New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 1 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS › Chapter IV - Markets › Subchapter A - Grading of Farm Products (Article 12-A Agriculture and Markets Law) › Part 162 - Official State Brands Or Trademarks › Section 162.35 - Tomato standards

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a)
				  General. New York State Seal of Quality tomatoes shall be of similar varietal
				  characteristics, mature, not overripe or soft, clean, well-developed,
				  well-formed, fairly smooth and free from decay, freezing injury, sunscald and
				  damage by any other cause.
(b)
				  Definitions.
(1) Similar varietal
				  characteristics means that the tomatoes are alike as to firmness of flesh and
				  shade or color (for example, soft-fleshed, early maturing varieties are not
				  mixed with firm fleshed, mid season or late varieties, or bright red varieties
				  mixed with varieties having a purplish tinge.)
(2) Mature means that the tomato has reached
				  the stage of development which will insure a proper completion of the ripening
				  process and that the contents of two or more seed cavities have developed a
				  jelly like consistency and the seeds are well developed.
(3) Soft means that the tomato yields readily
				  to slight pressure.
(4) Clean means
				  that the tomato is practically free from dirt or other foreign
				  material.
(5) Well-developed means
				  that the tomatoes show normal growth. Tomatoes which are ridged and peaked at
				  the stem end, contain dry tissue, and usually contain open spaces below the
				  level of the stem scar are not considered well developed.
(6) Well-formed means that the tomato has the
				  typical shape for the variety.
(7)
				  Fairly smooth means that the tomato is not conspicuously ridged or
				  rough.
(8) Damage:
(i) Growth cracks (radiating from or
				  concentric to stem scar). When not well healed, more than 1/8 inch in depth,
				  individual radial cracks more than 1/4inch in length, aggregate length of all
				  radial cracks more than one inch measured from edge of stem scar.
(ii) Cuts and broken skins not shallow or not
				  well healed, or shallow, well healed cut more than 1/2 inch (13 mm) in length,
				  or other shallow, well healed skin breaks aggregating more than a circle 3/8
				  inch (10 mm) in diameter.
(iii)
				  Puffiness -- open space in one or more locules materially detracts from
				  appearance of tomato cut through center at right angles to a line from stem to
				  blossom end.
(iv) Catfaces -- scars
				  are rough or deep, channels are very deep or wide, channels extend into a
				  locule, or a fairly smooth catface aggregating more than a circle 1/2 inch (13
				  mm) in diameter.
(v) Scars (other
				  than catfaces) -- no depth and aggregating more than a circle 3/8 inch (10 mm)
				  in diameter.
(vi) Hail -- deep,
				  rough, not well healed and corked over, or fairly smooth, shallow hailmarks
				  aggregating more than a circle 3/8 inch (10 mm) in diameter.
(vii) Insect injury -- materially detracts
				  from the appearance or any insect is present in the fruit.
(9) Serious damage:
(i) Growth cracks (radiating from or
				  concentric to stem scar). When not well healed, more than 1/8 inch in depth,
				  individual radial cracks more than 1/2inch in length, aggregate length of all
				  radial cracks more than one inch measured from the edge of the stem
				  scar.
(ii) Cuts and broken skins
				  not shallow or not well healed, or shallow, well healed cut more than 1/2 inch
				  (13 mm) in length, or other shallow, well healed skin breaks aggregating more
				  than a circle 1/2 inch (13 mm) in diameter.
(iii) Puffiness -- open space in one or more
				  locules seriously detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at
				  right angles to a line from stem to blossom end.
(iv) Catfaces -- scars are rough or deep,
				  channels are very deep or wide, channels extend into a locule, or a fairly
				  smooth catface aggregating more than a circle 3/4 inch (19 mm) in
				  diameter.
(v) Scars (other than
				  catfaces) -- no depth and aggregating more than a circle 5/8 inch (16 mm) in
				  diameter.
(vi) Hail -- deep, rough,
				  not well healed and corked over, or fairly smooth, shallow hailmarks
				  aggregating more than a circle 5/8 inch (16 mm) in diameter.
(vii) Insect injury -- seriously detracts
				  from the appearance or any insect is present in the fruit.
(10) Very serious damage:
(i) Growth cracks (radiating from or
				  concentric to stem scar). When not well healed, more than 3/16 inch in depth,
				  more than 3/4 inch in length, aggregate length of all radial cracks more than 1
				  1/2 inch measured from the edge of the stem scar.
(ii) Cuts and broken skins fresh or healed
				  and extending through the tomato wall.
(iii) Puffiness -- open space in two or more
				  locules very seriously detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at
				  right angles to a line from stem to blossom end.
(iv) Catfaces -- channels extend into the
				  locule, wall has been weakened to the extent that slight pressure will cause a
				  tomato to leak or a fairly smooth catface aggregating more than a circle one
				  inch (25 mm) in diameter.
(v) Scars
				  (other than catfaces) -- no depth and aggregating more than a circle one inch
				  (25 mm) in diameter.
(vi) Hail --
				  fresh, very deep or fairly smooth, shallow hailmarks aggregating more than a
				  circle one inch (25 mm) in diameter.
(vii) Insect injury -- very seriously
				  detracts from the appearance or any insect is present in the fruit.