Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a)
General. New York State Seal of Quality grapes shall be bunches of grapes of
one variety (except when designated as assorted varieties) which are mature and
well colored. The berries are firm, firmly attached to capstems, and are not
split, shattered, crushed, dried or wet, and are free from decay, mold, mildew,
berry moth, russeting and hail, and free from damage caused by freezing,
disease, insects or other means.
(b) Definitions.
(1) Mature means that the grapes are juicy,
palatable and have reached that stage of development at which the skin or the
berry easily separates from the pulp. Frozen or slightly frosted stock is not
to be confused with mature stock.
(2) Firm means that the berry is reasonably
turgid and does not yield more than slightly to moderate pressure.
(3) Well colored means that the berries show
full color characteristics of the variety.
(4) Shattered means that the berry is
separated from the bunch and may or may not have the capstem
attached.
(5) Compact means that
the bunches are well filled and have no open spaces.
(6) Fairly compact means that the bunches are
well filled but that the berries are not closely spaced as in compact
bunches.
(7) Damage means any
specific defect described in this section; or an equally objectionable
variation of this defect, any other defect, or any combination of defects which
materially detracts from the appearance or the edible or shipping quality or
the individual berry or the bunch as a whole. The following specific defects
shall be considered as damage:
(i) Mildew.
When detracting from the appearance of the individual berry or the bunch as a
whole. Berries on the inside of the bunch which show only slight traces of
mildew are not considered damaged.
(ii) Spray residue. When the residue is heavy
enough to more than slightly detract from the appearance of the
bunch.
(8) Serious
damage means any defect or combination of defects, which seriously detracts
from the appearance or edible or shipping quality of the individual berry or
the bunch as a whole. The following specific defect shall be considered as
serious damage:
(i) Spray residue. When the
residue is heavy enough to more than moderately detract from the appearance of
the bunch.
(9) Desirable
market appearance means that individual berries or bunches are generally free
from readily visible defects or imperfections which more than slightly detract
from the appearance of the grapes.
(c) Size.
(1) Not less than 90 percent, by count, or
the berries, exclusive of dried berries, on each bunch shall have a minimum
diameter of 9/16 of an inch, unless otherwise specified.
(2) At least 50 percent of the bunches in the
containers are compact. They are not excessively small, except that compact
portions of bunches consisting of not less than 10 berries may be used to fill
open spaces between whole bunches.
(d) Tolerances. In order to allow for
variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances by
weight are permitted:
(1) five percent for
bunches in any lot which are straggly;
(2) ten percent for bunches in any lot which
fail to meet the requirements for minimum diameter of berries; and
(3) ten percent for bunches and berries in
any lot which fail to meet the remaining requirements of this grade, including
therein not more than 1/2 this amount, or five percent, for berries which are
seriously damaged: provided, that included in this latter amount not more than
one percent may be permitted for berries affected by mold or decay, and not
more than one percent for dried berries, and not more than 1/2 of one percent
for berries affected by berry moth.
(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 for the grade.
(1) Individual packages which contain more
than five pounds shall contain not more than 1 1/2 times a tolerance of 10
percent or more and not more than double a specified tolerance of less than 10
percent.
(2) Individual packages
which contain five pounds or less shall contain not more than three times the
specified tolerance.
(f)
Packing. Grapes shall be packed in new one, two, four or eight quart
containers, or any other new standard containers subject to the approval of the
Department of Agriculture and Markets, which are properly marked to include:
variety or varieties (when packed as mixed varieties), name and address of
grower, packer or shipper and volume. Container approval shall be based upon
the ability of the container to maintain the quality standards and integrity of
the product.
(g) Markings. In
addition to the marking requirements mentioned above, grapes packaged and
offered for sale under the Seal of Quality program shall have affixed the
official seal designation.
