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| Factors of Quality | 52.776 – 52.781 | |||||||||||||||||||
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39 FR 13963, Apr. 18, 1974, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977, and further redesignated at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981.
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Subscribe to: 7 CFR Part 52 Subpart B - Factors of Quality
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(a) General. The grade of a sample unit of canned red tart pitted cherries is ascertained by considering the factor of flavor and odor of the product and the requirement for size (in U.S. Grade A and U.S. Grade B) which are not scored; the ratings for the factors of color, freedom from pits, defects, and character, which are scored; and the limiting rules which may be applicable.
(b) Factors rated by score points. The relative importance of each factor which is scored is expressed numerically on the scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given each factor is:
| Factors | Points |
|---|---|
| Color | 20 |
| Freedom from pits | 20 |
| Defects | 30 |
| Character | 30 |
| Total score | 100 |
(c) Definition. “Normal flavor and odor” means that the flavor and odor are characteristic of canned red tart pitted cherries and that the product is free from objectionable flavors and objectionable odors of any kind.
The essential variations within each factor which is scored are so described that the value may be ascertained for each factor and expressed numerically. The numerical range within each factor which is scored is inclusive (for example, “18 to 20 points” means 18, 19, or 20 points).
(a) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a good color may be given a score of 18 to 20 points. “Good color” means a practically uniform color that is bright and typical of canned red tart pitted cherries which have been prepared and processed from properly ripened cherries.
(b) (B) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a reasonably good color may be given a score of 16 or 17 points. “Reasonably good color” means a reasonably uniform color, typical of canned red tart pitted cherries which have been properly prepared and processed and which color may range from a slight yellowish-red color to a slightly mottled reddish brown.
(c) (C) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a fairly good color may be given a score of 14 or 15 points. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Fairly good color” means a fairly uniform color typical of canned red tart pitted cherries which have been properly processed and which color may range from a brownish cast to mottled shades of brown.
(d) (SStd.) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the color requirements for U.S. Grade C may be given a score of 0 to 15 points and shall not be graded above Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).
(a) General. The factor of freedom from pits refers to the incidence of pits and pit fragments.
(b) Definitions.
(1) A pit, for the purposes of the allowances in this section, is a whole cherry pit or portions of pits computed as follows:
(i) A single piece of pit shell, whether or not within or attached to a whole cherry, that is larger than one-half pit shell is considered as one pit;
(ii) A single piece of pit shell, whether or not within or attached to a whole cherry, that is not larger than one-half pit shell is considered as one-half pit;
(iii) Pieces of pit shell, within or attached to a whole cherry, when their combined size is larger than one-half pit shell are considered as one pit; and
(iv) Pieces of pit shell, within or attached to a whole cherry, when their combined size is not larger than one-half pit shell are considered as one-half pit.
(2) Drained cherries means pitted cherries that have been drained of packing medium by the method prescribed in this subpart.
(c) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are practically free from pits may be given a score of 18 to 20 points. “Practically free from pits” means that the number of pits that may be present in the drained cherries does not exceed the allowances for this classification as set forth in Table IV.
(d) (B) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are reasonably free from pits may be given a score of 16 or 17 points. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Reasonably free from pits” means that the number of pits that may be present does not exceed the allowances for this classification as set forth in Table IV.
(e) (C) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are fairly free from pits may be given a score of 14 or 15 points. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Fairly free from pits” means that the number of pits that may be present in the drained cherries does not exceed the allowances for this classification as set forth in Table IV.
(f) (SStd.) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C 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).
(a) General. The factor of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous material, mutilated cherries, and cherries blemished by scab, hail injury, discoloration, scar tissue, or by other means.
(1) Cherry means a whole cherry, whether or not pitted, or portions of such cherries which in the aggregate approximate the average size of the cherries.
(2) Harmless extraneous material means any vegetable substance (including, but not being limited to, a leaf or a stem, and any portions thereof) that is harmless.
(3) Mutilated cherry means a cherry that is so pitter-torn or damaged by other means that the entire pit cavity is exposed and the appearance of the cherry is seriously affected.
(4) Minor blemished cherry means any cherry blemished with skin discoloration (other than scald) having an aggregate area of a circle 9⁄32 inch (7 mm) or less in diameter which more than slightly affects the appearance of the cherry but does not extend into the fruit tissue.
(5) Blemished cherry means any cherry blemished by skin discoloration (other than scald) which in the aggregate exceeds the area of a circle 9⁄32 inch (7 mm) in diameter. A cherry affected by skin discoloration extending into the fruit tissue or by scab, hail injury, scar tissue, or other abnormality, regardless of size, is considered a blemished cherry.
(b) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are practically free from defects may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. “Practically free from defects” means that the number of defects that may be present does not exceed the number specified for the type of defects in Table IV.
(c) (B) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that are reasonably free from defects may be given a score of 24 to 26 points. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification may not be graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Reasonably free from defects” means that the number of defects that may be present does not exceed the number specified for the type of defects in Table IV.
(d) (C) classification. If the canned red tart pitted cherries are fairly free from defects, a score of 21 to 23 points may be given. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Fairly free from defects” means that the number of defects that may be present does not exceed the number specified for the type of defects in Table IV.
(e) (SStd.) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements for Grade C for any reason 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).
(a) General. The factor of character refers to the physical characteristics of the flesh of the cherries.
(b) (A) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a good character may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. “Good character” means that the cherries are thick-fleshed and have a firm, tender texture.
(c) (B) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a reasonably good character may be given a score of 24 to 26 points. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade B, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Reasonably good character” means that the cherries may be reasonably thick-fleshed and may be slightly soft.
(d) (C) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that have a fairly good character may be given a score of 21 to 23 points. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U.S. Grade C, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). “Fairly good character” means that the cherries may be thin-fleshed, and may be soft but not mushy, or slightly tough but not leathery.
(e) (SStd.) classification. Canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements for U.S. Grade C 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).