$52.743 Recommended sulfured cherries.

sizes

(a) Although size is a factor in connection with some styles of sulfured cherries, it is not a factor of quality for the purpose of these grades. The size range of sulfured cherries varies on the basis of the diameter of the fruit. The diameter of the sulfured cherry is the minimum diameter of the fruit that will pass through a rigid ring of the same diameter without using pressure. The name designations of the various sizes are shown in the first column of Table No. I of this section. Sulfured cherries will be considered as meeting a particular designated size if not more than 10 percent, by weight, of all the cherries are 1 mm. smaller or 2 mm. smaller and not more than 10 percent, by weight, of all the cherries are 1 mm. larger or 2 mm. larger than the diameter range of the particular size designation: Provided, That not more than 1 percent by weight, of all cherries are no more than 2 mm. smaller than the minimum diameter for the designated size and not more than 1 percent, by weight, of all cherries are no more than 2 mm. larger than the maximum diameter for the designated size.

$52.744 Grades of sulfured cherries.

(a) "U.S. Grade A" or "U.S. Fancy" is the quality of sulfured cherries that are clean; that possess a good color; that are practically free from defects; that possess a good character; and that score not less than 85 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(b) "U.S. Grade B" or "U.S. Choice" is the quality of sulfured cherries that are clean; that possess a reasonably good color; that are reasonably free from defects; that possess a reasonably good character; and that score not less than 70 points when scored in accord

(c) "U.S. Grade D" or "Seconds" is the quality of sulfured cherries that are clean, but for other reasons fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice.

(d) "U.S. Combination grade" is the quality of sulfured cherries that are clean; and that with respect to color, absence of defects, and character meets the following requirements:

(1) Not less than 90 percent, by weight, of all the cherries, possess at least a reasonably good color and a reasonably good character and are free from misshapen cherries, cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury and seriously blemished cherries; and

(2) Unless otherwise specified, at least 50 percent, by weight, of all the cherries, possess a good color and a good character; and are free from blemished cherries or seriously blemished cherries, misshapen cherries, and cherries damaged by mechanical injury or cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury.

$52.745 Definition.

"Clean" means that the product is practically free from loose pits, leaves, detached stems, bark, fruit spurs, dirt or other foreign material.

FACTORS OF QUALITY

§ 52.746 Ascertaining the grade with respect to "U.S. Grade A" or "U.S. Fancy" and "U.S. Grade B" or "U.S. Choice."

(a) The grade of sulfured cherries is ascertained by considering, in addition to the requirements of the respective grade, the respective ratings for the factors of color, absence of defects, and character.

(b) 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:

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

$52.748 Color.

(a) (A) classification. Sulfured cherries that possess a good color may be given a score of 17 to 20 points. "Good color" means that the cherries possess a practically uniform color typical of wellbleached sulfured cherries for the variety.

(b) (B) classification. If the sulfured cherries possess a reasonably good color, a score of 14 to 16 points may be given. "Reasonably good color" means that the cherries possess a reasonably uniform color typical of reasonably well-bleached sulfured cherries for the variety. Sulfured cherries 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).

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

$52.749 Absence of defects.

(a) General. The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from misshapen cherries, cherries damaged or seriously damaged by mechanical injury, and cherries blemished or seriously blemished by discoloration, rain or solution cracks, bird pecks, pathological injury, insect injury or blemished by other means.

(1) "Misshapen cherries" means any deformed cherries or double cherries.

(2) "Cherries damaged by mechanical injury" means any pitter tear or pitter tears which materially affect the appearance of the cherry; any open pitter hole measuring more than 8 inch across, but not more than 16 inch across, or open pitter holes aggregating

than 16 inch across; any pitter hole where there is a material loss of flesh; and other mechanical injury which materially affects the appearance of the cherry.

(3) "Cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury" means any pitter tear or pitter tears which seriously affect the appearance of the cherry; any open pitter hole measuring more than 16 inch across, or open pitter holes aggregating more than 16 inch across, any pitter hole where there is a serious loss of flesh; and other mechanical injury which seriously affects the appearance of the cherry.

(4) "Blemished cherry" means any cherry which is affected by:

(i) Dark surface discoloration exceeding in the aggregate the area of a circle 3/16 inch in diameter, but not exceeding in the aggregate % of the surface of the cherry;

(ii) Any rough surface areas which slightly affect the appearance of the cherry;

(iii) Light surface discoloration exceeding in the aggregate % of the surface of the cherry, but not exceeding in the aggregate 1⁄2 of the surface of the cherry;

(iv) Rain checks or rain cracks (a) in the stem basin more than 1⁄4 inch in length, but not more than 1⁄2 inch in length, (b) any rain checks or rain cracks outside the stem basin more than 16 inch in length but not more than 3% inch in length;

(v) Any solution cracks or other blemish or combination of any blemishes which materially affect the appearance of the cherry. The term "blemished cherry" also means any cherry, the flesh of which is materially discolored.

(5) "Seriously blemished cherry" means any cherry which is affected by:

(i) Dark surface discoloration exceeding in the aggregate % of the surface of the cherry;

(ii) Any rough surface areas which materially affect the appearance of the cherry;

(iii) Light surface discoloration exceeding in the aggregate 1⁄2 of the surface of the cherry;

(iv) Rain checks or rain cracks (a) in the stem basin more than 1⁄2 inch in

length, (b) any rain checks or rain cracks outside the stem basin, more than 16 inch in length.

(v) Any solution cracks or other blemish or combination of any blemishes which seriously affect the appearance of the cherry. The term "seriously blemished cherry" also means any cherry the flesh of which is seriously discolored.

(b) (A) classification. Sulfured cherries that are practically free from defects may be given a score of 34 to 40 points. "Practically free from defects" means that not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of cherries are misshapen cherries, cherries damaged by mechanical injury, seriously damaged by mechanical injury, blemished cherries or seriously blemished cherries of which not more than five percent, by weight, of all cherries are misshapen cherries, cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury or seriously blemished cherries.

(c) (B) classification. Sulfured cherries that are reasonably free from defects may be given a score of 28 to 33 points. "Reasonably free from defects" means that not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of cherries are misshapen cherries, cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury, or seriously blemished cherries. Sulfured cherries 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).

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

$52.750 Character.

(a) General. The factor of character refers to the firmness of the cherries and to the condition of the flesh.

(b) (A) classification. Sulfured cherries that possess a good character may be given a score of 34 to 40 points. "Good character" means that the cherries possess a firm fleshy texture, retain

their approximate original shape, are not shriveled or watery, and do not show more than slight collapsed areas of flesh. To score in this classification, sulfured cherries may contain not more than five percent, by weight, of cherries which fail to meet requirements for "good character."

(c) (B) classification. If the sulfured cherries possess a reasonably good character, a score of 28 to 33 points may be given. Sulfured cherries 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 cherries possess a reasonably firm texture, may have slightly lost their original shape may be slightly shriveled, or may show moderate collapsed areas of flesh. To score in this classification, sulfured cherries may contain not more than 10 percent, by weight, of cherries which fail to meet the requirements for "reasonably good

character."

(d) (SStd) classification. Sulfured cherries that are soft, flabby, wrinkled leathery, or have materially lost their original shape, or show seriously collapsed areas of flesh, or fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section for any reason may be given a score of 0 to 27 points and shall not be graded above U.S. Grade D or Seconds, regardless of the total score for the product (this is a limiting rule).

§ 52.751 Ascertaining the grade with respect to U.S. Combination grade. (a) The combination grade of sulfured cherries is ascertained by considering color, absence of defects, character, and the cleanliness of the product.

(b) The definition for cleanliness and the terms defined with respect to ascertaining "U.S. Grade A" or "U.S. Fancy" and "U.S. Grade B" or "U.S. Choice" outlined under the factors of color, absence of defects and character for these grades are also applicable for ascertaining the U.S. Combination grade.

LOT CERTIFICATION TOLERANCES

§ 52.752 Tolerances for certification of officially drawn samples for U.S. Combination grade of sulfured cherries.

(a) When certifying samples that have been officially drawn and which represent a specific lot of sulfured cherries, the precent, by weight, of cherries which possess at least a reasonably good color and a reasonably good character, and are free from misshapen cherries, cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury, and seriously blemished cherries is computed by averaging the percent, by weight, of such cherries in all samples of the lot if:

(1) None of the samples in the lot contain less than 80 percent, by weight of such cherries.

(b) The percent, by weight, of cherries for the lot which possess a good color and a good character, and are free from blemished cherries or seriously blemished cherries, misshapen cherries and cherries damaged by mechanical injury or cherries seriously damaged by mechanical injury, is computed by averaging the percent, by weight, of such cherries in all samples of the lot if:

(1) None of the samples in the lot contains less than 35 percent, by weight, of such cherries.

$52.753 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 FR 3547, May 22, 1957. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977 and at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981]

SCORE SHEET AND WORK SHEET

$52.754 Score sheet for sulfured cherries.

Size and kind of container

Container identification marks

Size of sample

Size of cherries...........

Style of pack

Subpart-United States Standards

for Grades of Canned Red Tart Pitted Cherries1

SOURCE: 39 FR 13963, Apr. 18, 1974, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 42 FR 32514, June 27, 1977 and at 46 FR 63203, Dec. 31, 1981.

IDENTITY AND GRADES

§ 52.771 Identity.

"Canned red tart pitted cherries" is the product represented as defined in the standard of identity for canned cherries (21 CFR 145.125(a)), issued pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and packed in one of the liquid media specified in § 52.773; and is sealed in a hermetically sealed container and so processed by heat as to prevent spoilage.

$52.772 Grades.

(a) "U.S. Grade A" (or "U.S. Fancy") is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that have at least the following attributes:

(1) At least a reasonably good color; (2) Practically free from pits; (3) Practically free from defects; (4) Good character;

(5) Normal flavor and odor; and

(6) Score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

Canned red tart pitted cherries of this grade may contain not more than eight cherries per sample unit that are less than 9/16 inch (14 mm) in diameter.

(b) "U.S. Grade B” (or “U.S. Choice") is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that have at least the following attributes:

(1) Reasonably good color;
(2) Reasonably free from pits;
(3) Reasonably free from defects;
(4) Reasonably good character;
(5) Normal flavor and odor; and

(6) Score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

Canned red tart pitted cherries of this grade may contain not more than 15

1 Compliance with the provisions of the standards shall not excuse failure to comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or with applicable State laws and regulations.

cherries per sample unit that are less than 16 inch (14 mm) in diameter.

(c) "U.S. Grade C" (or "U.S. Standard") is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that have at least the following attributes:

(1) Fairly good color;

(2) Fairly free from pits;
(3) Fairly free from defects;
(4) Fairly good character;

(5) Normal flavor and odor; and

(6) Score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart. There is no size requirement for canned red tart pitted cherries of this grade.

(d) "Substandard" is the quality of canned red tart pitted cherries that fail to meet the requirements of "U.S. Grade C."