International Produce Training

In many of these past posts I have referenced the defect “growth cracks” quite a few times.  There may be few of you that are not really clear on what a growth crack is, or how it is different from a scar.  To begin with, both scars and growth cracks are considered to be quality [...]

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Every now and then I disagree with a specific USDA sampling procedure, especially when it involves cutting (destroying) produce.  When it comes to eggplant, the USDA seems to go overboard with their cutting procedure instructions.  Their own inspection instructions state: Sampling for Internal Defects When inspecting eggplant for internal defects, randomly select and cut, a minimum of [...]

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Every now and then you may come across some problems with pineapples in a shipment.  Common defects are bruising and decay, which are easily identified.  Recently an inspector came across some pineapples that were showing a brown discoloration around the eyes.  It was correctly identified as gummosis.  He shared with me the following images. As shown [...]

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International Produce Training usually holds training classes for company personnel at the company’s warehouse.  The classes are tailored to the specific needs of the company, commodities are chosen by the company, and travel expenses and time lost is kept to a minimum.    IPT does receive many requests from individuals looking for a training class [...]

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The number one question that I hear over and over, is to explain what is considered a good/bad pressure test reading.  To begin with, using a penetrometer is a useful tool to determine how hard or how ripe the fruit is that you are inspecting.  Industry uses penetrometers on a daily basis when storing or [...]

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Although you may come across some onions with a green color, caused by sunburn, the scoring guidelines will most likely prevent you from scoring sunburn as a defect. We will discuss northern grown onions (onions grown in Idaho, Oregon Northern California, New York, etc) as the scoring guideline for Bermuda Granex Grao type onions is [...]

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You will sometimes come across carrots that show definitive cracks running the length of the carrot. Many inspectors confuse this defect with bruising or mechanical damage, or may think these are growth cracks.  But no, these are not caused by rough harvesting or due to sudden growth while in the ground.  This defect is called “air [...]

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Raspberries and Blackberries have one thing in common, different from every other commodity.  When determining the percent of defects, the US Grade Standards state the tolerances are based on volume.  Do you have any idea how this is done?  Don’t feel bad, I have never met an inspector (USDA, State, or industry) that actually follows [...]

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International Produce Training has announced it is now selling the Commodity Reference Manual.  For those of you that are familiar with the USDA version, you will be pleased to find this manual has included all the information you found useful, plus more.  You will now have PACA’s Good Delivery tolerances at your fingertips, and also [...]

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With the recent cold weather you may have noticed some peeling and feathering affecting the outer leaves of romaine.  This defect is the by-product of romaine being affected by cold (below freezing temperatures) in the fields, while growing.  The water in the cell walls of the outer epidermis of the leaves freezes, and when ice crystals [...]

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