Grades
U.S. No. 1.
U.S. Combination.
U.S. No. 2.
U.S. No. 3.
Tolerances
En route or at destination. 15% for tomatoes in any lot which fail to
meet the requirements for this grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for defects listed:
(i) 5% for tomatoes which are soft or affected by decay;
(ii) 10% for tomatoes which are damaged by shoulder bruises or by discolored or sunken
scars on any parts of the tomatoes; and,
(iii) 10% for tomatoes which are otherwise defective: And provided further, That not
more than 5% shall be allowed for tomatoes which are very seriously damaged by any
cause, exclusive of soft or decayed tomatoes.
Good Delivery Guidelines:
20% total, including 15% damage by sunken discolored areas, 15% other defects, including 8% very serious damage, including 8% soft and decay
Common Defects:
Damage by:
(a) Blossom End Discoloration when the affected area exceeds 3/8 inch in diameter.
(b) Bruising when more than 3/8 inch aggregate area is affected.
(c) Cuts and Broken skins when not shallow or not well healed, or shallow, well healed cut more than 1/2 inch in length, or other shallow, well healed skin breaks aggregating more than a circle 3/8 inch in diameter.
(d) Surface discoloration when aggregates more than 3/8 inch in diameter.
(e) Growth cracks when not well healed, more than 1/8 inch in depth, individual radial cracks more than 1/2 inch in length, aggregate length of all radial cracks more than 1 inch measured from edge of stem scar. Any lot of tomatoes which are at least turning may have cracks which are not well healed provided they are not leaking.
(f) Internal discoloration when an aggregate area of more than 1/2 inch in diameter is affected.
(g) Puffy when there is an open space in 1 or more locules which materially detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at right angles to a line from stem to blossom end.
(h) Scars when aggregating more than a circle 3/8 inch in diameter.
(i) Sunken discolored areas when more than ¼ inch on a green and breaker and more than 3/8 inch when the tomato is turning to red and color.
Serious damage by:
(a) Blossom End Discoloration when the affected area exceeds 5/8 inch in diameter.
(b) Bruising when more than 5/8 inch aggregate area is affected.
(c) Cuts and Broken skins when not shallow or not well healed, or shallow, well healed cut more than 1/2 inch in length, or other shallow, well healed skin breaks aggregating more than a circle 1/2 inch in diameter.
(d) Surface discoloration when aggregates more than 5/8 inch in diameter.
(e) Growth cracks when not well healed, more than 1/8 inch in depth, individual radial cracks more than 3/4 inch in length, aggregate length of all radial cracks more than 1-3/4 inches measured from edge of stem scar. Any lot of tomatoes which are at least turning may have cracks which are not well healed provided they are not leaking.
(f) Internal discoloration when an aggregate area of more than 1 inch in diameter is affected.
(g) Puffy when there is an open space in 1 or more locules which seriously detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at right angles to a line from stem to blossom end.
(h) Scars when aggregating more than a circle 5/8 inch in diameter.
(i) Sunken discolored areas when more than 3/8 inch on a green and breaker and more than 1/2 inch when the tomato is turning to red and color.