POINTS

1.2548 Size (diameter) of spears, tips, and points.

he size (diameter) of asparagus ars, tips, and points in canned asparais determined by measuring the largdiameter across the base at right les to the longitudinal axis of the t. Units compressed in processing uld be restored to their approximate ginal contour before sizing. Asparagus ars longer than 5 in are measured at a mt 5 in from the top of the spear. Units n in length and less are measured at base or largest cut end of the unit. 2.2549 Compliance with single size recommendations.

Canned asparagus spears, tips, and nts will be considered as meeting a ignated size when not more than 20 cent, by count, of all the units are the next size smaller or the next size ger than the diameter range of the ticular size designation.

FACTORS OF QUALITY

§ 52.2550 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) General. In addition to considering other requirements outlined in the standards, the following quality factors are evaluated in ascertaining the grade of the product:

(1) Factor not rated by score points. (i) Flavor.

(2) Factors rated by score points. (i) The relative importance of each factor which is rated is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given each such factor is: Factors:

Liquor Color Defects Character

Total score...

Points

10

20

30

40

100

(11) "Good flavor" means that the product has a good, characteristic normal flavor and odor and is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

(iii) "Fairly good flavor" means that the product may be lacking in good flavor and odor but is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.

§ 52.2551

Ascertaining the rating for the factors which are scored.

The essential variations within each factor which is rated by score points are so described that the value may be ascertained for such factors and expressed numerically. The numerical range within each such factor is inclusive (for example, "17 to 20 points" means 17, 18, 19, or 20 points).

§ 52.2552 Liquor.

(a) (A) classification. Canned asparagus that possesses a clear liquor may be given a score of 9 or 10 points. "Clear liquor" means that the liquor may possess a typical yellow or green color and is fairly free from suspended material and sediment.

(b) (C) classification. If the canned asparagus possesses a fairly clear liquor a score of 7 or 8 points may be given. "Fairly clear liquor" means that the liquor may be cloudy but not excessively cloudy or may possess an accumulation of sediment which may be slightly gray or slightly brown but is not seriously objectionable and is not off color.

(c) (SStd) classification. Canned asparagus that fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 6 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 52.2553 Color.

(a) General. The color of asparagus in canned asparagus is based on the type and style of asparagus and the characteristic and predominant color of the units.

(b) (A) classification. Canned asparagus that possesses a good color may be given a score of 17 to 20 points. "Good color" has the following meanings with respect to the following types and styles of canned asparagus:

(1) Spears, tips, or points—(i) Green. The units possess a good, characteristic, green, light green, or yellowish green color typical of well developed asparagus, and the bottom portion of not more than 10 percent, by count, of the units, or one unit, whichever is larger, may possess typical white or yellowish white color not to exceed one-eighth of the length of the unit.

(ii) Green tipped. The units possess a good, characteristic, green, light green, or yellowish green color wth typical white or yellowish white color at the base ends, typical of well developed asparagus, and not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units may possess typical white or yellowish white color in excess of onehalf of the length of the unit or may be all green.

(iii) Green tipped and white. The units possess a good, characteristic, white or yellowish white color, and may possess green, light green, or yellowish green heads and adjacent areas typical of well

developed asparagus, and not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units may possess green, light green, or yellowish green heads and adjacent areas exceeding one-half of the length of the unit.

(iv) White. The units possess a good, characteristic, white, or yellowish white color typical of well developed asparagus, and not more than 10 percent, by count, of the units, or one unit, whichever is larger, may possess green, light green, or yellowish green heads and adjacent areas not to exceed one-half of the length of the unit.

(2) Cut spears, bottom cuts or cutstips removed, and mixed-(i) Green. The units possess a good, characteristic, green, light green, or yellowish green color typical of well developed asparagus, and not more than 10 percent, by count, of the units may be green and white or white: Provided, That not more than 2 percent, by count, of all the units may be white.

(ii) Green tipped and white or white. The units possess a good, characteristic color typical of well developed green tipped and white or white asparagus.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned asparagus possesses a fairly good color, a score of 14 to 16 points may be given. "Fairly good color" has the following meanings with respect to the following types and styles of canned asparagus:

(1) Spears, tips, ΟΥ points-(i) Green. The units possess a fairly good, characteristic, green, light green, or yellowish green color typical of fairly well developed asparagus and the bottom portion of not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units may possess typical white or yellowish white color not to exceed one-fourth of the length of the unit.

(ii) Green tipped. The units possess a fairly good, characteristic, green, light green, or yellowish green color with typical white or yellowish white color at the base ends, typical of fairly well developed asparagus, and not more than 50 percent, by count, of the units may possess typical white or yellowish white color in excess of one-half of the lenth of the unit, or may be all green.

(iii) Green tipped and white. The units possess a fairly good characteristic, white or yellowish white color and may possess green, light green, or yellowish green heads and adjacent areas typical of fairly well developed asparagus, and not more than 50 percent, by count, of the units may possess green, light green, or yellowish green heads and adjacent

areas in excess of one-half of the length of the unit.

(iv) White. The units possess a fairly good, characteristic, white or yellowish white color typical of fairly well developed white asparagus, and not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units may posses green, light green, or yellowish green heads and adjacent areas not to exceed one-half of the length of the unit.

(2) Cut spears, bottom cuts or cutstips removed, and mixed-(i) Green. The units possess a fairly good, characteristic, green, light green, or yellowish green color typical of fairly well developed asparagus and not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units may be green and white or white: Provided, That not more than 5 percent, by count, of all the units may be white.

(ii) Green tipped and white or white. The units possess a fairly good, characteristic color typical of fairly well developed green tipped and white or white asparagus.

(d) (SStd) classification. Canned asparagus that fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section or is definitely off color may be given a score of 0 to 13 points and shall not be graded above substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 52.2554 Defects.

(a) General. The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from grit or silt, loose material, shattered heads, poorly cut unit, damaged units, and seriously damaged units.

(1) "Grit or silt" means sand or any other particle of earthy material.

(2) "Loose material" means shattered asparagus material and cut or broken pieces which are less than three-eighths inch in length.

(3) "Shattered head" means any unit with the asparagus head broken or shattered to the extent that the appearance is seriously affected.

(4) "Misshapen" means any spear, tip, or point that is badly crooked, or any unit that is seriously affected in appearance by doubles or other malformations.

(5) "Poorly cut" means a unit that has a very ragged, stringy, or frayed edge or edges, or a unit that is partially cut, or is cut at an angle of less than approximately 45 degrees.

(6) "Damaged" means damaged by discoloration, mechanical injury, or dam

aged by other means to the extent that the appearance or edibility of the unit is materially affected.

(7) "Seriously damaged" means damaged to such an extent that the appearance or edibility of the unit is seriously affected.

(b) (A) classification. Canned asparagus that is practically free from defects may be given a score of 25 to 30 points. "Practically free from defects" means that no grit or silt may be present that affects the appearance or edibility of the product; that loose material may be present that does not materially affect the appearance of the product; and that with respect to the following styles of canned asparagus:

(1) Spears, tips, and points. There may be present with respect to green and green tipped types not more than 10 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white types not more than 15 percent, by count, of units with shattered heads, misshapen units and poorly cut units, and damaged and seriously damaged units: Provided, That not more than 3 percent, by count, of the units may be seriously damaged, or one unit in a single container may be seriously damaged if such unit exceeds the allowance of 3 percent: Provided, That in all of the containers comprising the sample such damaged units do not exceed an average of 3 percent, by count, of the total number of units.

(2) Cut spears, bottom cuts or cuts— tips removed, and mixed. There may be present for the applicable style not more than 10 percent, by count, of units with shattered heads, misshapen units and poorly cut units, and damaged and seriously damaged units: Provided, That not more than 2 percent, by count, of the units may be seriously damaged or one unit in a single container may be seriously damaged if such unit exceeds the allowance of 2 percent: Provided, That in all of the containers comprising the sample such damaged units do not exceed an average of 2 percent, by count, of the total number of units.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned asparagus is fairly free from defects, a score of 21 to 24 points may be given. Canned asparagus that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly free from defects" means that not more than a trace of grit or silt may be present that

affects the appearance or edibility of the product; that loose material may be present that does not seriously affect the appearance of the product; and that with respect to the following styles of canned asparagus:

(1) Spears, tips, and points. There may be present with respect to green and green tipped types not more than 20 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white and white types not more than 30 percent, by count, of units with shattered heads, misshapen units, and poorly cut units, and damaged and seriously damaged units: Provided, That not more than 10 percent, by count, of the units may be seriously damaged, or one unit in a single container may be seriously damaged if such unit exceeds the allowance of 10 percent: Provided, That in all of the containers comprising the sample such damaged units do not exceed an average of 10 percent, by count, of the total number of units.

(2) Cut spears, bottom cuts or cutstips removed, and mixed. There may be present for the applicable style not more than 20 percent, by count, of units with shattered heads, misshapen units and poorly cut units, and damaged and seriously damaged units: Provided, That not more than 7 percent, by count, of all the units may be seriously damaged.

(d) (SStd) classification. Canned asparagus that fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 20 points and shall not be graded above substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 52.2555 Character.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the degree of development of the head and bracts and to the tenderderness and texture of the unit.

(1) "Well developed" means that the appearance of the head is not materially affected by a seedy appearance, and is practically compact.

(2) "Fairly well developed" means that the head may show a seedy appearance over the surface of the head and the head and bracts may be elongated but not so developed or elongated as to give a definitely spread or branching appearance.

(b) (A) classification. Canned asparagus that possesses a good character may be given a score of 34 to 40 points. “Good character" has the following meanings with respect to the following styles and types of canned asparagus:

(1) Spears, tips, and points. Not less than 85 percent, by count, of the heads are well developed, and the remaining units are at least fairly well developed, and with respect to green and green tipped types not more than 10 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white and white types not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units, or one unit in a container if such unit exceeds the allowances provided for the respective type, may be tough.

(2) Cut spears and mixed. Not less than 50 percent, by count, of the heads are well developed, and the remainder are at least fairly well developed, and with respect to green and green tipped types not more than 10 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white and white types not more than 20 percent, by count, of the units may be tough.

(3) Bottom cuts or cuts-tips removed. With respect to green and green tipped types not more than 10 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white and white types not more than 33% percent, by count, of the units may be tough.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned asparagus possesses a fairly good character, a score of 28 to 33 points may be given. Canned asparagus that falls into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Fairly good character" has the following meanings with respect to the following styles and types of canned asparagus:

(1) Spears, tips, and points. Not less than 90 percent, by count, of the heads are at least fairly well developed, and the remaining units may fail to meet the requirements for fairly well developed heads, and with respect to green and green tipped types not more than 25 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white and white types not more than 50 percent, by count, of the units may be tough.

(2) Cut spears and mixed. Not less than 90 percent, by count, of all the heads are at least fairly well developed, and the remainder may fail to meet the requirements for fairly well developed heads, and with respect to green and green tipped types not more than 25 percent, and with respect to green tipped and white and white types, not more than 50 percent, by count, of the units may be tough.