and includes cultivars, varieties and/or hybrids of 

these commodities.
101

“HED Proposed Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetable Crop Group 22”.

Commodities Related crop subgroups

Agave, Agave spp. 22A

Aloe vera, Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. 22A

Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis L. 22A

Bamboo shoots, Arundinaria spp.; Bambusa

spp, Chimonobambusa spp.; Dendrocalamus

spp., Gigantochloa spp., Nastus elatus; 

Phyllostachys spp.; Thyrsostachys siamensis; 

Thyrsostachys oliverii

22A

Cactus, (Prickly pear) Opuntia spp. 22A

Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus L. 22B

Celery, Apium graveolens var. dulce (Mill.) 

Pers.

22B

Celery, Chinese, Apium graveolens L. var.

secalinum (Alef.) Mansf.

22B

Celtuce, Lactuca sativa var. angustana L.H. 

Bailey

22A

Fern, edible, Fiddlehead 22A

Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and stalk, 

Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. vulgare var. 

azoricum (Mill.) Thell.

22A

Fuki, Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) 

Maxim.

22B

Kale, sea, Crambe maritima L. 22A

Kohlrabi, Brassica oleracea L.var gongylodes

L.

22A

Palm hearts, various species 22A

Prickly pear, Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. 22A

Prickly pear, Texas, Opuntia engelmannii

Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. var. lindheimeri

(Engelm.) B. D. Parfitt & Pinkava

22A

Rhubarb, Rheum x hybridum Murray 22B

Udo, Aralia cordata Thunb. 22B

Zuiki, Colocasia gigantea (Blume) Hook. 22B

Cultivars, varieties, and hybrids of these 

commodities

Table.2. The following Table 2 identifies the crop subgroups for Crop Group 22, 

specifies the representative commodities for each subgroup and lists all the commodities 

included in each subgroup.

TABLE 2 -Crop Group 22: Subgroup Listing
102

Representative commodities Commodities

Subgroup 22A: Stalk and stem subgroup.

Asparagus.

Agave, Aloe vera; Asparagus; Bamboo 

shoots, Cactus, Celtuce, Fennel, Florence, f 

fresh leaves and stalk, Kale, sea, Kohlrabi, 

Palm, hearts, Prickly pear, pads; Prickly

pear, Texas, pads, cultivars, varieties, 

and/or hybrids of these commodities

Subgroup 22B: Leaf petiole subgroup.

Celery.

Cardoon, Celery, Chinese celery, Fuki, 

Rhubarb, Udo, Zuiki, cultivars, varieties, 

and/or hybrids of these commodities.

Example 3: How will I express the tolerances on an interim basis until the Federal 

Register Notice is final for the Tropical and subtropical fruit group – edible peel 22-11 or 

22–12 depending when the FR Notice is published, for example at a tolerance level of 1.5 

ppm? This example will be useful for the Registration Division (RD) and Health Effects 

Division (HED) to prepare tolerance tables. All the new proposed commodities will have 

to be listed separately from the crop group tolerance and at the same level as the crop

group. 

Example 4: How will I express the tolerances on an interim basis until the Federal 

Register Notice is final for the Stalk and Stem Leaf Vegetable Subgroup 22A for example 

at a tolerance level of 1.5 ppm? This example will be useful for the Registration Division 

(RD) and Health Effects Division (HED) to prepare tolerance tables. 

Answer to Example 4 for the Stalk and Stem Leaf Vegetable Subgroup 22A:

Commodity Parts per million (ppm)

Agave 1.5

Aloe vers 1.5

Asparagus 1.5

Bamboo shoots 1.5

Cactus 1.5

Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and 

stalk

1.5

Fern, edible 1.5

Kale, sea 1,5

Kohlrabi 1.5

Palm hearts 1.5

Example 5: How will I express the tolerances on an interim basis until the Federal 

Register Notice is final for the Leaf Petiole subgroup 22B for example at a tolerance level 

of 1.5 ppm? This example will be useful for the Registration Division (RD) and Health 

Effects Division (HED) to prepare tolerance tables.

Answer to Example 5 for the Leaf Petiole subgroup 22B:
103

Commodity Parts per million (ppm)

Burdock, edible, tops 1.5

Cardoon 1.5

Celery 1.5

Chinese celery 1.5

Fuki

Rhubarb 1.5

Udo 1.5

Zuiki 1.5

EPA FOOD AND FEED COMMODITY VOCABULARY FOR THE STALK, 

STEM, AND LEAF PETIOLE VEGETABLE CROP GROUP:

The following terms for the stalk, stem, and leaf petiole commodities will be 

incorporated to the EPA Food and Feed Commodity Database 

(http://www.epa.govopp/foodfeed). The Table 46 below is identical to the current Food 

and Feed Commodity Vocabulary format. A search of the lookup terms will link to the 

EPA preferred tolerance/commodity term, and the Base crop/animal term is the specific 

crop animal terms associated with the preferred term. Until the Federal Register Notice 

for the Crop Group is final, the Crop Group designation on each term will be listed as no 

crop group and given the crop group 99 for the present. 

Table 46. EPA FOOD AND FEED COMMODITY VOCABULARY

SEARCH OR LOOKUP TERM 

FOR STALK, STEM, AND LEAF 

PETIOLE VEGETABLE 

COMMODITIES

PREFERRED 

TOLERANCE 

TERM

BASE 

CROP/ANIMAL 

TERM

Agave; maguey; century plant;

lechuguilla; tula ixtle; mescal

Agave Agave

Aloe vera; Barbados vera; Cucucao 

aloe; true aloe; West Indian aloe; aloe; 

acibar

Aloe vers Aloe vera

Asparagus; asperg; espárrago; espargo;

esparraguera; garden asparagus; orandakiji-kakushi; Spargel

Asparagus Asparagus

Bamboo shoots; ohe; choke-sun; takenoko; shoots, bamboo; Bamboo, shoot

Bamboo shoots Bamboo shoots

Cardoon; cardoni; cardi; cardo;

artichoke; artichoke thistle; Scotch thistle;

Scottish thistle; cardon d'Espagne;

artichaut commun; Gemüseartischocke;

Kardone; Artischocke; alcachofra; cardo 

de comer; alcachofa; alcaucil

Cardoon Cardoon
104

SEARCH OR LOOKUP TERM 

FOR STALK, STEM, AND LEAF 

PETIOLE VEGETABLE 

COMMODITIES

PREFERRED 

TOLERANCE 

TERM

BASE 

CROP/ANIMAL 

TERM

Celery; Celery seed; Apio; Quin cai;

Stalk celery; bleekselderij; céleri a côtes;

céleri blanche; Bleichsellerie;

Staudensellerie; Stielsellerie; sedano da 

coste; aipo; apio bastardo; apio blanco;

apio borde

Celery Celery

Celery, Chinese; Chinese celery; Heung 

Kunn; Kunchoi; Kintsai

Celery, Chinese Celery, Chinese

Celtuce; celery lettuce; stem lettuce;

asparagus lettuce; nen jing wo ju;

Chinese lettuce; Spargelsalat

Celtuce Celtuce

Fennel, Florence, fresh leaves and 

stalk; fino; sweet fennel; sweet anise;

fetticus; finocchio; finochio; carosella;

Roman fennel; Gemüsefenchel; 

Florence fennel, fresh leaves and stalk

Fennel, Florence, 

fresh leaves and 

stalk

Fennel, Florence

Fern, edible; fiddlehead; fiddleheads; 

edible fern; black lady fern; bracken 

fern; broad buckler fern; cinnamon

fern; lady fern; Leather fern; Mother 

fern; Ostrich fern; Vegetable fern;

Zenmai fern

Fern, edible Fern

Fuki; butterbur; fárfara japonesa; giant 

butterbur; japanische Pestwurz;

japonesa; sweet coltsfoot

Fuki Fuki

Kale, Sea; sea kale; colewort;

scurvygrass; halmyrides; Abyssinian 

kale; chou-marin; Meerkohl; couvemarinha; crambe-marinha; col marina 

Kale, sea Kale, sea

Kohlrabi; stem turnip; colinabo;

cabbage turnip; turnip cabbage; turnip 

kale; pie lan; chou rave; cavolo rapa;

col rabano; dzulgigadubaetschu;

couve-rábano; kol'rabi; col rábano;

colinabo; colirrábano

Kohlrabi Kohlrabi

Palm hearts; Palm, hearts; Palm heart; 

Heart palm; hearts of palm; Palm 

cabbage; Millionaire’s salad; Palmillo;

Chou-palmeta; Palmeto; Spiny club 

palm; peach palm, hearts; Palmyra 

palm; doub palm; tala palm; toddy

palm; wine palm; borasse; rônier;

Palm hearts Palm
105

SEARCH OR LOOKUP TERM 

FOR STALK, STEM, AND LEAF 

PETIOLE VEGETABLE 

COMMODITIES

PREFERRED 

TOLERANCE 

TERM

BASE 

CROP/ANIMAL 

TERM

Lontaro; Palmyrapalme; broção;

Palmira, boraço; boraso; palma 

Palmira; African fan palm; black-rum 

palm; borassus palm; deleb palm;

rondier; Delebpalme; palmeiraabânico; Cabbage palm; assai palm;

pinot; Kohlpalme; açaí-do-Pará;

açaizeiro; palmiteiro; palmito-açaí;

uaçaí; asaí; euterpe Saw palmetto; 

Scrub palmetto; Cabbage palmetto; 

Blue palmetto; cabbage palm; chou 

palmist 

Cactus; cactus, pads; Prickly-pear; 

Chumbo; Barbary-fig; Indian-fig;

Indian-fig prickly-pear; mission 

cactus; mission prickly-pear; smooth 

mountain prickly-pear; smooth 

prickly-pear; spineless cactus; sweet 

prickly-pear; tuberous prickly-pear;

tuna cactus; boereturksvy;

grootdoringturksvy; figuier d’Inde;

figuier de Barbarie; Feigenkaktus;

figo-da-Índia; figo-da-Espanha;

figueira-da-Barbária; jamaracá;

jurumbeba; orelha-de-onça; palma-degado; palma-gigante; chumba;

chumbera; higuera; nopal de Castilla;

nopal pelón; tuna; tuna de Castilla;

tuna mansa; Prickly-pear, 

Texas;chenille prickly-pear;

Lindheimer prickly-pear; nopal 

prickly-pear; small round-leaf pricklypear; klein rondeblaarturksvy;

cacanapo

Prickly pear, pads Prickly pear

Prickly pear, Texas, pads; Texas 

prickly pear, pads

Prickly pear, 

Texas pads

Prickly pear, Texas, 

pads

Rhubarb; pieplant; ruibarbo; wineplant; Chinese rhubarb; Turkey

rhubarb; da-huang; garden rhubarb;

österreichischer Rhabarber; krauser 

Rhabarber; daio

Rhubarb Rhubarb

Udo; spikenard; oudo; Japanese Udo Udo
106

SEARCH OR LOOKUP TERM 

FOR STALK, STEM, AND LEAF 

PETIOLE VEGETABLE 

COMMODITIES

PREFERRED 

TOLERANCE 

TERM

BASE 

CROP/ANIMAL 

TERM

asparagus; tu-huo; Japanese spikenard;

Aralia du Japon; japanische 

Bergangelika; Aralia del Japón

Zuiki; Bạc hà; khuun; talas padang; dc 

mùng

Zuiki Zuiki

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APPENDIX I – Maps of the Asparagus, Celery and Rhubarb Acres form the USDA 

AGCensus, 2002. 

Figure 1. Map of the U.S. Asparagus Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002. 

5

9

8

7

2

1

6

4

11

10

3

12

13

13

13 Acreage by county

Acres in 2002

U.S. Crop Field Trial Regions (1 to 13)

Source: 2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Produced by: Spatial Analysis and Geomatics Applications (SAGA), Agriculture Division, Statistics Canada.

Produced for: IR-4 Project, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

μ 0 125 250 500 750 1,000

Miles

ASPARAGUS

1 - 141

142 - 716

717 - 3650

3651 - 10403

10404 - 20287

Figure 2. Map of the U.S. Celery Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002. 
116

8

2

6

4 10

3

5

9

7

1

11 12

13

13

13

CELERY

Acres in 2002

U.S. Crop Field Trial Regions (1 to 13)

Source: 2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Produced by: Spatial Analysis and Geomatics Applications (SAGA), Agriculture Division, Statistics Canada.

Produced for: IR-4 Project, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

μ 0 125 250 500 750 1,000

Miles

CropCoFtr-WN

CELERY

1 - 39

40 - 425

426 - 962

963 - 2947

2948 - 9500

Acreage by county

Figure3. Map of the U.S. Rhubarb Acres form the USDA AGCensus, 2002. 
117

8

2

6

4 10

3

5

9

7

1

11 12

13

13

13

RHUBARB

Acres in 2002

U.S. Crop Field Trial Regions (1 to 13)

Source: 2002 U.S. Census of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Produced by: Spatial Analysis and Geomatics Applications (SAGA), Agriculture Division, Statistics Canada.

Produced for: IR-4 Project, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

μ 0 125 250 500 750 1,000

Miles

CropCoFtr-WN

RHUBARB

1 - 2

3 - 9

10 - 40

41 - 137

138 - 602

Acreage by county

APPENDIX II: Dietary and Nutritional Value of the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole 

Vegetable Commodities:

Despite the relatively low caloric values of Stalk, stem, and leaf petiole vegetable 

commodities they play an important role in human diet mainly because of their high and 

diverse vitamin and mineral content. They have many benefits high in vitamins, folic 

acid, antioxidant, and fiber.

Table 47. Dietary Value of the Stalk, Stem, and Leaf Petiole Vegetables:

Commodity Dietary Value

Agave Aside from its major use as a source of fiber, arguably the most 

famous usage of agave is for the sap of its flower stalk, which may be 

fermented in mezcal or tequila (depending on the species used) or 

processed into agave “nectar”, a popular natural sweeter. The leaves 

and roots of many species contain high levels of saponins, and 

sometimes can be used for soap.

Asparagus High in fiber. White asparagus is lower in phenolics (bitter 
118

Commodity Dietary Value

components), Vitamin C, and protein, but higher in simple sugars 

compared to green asparagus. Green spears generally contained 

higher concentrations of mineral nutrients than white spear. Most of 

the mineral nutrients measured decreased from the spear tip to the 

base. Since the mineral nutrient levels found in asparagus spears are 

influenced by the length of the spear, reducing the inedible fibrous 

butt end would reduce transportation costs and provide consumers 

with a nutritionally better product with respect to essential minerals. 

Growers should expect to receive a premium for such a product. One 

serving (5 spears or 93g) of green asparagus contains 20 calories, 0g 

fat, 0mg cholesterol, 0mg sodium, 5g total carbohydrate with a 2% 

daily value, 2g dietary fiber with a 7% daily value, 2g sugars, 2g 

protein, 10% Vitamin A, 10% Vitamin C, 2% Calcium and 2% Iron. 

One of the most important nutrients in asparagus is folic acid. One 

serving of asparagus provides 60% of the U.S. Recommended Daily 

Allowance (RDA) of folic acid. This serving contains the largest 

percentage of U.S. RDA of any food. 

Bamboo, shoots The shoots are high in vitamins and fiber, low in protein, 

carbohydrates and fats; some species contain cyanide and should be 

cooked with care. Tender shoots; seeds a famine food.

Celery Source of Vitamin A and folic acid. 

Fern, edible High in potassium and Vitamin A.

Kohlrabi High in potassium, protein, and Vitamin A.

Palm, hearts The heart-of-palm contains calcium oxalate crystals.

Prickly, pear, 

pads (Cactus)

Fruit are high in vitamin C and nicotinamide and minerals including 

calcium and magnesium; fruit contain no fat. The plant has 

antioxidant properties.

Rhubarb High in oxalic acid.

Zuiki High in potassium, manganese and fiber.