Inspection Guidelines

Use our free online resource for help inspecting fresh fruits and vegetables.

Bookmark this page because IPT provides grade standards, tolerances and common defects for over 40 different kinds of fruits and vegetables.

We also provide fresh produce inspection training on all commodities or your industry-specific commodities.

Also included, are Good Delivery Guidelines established by USDA/AMS/PACA to interpret the maximum tolerances allowable for various fruits and vegetables trucked to locations that are five or more days away from shipping point.  Although the numbers can give guidance concerning whether an f.o.b. contract has been breached, many factors enter into the determination of whether a load of produce meets the terms of a particular contract.  Please contact PACA for further clarification.

To view the USDA’s General Terms and their definitions, please click here.

USDA Inspection standards for fresh fruit.


apple
Apples 

apricots
Apricots 

avocados
Avocados 

blueberries
Blueberries 

cherries
Cherries 

grapes
Grapes 

grapefruit
Grapefruit (CA, AZ) 

florida grapefruit
Grapefruit (FL) 

kiwi
Kiwi 

lemons
Lemons 

limes
Limes 

mango
Mangos 

nectarines
Nectarines 

california oranges
Oranges (CA, AZ) 

florida tangelos
Oranges/Tangelos (FL) 

peaches
Peaches 

pears
Pears (Summer/Fall) 

winter pears
Pears (Winter) 

plums
Plums 

strawberries
Strawberries 

tangerines
Tangerine 

florida tangerines
Tangerines (FL) 

USDA Inspection standards for fresh vegetables.


artichokes
Artichokes 

asparagus
Asparagus 

snap beans
Snap Beans 

broccoli
Broccoli 

cabbage
Cabbage 

cantaloups
Cantaloups 

carrots
Carrots 

cauliflower
Cauliflower 

celery
Celery 

corn
Corn 

cucumbers
Cucumbers 

eggplant
Eggplant 

honeydew melons
Honeydew Melons 

lettuce
Lettuce 

onions
Onions 

peppers
Peppers 

potatoes
Potatoes 

romaine
Romaine 

spinach leaves
Spinach Leaves 

squash
Squash 

tomatoes
Tomatoes 

watermelons
Watermelons