California Code of Regulations
Title 3 - Food and Agriculture
Division 3 - Economics
Chapter 1 - Fruit and Vegetable Standardization
Subchapter 4 - Fresh Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables
Article 28 - Melons, Other than Cantaloupes
Section 1442.11 - Watermelons, Official Sample to Determine Maturity

Universal Citation: 3 CA Code of Regs 1442.11

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

Section 1442.3 relating to standards for melons, provides that "mature" in the case of watermelons means that the appearance from the outside indicates maturity; and that the arils which surround the seeds have been absorbed, and that the flesh of the watermelons has not less than 75 percent red color.

In order to provide a uniform method of selecting a sample to determine the maturity of watermelons, one of the two following procedures shall be followed:

(a) When the outside appearance of watermelons in the lot indicates immaturity, those immature appearing melons shall be cut to determine whether or not the inside indications of immaturity confirm the outside indications, and the maturity of the lot may be determined on that basis. However, in the case of a rejection, enough immature melons must be found to provide sufficient basis to reject the whole load or lot.

(b) Where the outside appearance of the watermelons does not readily indicate immaturity, the sample of melons from the load or lot shall be taken at random; that is, without respect to appearance or any outside indications of maturity.

(1) From the load, select at random, five of the melons; cut them and determine their maturity.
(A) If all of the five melons cut are found to be mature, consider the load or lot to be mature. (In the case of inspection fo the purpose of issuing an "inspection" certificate, and the maturity of the load is being determined by cutting only, then the number cut must be at least 10 melons).

(B) If one or more of the five melons are found upon cutting to be immature take an additional five melons in the manner described in item (b) above, on all loads or lots up to 10-ton loads. (See item (2) below for loads over 10 tons.)

(2) When a load or lot of watermelons contains over 10 tons, and the original cutting of five melons (paragraph (b)(1) above) shows one or more immature melons, proceed with selecting additional melons; but the second cutting will be on the basis of one melon for each ton in the load. For example, in a 13-ton lot, the second cut would be on eight additional melons, and the rejectable melons in both the first cut of five and the second cut of eight would be added together to determine the percentage in the total of 13 melons cut.

(3) Any melons selected under method (a) shall not be combined in any way with those cut for method (b).

1. Amendment filed 3-16-56; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 56, No. 5).
2. Amendment filed 1-4-71 as an emergency; effective upon filing. Certificate of Compliance included (Register 71, No. 2).
3. Amendment and renumbering from Section 478 filed 1-21-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 4).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. California may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.