of the berry measured at right angles to the stem axis that will pass through a rigid ring of the same diameter without using pressure.

(b) (A) classification. If the canned berries are practically uniform in size, a score of 18 to 20 points may be given. "Practically uniform in size” means that the variation in size of the berries does not materially affect the appearance of the product and that with respect to canned blackberries, not more than 15 percent, by count, of the blackberries are less than 22 inch in diameter.

(c) (B) classification. If the canned berries are reasonably uniform in size, a score of 16 or 17 points may be given. "Reasonably uniform in size" means that the variation in size of the berries does not seriously affect the appearance of the product and that with respect to canned blackberries, not more than 15 percent, by count, of the blackberries are less than 12 inch in diameter.

(d) (C) classification. If the canned berries are fairly uniform in size, a score of 14 or 15 points may be given. Canned berries that fall 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 uniform in size" means that the canned berries may be variable in size and that with respect to canned blackberries more than 15 percent, by count, are less than 1832 inch in diameter.

(a) General. The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous vegetable material and from damaged berries.

(1) "Harmless extraneous vegetable material" means any vegetable substance (including, but not limited to, leaves, stems, or portions of stems, whether or not attached, caps or portions of caps, whether or not attached).

(2) "Damaged" means any surface blemish or internal injury that materially affects the appearance or edibility of the berry (including, but not limited to, insect injury, pathological injury, hard berries, underdeveloped berries, and abnormally developed berries).

(b) (A) classification. Canned berries that are practically free from defects may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. "Practically free from defects" means that harmless extraneous vegetable material may be present that does

not more than slightly affect the appearance or edibility of the product; and that not more than 4 percent, by count, of the canned berries may be damaged.

(c) (B) classification. If the canned berries are reasonably free from defects, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Canned berries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade B or U. S. Choice, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Reasonably free from defects" means that harmless extraneous vegetable material may be present that does not more than materially affect the appearance or edibility of the product; and that not more than 8 percent, by count, of the canned berries may be damaged.

(d) (C) classification. Canned berries that are fairly free from defects may be given a score of 21 to 23 points. Canned berries that fall 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 harmless extraneous vegetable material may be present that does not seriously affect the appearance or edibility of the product; and that not more than 15 percent, by count, of the canned berries may be damaged.

(e) (SStd) classification. Canned berries which fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) 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). [18 F. R. 7940, Dec. 9, 1953, as amended at 21 F. R. 8310, Oct. 31, 1956]

§ 52.562 Character of fruit.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the degree of texture, and appearance as well as to the degree of disintegration of the berries.

(1) A berry is considered "crushed" if more than 50 percent of the drupelets are crushed, broken or detached, or if the normal shape of the berry is otherwise materially affected or destroyed.

(b) (A) classification. Canned berries that possess a good character may be given a score of 27 to 30 points. "Good character" means that the berries possess a firm, tender texture characteristic of well-ripened berries for the varietal type and are practically intact; that the berries and accompanying liquor are practically free from detached

seed cells; and that not more than 5 percent, by weight, of the blackberries may be crushed and not more than 10 percent, by weight, of dewberries, boysenberries, loganberries, or other similar types may be crushed.

(c) (B) classification. If the canned berries have a reasonably good character, a score of 24 to 26 points may be given. Canned berries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade B or U. S. Choice, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Reasonably good character" means that the berries may possess a reasonably tender texture characteristic of reasonably well-ripened berries to slightly over-ripe berries for the varietal type and are reasonably intact; that the berries and accompanying liquor are reasonably free from detached seed cells; and that not more than 10 percent by weight, of blackberries may be crushed and not more than 15 percent, by weight, of dewberries, boysenberries, loganberries, or other similar types may be crushed.

(d) (C) classification. Canned berries that possess a fairly good character may be given a score of 21 to 23 points. Canned berries that fall 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" means that the berries may possess a fairly tender texture characteristic of fairly well-ripened berries to over-ripe berries for the varietal type and are fairly intact; and that not more than 20 percent, by weight, of the berries may be crushed.

(e) (SStd) classification. Canned berries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) 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).

LOT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION § 52.563 Ascertaining the grade of a lot. The grade of a lot of the processed product covered by these standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the regulations governing inspection and certification of processed fruits and vegetables, processed products thereof, and certain other processed food products (§§ 52.1 to 52.87).

(22 F. R. 3547, May 22, 1957]

Subpart-United States Standards for Grades of Canned Blueberries

SOURCE: $52.581 to 52.593 appear at 18 F.R. 7942, Dec. 9, 1953, unless otherwise noted. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION, TYPES, AND GRADES § 52.581 Product description.

Canned blueberries are prepared from the properly ripened fresh fruit of the blueberry bush (Genus Vaccinium), including species or varieties often called "huckleberries", but not of the Genus Gaylussacia; are stemmed and washed; are packed with or without the addition of water or sweetening ingredients; and are sufficiently processed by heat to assure preservation of the product in hermetically sealed containers.

§ 52.582 Types of canned blueberries. (a) Native (or wild) type. (b) Cultivated type.

(b) "U. S. Grade B" or "U. S. Choice" is the quality of canned blueberries that possess similar varietal characteristics; that possess a good color; that are reasonably free from defects; that possess a reasonably good character; that possess a normal flavor and odor; and that score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) "U. S. Grade C" or "U. S. Standard" is the quality of canned blueberries that possess similar varietal characteristics; that possess a fairly good color; that are fairly free from defects; that possess a fairly good character; that possess a normal flavor and odor; and that score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(d) "U. S. Grade D" or "Substandard" is the quality of canned blueberries that fail to meet the requirements of U. S. Grade C or U. S. Standard.

LIQUID MEDIA, FILL OF CONTAINER, AND DRAINED WEIGHTS

§ 52.584 Recommended designations of liquid media and Brix measurements. "Cut-out" requirements for liquid media are not incorporated in the grades of the finished product since sirup or any other liquid medium, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades.

(a) It is recommended that canned blueberries have the following indicated "cut-out" Brix measurement for the respective designation, which designations include, but are not limited to, the following:

The minimum drained weight recommendations are not incorporated in the grades of the finished product since drained weight, as such, is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. The drained weight of canned blueberries is determined by emptying the contents of the container upon a United States Standard No. 8 circular sieve of proper diameter containing 8 meshes to the inch (0.0937inch, ±3%, square openings) so as to distribute the product evenly, inclining the sieve slightly to facilitate drainage, and allowing to drain for two minutes. The drained weight (or drained blueberries) is the weight of the sieve and the blueberries less the weight of the dry sieve. A sieve 8 inches in diameter is used for the equivalent of No. 3 size cans (404 x 414) and smaller, and a sieve 12 inches in diameter is used for containers larger than the equivalent of the No. 3 size can.

TABLE I-RECOMMENDED MINIMUM DRAINED WEIGHTS FOR CANNED BLUEBERRIES

(a) (A) classification. Canned blueberries that possess a very good color may be given a score of 18 to 20 points. "Very good color" means a practically uniform, bright, dark blue-purple color typical of blueberries which had been properly processed from well-matured blueberries.

(b) (B) classification. If the canned blueberries possess a good color, a score of 16 or 17 points may be given. Canned blueberries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade B or U. S. Choice, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Good color" means a reasonably uniform, dark blue-purple color typical of blueberries which had been properly processed from reasonably well-matured blueberries.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned blueberries possess a fairly good color, a score of 14 or 15 points may be given. Canned blueberries that fall 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 color" means a blue-purple color typical of blueberries which had been properly processed and which are not off color for any reason.

Canned

(d) (SStd) classification. blueberries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 13 points and shall not be graded above U. S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 52.590 Absence of defects.

(a) General. The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous material (such as leaves and large stems); from clusters; from cap stems; from undeveloped berries, or edible berries other than blueberries; and from berries damaged by insect, pathological, or any other injury.

(1) "Cap stems" are small stems which attach berries to the branch and means single cap stems or joined double cap stems with or without berries attached.

(2) A "cluster" means three or more joined cap stems with or without berries attached.

(3) "Undeveloped berries" are mummified berries with wrinkled or tough skins or which may be pathologically defective.

(b) (A) classification. Canned blueberries that are practically free from defects may be given a score of 36 to 40 points. "Practically free from defects" means that the canned blueberries are reasonably free from cap stems and for each 20 ounces of net weight, or the equivalent thereof, there may be present:

(1) Not more than a total of 2 whole leaves or large stems, provided such whole leaves and any other portions of leafy material do not exceed 2 square inch;

(2) Not more than 5 berries that are undeveloped or edible berries other than blueberries or berries that are damaged; and

(3) In native (or wild) type, not more than an average of 12 clusters in all containers comprising the sample, provided there are no more than 16 clusters in any single container; or

(4) In cultivated type, not more than 4 clusters.

(c) (B) classification. If the canned blueberries are reasonably free from defects, a score of 32 to 35 points may be given. Canned blueberries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade B or U. S. Choice, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Reasonably free from defects" means that the canned blueberries are reasonably free from cap stems and for each 20 ounces of net weight, or the equivalent thereof, there may be present:

(1) Not more than a total of 4 whole leaves or large stems, provided such whole leaves and any other portions of leafy material do not exceed 3/4 square inch;

(2) Not more than 8 berries that are undeveloped or edible berries other than blueberries or berries that are damaged; and

(3) In Native (or wild) type, not more than an average of 20 clusters in all containers comprising the sample, provided there are no more than 28 clusters in any single container; or

(4) In Cultivated type, not more than 8 clusters.

(d) (C) classification. If the canned blueberries are fairly free from defects, a score of 28 to 31 points may be given. Canned blueberries that fall 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 the canned blueberries are fairly free from cap stems and for each 20 ounces of net weight, or the equivalent thereof, there may be present:

(1) Not more than a total of 6 whole leaves or large stems, provided such whole leaves and any other portions of leafy material do not exceed 1 square inch;

(2) Not more than 10 berries that are undeveloped or edible berries other than blueberries or berries that are damaged; and

(3) In Native (or wild) type, not more than an average of 28 clusters in all containers comprising the sample, provided there are no more than 40 clusters in any single container; or

(4) In Cultivated type, not more than 12 clusters.

(e) (SStd) classification. Canned blueberries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 27 points

(b) (B) classification. If the canned blueberries possess a reasonably good character, a score of 32 to 35 points may be given. Canned blueberries that fall into this classification shall not be graded above U. S. Grade B or U. S. Choice, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule). "Reasonably good character" means that the blueberries may be lacking in firmness and fleshy texture but are reasonably whole and reasonably intact with not more than 15 percent by weight of the drained blueberries that may be crushed, mushy, or broken berries.

(c) (C) classification. If the canned blueberries possess a fairly good character, a score of 28 to 31 points may be given. Canned blueberries that fall 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" means that the blueberries are fairly whole and fairly intact with not more than 30 percent by weight of the drained blueberries that may be crushed, mushy, or broken berries.

(d) (SStd) classification. Canned blueberries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section may be given a score of 0 to 27 points and shall not be graded above U. S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

LOT INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION § 52.592

Ascertaining the grade of a lot. The grade of a lot of the processed product covered by these standards is determined by the procedures set forth in the regulations governing inspection and certification of processed fruits and vegetables, processed products thereof,