Grades
U.S. Fancy.
U.S. No. 1.
U.S. No. 2.
Tolerances
En route or at destination. 12% total defects: Provided, including 8% for permanent defects including 5% for soft heads; or 6% for serious damage; including 4% for serious damage by permanent defects and 3% for decay on any portion of the head exclusive of the wrapper leaves.
Good Delivery Guidelines:
15% total, including 9% serious damage, including 5% decay
Common Defects:
Damage by:
(a) Broken midribs when more than 2 head leaves have midribs broken in two due to abnormal growth.
(b) Discoloration when:
(1) Yellow or brown, affecting any portion of the leaf, or when seriously detracting from the appearance of the wrapper leaves, or
(2) Yellow or brown, materially detracting from the appearance of the head exclusive of the wrapper leaves, or
(3) Discoloration following bruising materially detracting from the appearance of more than 2 outer head leaves, or
(c) Discoloration of wrapper leaves when the yellow or brown discoloration affects 50% or more of the wrapper leaves and extends over more than 3/4 of the surface of each affected leaf.
(d) Field freezing when peeling or feathering affecting head leaves shall have at least three outer head leaves with peeling or feathering extending over more than 3/4 of the area of the crown of the head. Discoloration resulting from field freezing should be scored as damage when it extends over more than 1/2 of the crown.
(e) Mechanical damage when more than 2 outer head leaves are materially torn or have pieces plucked out, or the injury materially detracts from the appearance of the head.
(f) Rib discoloration when an aggregate length of brown or black spots on outer surface of any head leaf exceeds 1 inch.
(g) Russet spotting when present in any degree on more than 2 outer head leaves, or when the number, size, and color of the spots materially detracts from the appearance of any head leaf.
(h) Tipburn when an aggregate area of tipburn of a light buff or darker color occurring anywhere in the compact portion of the head exceeds a rectangle 1 inch in length and 1/2 inch in width.
Serious damage by:
(a) Broken midribs when more than 4 head leaves have midribs broken in two due to abnormal growth.
(b) Discoloration when:
(1) Yellow or brown, affecting any portion of the leaf, or when very seriously detracting from the appearance of the wrapper leaves, or
(2) Yellow or brown, seriously detracting from the appearance of the head exclusive of the wrapper leaves, or
(3) Discoloration following bruising seriously detracting from the appearance of more than 2 outer head leaves, or
(c) Discoloration of wrapper leaves when the yellow or brown discoloration affects 90% or more of the wrapper leaves and extends over more than 3/4 of the surface of each affected leaf.
(d) Field freezing, when peeling or feathering, is never scored as serious damage. When discolored from field freezing score when seriously affecting the appearance.
(e) Mechanical damage when more than 3 outer head leaves are materially torn or have pieces plucked out, or the injury seriously detracts from the appearance of the head.
(f) Rib discoloration when seriously detracting from the appearance or the edible quality of more than 2 head leaves.
(g) Russet spotting when the number, size, and color of the spots seriously detracts from the appearance of 2 or more head leaves.
(h) Tipburn when an aggregate area of tipburn of a light buff or darker color occurring anywhere in the compact portion of the head exceeds a rectangle 3 inches in length and 1 inch in width.
View Endive and Escarole Standard