One of the most interesting reactions I receive during my training classes, is the discussion that follow questions about appeal inspections. To begin with, appeal inspections are used when a receiver or a shipper of produce feel the inspector errorred in judgement. They request an appeal inspection, on the chance the new inspection will supersede or […]
One of the most common defects of oranges is the defect called skin breakdown. This defect is caused by many different factors, including age, coloring, chilling injury, bruising, or any time the orange may lose some if its moisture and begins, resulting in sunken pitted areas. Skin breakdown may be found anywhere on the fruit’s […]
Have you ever received a load of fresh cut produce, and after checking out a few bags you found some problems? But now what? How much discoloration are you allowed, how much decay is permissible? Well, I will try not to confuse the issue, but reading the USDA Inspection Instructions and trying to make sense […]
You may have come across this defect in some of your recent shipments of nectarines. When most people see this defect they want to assume it is characteristic of the variety, or possibly from spray burn due to some kind of orchard spray. Although it is true this whitish discoloration occurs in the orchard, it is not caused […]
Have you ever received some product, found a few containers being short weight and wondered what to do next? The scenario I will go over here is when the container has a marked net weight. It doesn’t matter if it is listed in ounces or pounds, or in grams or kilograms, it still must meet the marked net […]
Ugli Ripes and Vintage Ripes tomatoes are now being inspected in Florida, and are partially exempted from meeting the Marketing Order requirements. Simply put, the tomatoes must meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 2 Grade, except they may be misshapen and they may be slightly rough (as compared with the shoulders being smooth). USDA inspectors are being instructed to report […]
With every one’s budgets being closely scrutinized, it has never more important than now to make sure you are spending your training dollars wisely. As training expenses are usually the first targets to take a hit, with some careful planning you can still ensure your staff is properly trained at minimum cost. Most produce companies utilize […]
With the Chilean sweet cherries hitting the market, remember to look for a few common defects, such as bruising, pitting and soft cherries. Pitting is the most common condition defect you may see. The surface pitting found on sweet cherries is caused by a breakdown of cells in the flesh directly beneath the skin. This results […]
You have heard the phrase over and over, “It fails to grade, but it makes good delivery!” What does this mean? PACA uses these guidelines to determine if a load of produce meets “Suitable Shipping Condition,” a requirement for shippers to meet their contractual agreements. First let’s clarify the ground rules. Good delivery applies to […]
As 2008 comes to a close, it is time to get ready for the shipments of Chilean grapes and stone fruit to hit the U.S. One of the most common mistakes made is the assumption that all Chilean Fruit, being imported into the United States, has passed a USDA inspection. The confusion is understandable for a few reasons. […]