You are using an unsupported browser. This web site is designed for the current versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari.
The Office of the Federal Register publishes documents on behalf of Federal agencies but does not have any authority over their programs. We recommend you directly contact the agency associated with the content in question.
If you have comments or suggestions on how to improve the www.ecfr.gov website or have questions about using www.ecfr.gov, please choose the 'Website Feedback' button below.
If you would like to comment on the current content, please use the 'Content Feedback' button below for instructions on contacting the issuing agency
Enhanced content is provided to the user to provide additional context.
This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.
Navigate by entering citations or phrases (eg: 1 CFR 1.1 49 CFR 172.101 Organization and Purpose 1/1.1 Regulation Y FAR).
Choosing an item from citations and headings will bring you directly to the content. Choosing an item from full text search results will bring you to those results. Pressing enter in the search box will also bring you to search results.
Background and more details are available in the Search & Navigation guide.
| Definitions | 51.1864 – 51.1877 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
38 FR 23932, Sept. 5, 1973, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981.
This content is from the eCFR and may include recent changes applied to the CFR. The official, published CFR, is updated annually and available below under "Published Edition". You can learn more about the process here.
Subscribe to: 7 CFR Part 51 Subpart S - Definitions
View the most recent official publication:
These links go to the official, published CFR, which is updated annually. As a result, it may not include the most recent changes applied to the CFR. Learn more.
Information and documentation can be found in our developer resources.
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) is a continuously updated online version of the CFR. It is not an official legal edition of the CFR.
Learn more about the eCFR, its status, and the editorial process.
Similar varietal characteristics means that the tomatoes are alike as to firmness of flesh and shade of color (for example, soft-fleshed, early maturing varieties are not mixed with firm-fleshed, midseason or late varieties, or bright red varieties mixed with varieties having a purplish tinge).
Mature means that the tomato has reached the stage of development which will insure a proper completion of the ripening process, and that the contents of two or more seed cavities have developed a jelly-like consistency and the seeds are well developed.
Soft means that the tomato yields readily to slight pressure.
Clean means that the tomato is practically free from dirt or other foreign material.
Well developed means that the tomatoe shows normal growth. Tomatoes which are ridged and peaked at the stem end, contain dry tissue, and usually contain open spaces below the level of the stem scar, are not considered well developed.
Fairly well formed means that the tomato is not more than moderately kidney-shaped, lop-sided, elongated, angular, or otherwise moderately deformed.
Fairly smooth means that the tomato is not conspicuously ridged or rough.
Damage means any specific defect described in § 51.1877, table II; or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the tomato.
Reasonably well formed means that the tomato is not decidedly kidney-shaped, lop-sided, elongated, angular, or otherwise decidedly deformed.
Slightly rough means that the tomato is not decidedly ridged or grooved.
Serious damage means any specific defect described in § 51.1877, table II; or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the tomato.
Misshapen means that the tomato is decidedly kidney-shaped, lop-sided, elongated, angular or otherwise decidedly deformed: Provided, That the shape is not affected to an extent that the appearance or the edible quality of the tomato is very seriously affected.
Very serious damage means any specific defect described in § 51.1877, Table II; or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which very seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the tomato.
| Factor | Damage | Serious damage | Very serious damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuts and broken skins | Not shallow or not well healed, or shallow, well healed cut more than 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) in length, or other shallow, well healed skin breaks aggregating more than a circle 3⁄8 inch (10 mm) in diameter | Not shallow or not well healed, or shallow, well healed cut more than 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) in length, or other shallow, well healed skin breaks aggregating more than a circle 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) in diameter | Fresh or healed and extending through the tomato wall. |
| Puffiness | Open space in 1 or more locules materially detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at right angles to a line from stem to blossom end | Open space in 1 or more locules seriously detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at right angles to a line from stem to blossom end | Open space in 2 or more locules very seriously detracts from appearance of tomato cut through center at right angles to a line from stem to blossom end. |
| Catfaces | Scars are rough or deep, channels are very deep or wide, channels extend into a locule, or a fairly smooth catface aggregating more than a circle 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) in diameter | Scars are rough or deep, channels are very deep or wide, channels extend into a locule, or a fairly smooth catface aggregating more than a circle 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) in diameter | Channels extend into the locule, wall has been weakened to the extent that slight pressure will cause a tomato to leak, or a fairly smooth catface aggregating more than a circle 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter. |
| Scars (other than catfaces) | No depth and aggregating more than a circle 3⁄8 inch (10 mm) in diameter | No depth and aggregating more than a circle 5⁄8 inch (16 mm) in diameter | No depth and aggregating more than a circle 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter. |
| Growth cracks (radiating from or concentric to stem scar) | Not well healed, more than 1⁄8 inch (3 mm) in depth, individual radial cracks more than 1⁄2 inch (13 mm) in length, aggregate length of all radial cracks more than 1 inch (25 mm) measured from edge of stem scar. Any lot of tomatoes which are at least turning may have cracks which are not well healed provided they are not leaking | Not well healed, more than 1⁄8 inch (3 mm) in depth, individual radial cracks more than 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) in length, aggregate length of all radial cracks more than 1 3⁄4 inches (44 mm) measured from edge of stem scar. Any lot of tomatoes which are at least turning may have cracks which are not well healed provided they are not leaking | Not well healed, more than 1⁄4 inch (6 mm) in depth, individual radial cracks more than 1 inch (25 mm) in length, aggregate length of all radial cracks more than 2 7⁄8 inches (73 mm) measured from edge of stem scar. Any lot of tomatoes which are at least turning may have cracks which are not well healed provided they are not leaking, not more than 1⁄8 inch (3 mm) in depth, individual radial cracks are not more than 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) in length. |
| Hail | Deep, rough, not well healed and corked over, or fairly smooth, shallow hailmarks aggregating more than a circle 3⁄8 inch (10 mm) in diameter | Deep, rough, not well healed and corked over, or fairly smooth, shallow hailmarks aggregating more than a circle 5⁄8 inch (16 mm) in diameter | Fresh, very deep or fairly smooth, shallow hailmarks aggregating more than a circle 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter. |
| Insect injury | Materially detracts from the appearance of any insect is present in the fruit | Seriously detracts from the appearance of any insect is present in the fruit | Very seriously detracts from the appearance of any insect is present in the fruit. |
| 1 Conversion to metric equivalent, made to nearest whole millimeter. | |||
[38 FR 23932, Sept. 5, 1973, as amended at 38 FR 32920, Nov. 29, 1973. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981]