Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a)
General. New York State Seal of Quality celery shall be stalks of celery of
similar varietal characteristics which are well developed, well formed, clean,
well trimmed, compact; free from blackheart, brown stem, soft rot and doubles.
The celery is also free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks,
horizontal cracks, pithy branches, seedstems, suckers, wilting, blight, other
diseases, insects or mechanical or other means.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Stalk means an individual
plant.
(2) Similar varietal
characteristics means that the stalks in any package have the same general
appearance and character of growth.
(3) Well developed means that the branches
are of good width and thickness in relation to the length of midribs and type
of celery and that the heart branches are of reasonable number, length and
stockiness.
(4) Well formed means
that the branches are fairly straight and not more than slightly curved or
twisted.
(5) Clean means that the
stalk is practically free from dirt or other foreign material. Stalks shall be
permitted to have a small amount of dirt on the inside of the branches or in
the heart branches which cannot be removed by good commercial methods of
washing.
(6) Well trimmed means
that not more than two relatively thin, short or spindly, or coarse and fibrous
outer branches remain; that the main root has been cut off so as not to extend
more than 1 1/2 inches below the point of attachment of the lowest outer
branch; that secondary rootlets are not of such number or length as to
materially affect the appearance of the stalk; and, that the appearance is not
materially affected by the presence of discolored leaves or by excessive
removal of leaves or portions of leaves.
(7) Compact means that the branches on the
stalk are fairly closetogether throughout most of their length.
(8) Average midrib length means the average
length of all the branches in the outer whorl measured from the point of
attachment at the base to the first node.
(9) Branch means the leaf of a stalk and
consists of the edible stem-like portion and the tops or leaf blades.
(10) Length of stalk means the distance from
where the root is cut off to a point which represents the average length of the
longest branches.
(11) Diameter
means the greatest dimension of the stalk measured at a point two inches above
the point of attachment of the lowest outer branch to the base.
(c) Size. The average midrib
length of the outer whorl of branches shall both be less than seven inches.
Stalks shall be of such length as to extend from one side, end, or bottom of
the container to within one inch of the corresponding opposite side, end, or
top of the container. Such measurement shall not include the bulge, and shall
be measured in whole inches of even number as 12 inches, 14 inches, etc., in
accordance with the facts.
(d)
Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and
handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted:
(1) For defects. Ten percent, by count, in
any lot for stalks which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, including
therein not more than 1/2 of this amount of five percent for stalks which are
seriously including therein one percent for soft rot.
(2) For off-length stalks. Five percent by
count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the minimum length required or
specified.
(3) For off-length
midribs. Five percent by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the
requirements as to average midrib length.
(e) Application of tolerances. The contents
of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject to
the following limitations: provided, that the averages for the entire lot are
within the tolerances specified:
(1) For
packages which contain 20 specimens or more and a tolerance of 10 percent or
more is provided, individual packages in any lot may contain not more than one
and one-half times the tolerance specified. For packages which contain 20 or
more specimens and a tolerance of less than 10 percent is provided, individual
packages in any lot may contain not more than double the tolerance specified
except that at least one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted
in any package.
(2) For packages
which contain less than 20 specimens, individual packages in any lot may
contain not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at least one
defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package; provided
that for packages which contain six specimens or less, individual packages in
any lot are not restricted as to the percentage of defects; and provided
further, that not more than one specimen which is affected by decay or
otherwise seriously damaged and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any
package.
(f) Count. The
number of stalks of celery in the container may be specified by numerical count
or in terms of dozens or half dozens.
(g) Defects.
(1) Growth cracks mean more than one branch
is affected by growth cracks which are over 1/2 inch in length or when more
than four branches have growth cracks.
(2) Horizontal cracks mean more than two
branches have horizontal cracks which are over one-half inch in length, or when
more than four branches have horizontal cracks.
(3) Pithy branches mean more than two are
pithy in that portion of the midrib between a point one inch above the point of
attachment to the base and the first node, or between a point one inch below
the first node and the point of attachment to the base, or when pith occurs at
both ends of the midrib and more than a total of one inch is
affected.
(4) Seedstems mean the
length of seedstem exceeds 1 1/2 times the diameter or six inches in
length.
(5) Brown stem, cracked
stem and crater blotch means materially affecting more than one branch or when
aggregate area exceeds one-half of a square inch on the branches.
(6) Discoloration means each of more than one
branch or 1/4 of the branches of the stalk, whichever is less, has more than
three distinct hairlike lines more than two inches long occurring on the outer
side of the branch or an aggregate area of more than 1/4 by 3/4 inch of blotch
or solid type discoloration occurring on the inner side.
(7) Insects mean worms are present or when
insect injury occurs on heart branches, or when insect injury affects midrib
portion of more than one branch, or when injury on other portions slightly
affects the appearance of the stalk.
(8) Mechanical injury means the root has been
cut off too closely leaving the branches without support; when more than one
branch is materially scuffed or bruised; when the branches have been broken
above the first node to an extent which materially affects the appearance; or
when more than one branch is broken below the first node except that all
branches may be cut below the first node provided the stalk is of the length
specified.
(h) Packing.
Celery must be packed in new wirebound crates or new waxed cartons or any other
new standard containers subject to the approval of the Department of
Agriculture and Markets. Container approval shall be based upon the ability of
the container to maintain the quality standards and integrity of the
product.
(i) Markings. Celery
packaged and offered for sale under the Seal of Quality shall have affixed the
official seal designation.
