character; possess a normal flavor and odor; and score not less than 85 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined herein.

(b) U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a reasonably uniform typical color; are reasonably free from defects; possess a reasonably good character; possess a normal flavor and odor; and score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined herein.

(c) U.S. Grade D or Substandard frozen berries are berries that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice.

GRADES OF FROZEN BERRIES FOR
MANUFACTURING

§ 52.5884 Grades of frozen berries for manufacturing.

(a) U.S. Grade A for Manufacturing or U.S. Fancy Grade for Manufacturing frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a practically uniform typical color; possess a reasonably good character; possess a normal flavor and odor; and there may be present

(1) Not more than 4 sepal-like bracts per 16 ounces of net weight;

(2) Not more than one stem or one leaf or a piece of leaf or the approximate equivalent of one full cap per 48 ounces of net weight; and

(3) Not more than 5 percent by weight of berries that may be undeveloped or damaged.

(b) U.S. Grade B for Manufacturing or U.S. Choice Grade for Manufacturing frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a reasonably uniform typical color; may possess a fairly good character typical of fairly well-ripened to very ripe berries with not more than 30 percent by weight for blackberries and not more than 40 percent by weight for boysenberries, dewberries, loganberries, youngberries, and other similar types that may be crushed; possess a normal flavor and odor; and there may be present

(1) Not more than 10 sepal-like bracts per 16 ounces of net weight;

(2) Not more than one stem or one leaf or a piece of leaf or the approximate equivalent of one full cap per 16 ounces of net weight; and

(3) Not more than 10 percent by weight of berries that may be undeveloped or damaged.

(c) U.S. Grade D for Manufacturing or Substandard for Manufacturing frozen berries are berries that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B for Manufacturing or U.S. Choice Grade for Manufacturing.

TYPES OF PACK

§ 52.5885 Types of pack.

(a) Frozen berries are often packed with added sugar or added sugar and water. Sugar packs are usually designated by the amount of fruit to sugar; for example, "6+1" means that at the time of packing, 1 pound of sugar was added to 6 pounds of berries.

(b) It is recommended that the quantity of liquid packing medium, if used, is not in excess of the amount normally required by good commercial practice.

FACTORS OF QUALITY

§ 52.5886 Ascertaining the grade.

(a) The grade of frozen berries is determined immediately after thawing to the extent that the units may be separated easily.

(b) "Normal flavor and odor" means that the berries are free from objectionable or off flavors or objectionable odors of any kind.

(c) The grade of frozen berries may be ascertained by considering in addition to the foregoing requirements, the following factors: Color, absence of defects, and character.

(d) The relative importance of each factor has been expressed numerically on a scale of 100. The maximum number of points that may be given for each factor is:

cal color" means that not more than a total of 10 percent by weight of the berries may vary markedly from the intensity and luster of the characteristic color of well-ripened berries, provided not more than 5 percent by weight of the berries vary markedly from the intensity and luster of the characteristic color of reasonably well-ripened berries.

(b) (B) classification: If the frozen berries possess a reasonably uniform typical color, a score of 21 to 24 points may be given. Frozen 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. "Reasonably uniform typical color" means that not more than 15 percent by weight of the berries may vary markedly from the intensity and luster of the characteristic color of reasonably wellripened berries, provided not more than 5 percent by weight of the berries are definitely off color for any reason.

(c) (D) classification: Frozen berries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section or that are definitely off color for any reason may be given a score of 0 to 20 points and shall not be graded above U.S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product.

(d) The evaluation of the score points for the factor of color may be determined from the following table which denotes the variation in color allowed for the score indicated:

(a) General: The factor of absence of defects refers to the degree of freedom from harmless extraneous vegetable material; from leaves, pieces of leaves, stems, and caps; from undeveloped berries; and from berries damaged by blemishes, insect, pathological, or other similar injury.

(b) Definitions of defects:

(1) A berry is considered "undeveloped" if it is shriveled or if more than one-fourth of the berry possesses hard, undeveloped drupelets.

(2) "Damage" includes any surface blemish having an aggregate area exceeding that of a circle 1/4 inch in diameter or any noticeable blemish that extends into the fruit tissue.

(c) (A) classification: To receive a score of 34 to 40 points the frozen berries must be practically free from defects. "Practically free from defects" means that there may be present not more than 2 sepal-like bracts per 16 ounces of net weight; not more than one stem or one leaf or piece of leaf or the approximate equivalent of one full cap per 48 ounces of net weight; and that not more than 5 percent by weight of berries may be undeveloped damaged.

or

(d) (B) classification: If the frozen berries are reasonably free from defects, a score of 28 to 33 points may be given. Frozen 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. "Reasonably free from defects" means that there may be present not more than 5 sepallike bracts and not more than one stem or one leaf or piece of leaf or the approximate equivalent of one full cap per 16 ounces of net weight; and that not more than 10 percent by weight of berries may be undeveloped or damaged.

(e) (D) classification: Frozen berries that fail to meet the requirements of paragraph (d) of this section may be given a score of zero to 27 points and shall not be graded above U.S. Grade D or Substandard, regardless of the total score for the product.

(f) The evaluation of the score for the factor of absence of defects may be determined from the following table which denotes the maximum allowance for

integration of the berries. 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: To receive a score of 26 to 30 points the frozen berries must possess a good character. "Good character" means that the berries are mature and ripe but not overripe, are fleshy and tender, 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 blackberries may be crushed and not more than 10 percent by weight of dewberries, boysenberries, loganberries, youngberries, or other similar types may be crushed.

(c) (B) classification: If the frozen berries possess a reasonably good character, a score of 21 to 25 points may be given. Frozen 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. "Reasonably good character" means that the berries are reasonably mature and may be not more than slightly immature nor slightly overmature; that the berries may be not more than slightly lacking in fleshy texture; that the berries and any accompanying liquor are reasonably free from detached seed cells; and that not more than 15 percent by weight of blackberries may be crushed and not more than 20 percent by weight of dew

Crushed

Dewberries, Boysenberries, Loganberries, Youngberries, and other similar types

Maximum (by weight)

30

29

Ripe but not over-ripe; fleshy and tender.

1%

2%

3%

27

4

66

5%

10%

65

Not more than slightly imma

7%

12%

24

ture nor slightly overmature;

ing liquor-reasonably

22

not more than slightly lacking in fleshy texture.

free.

11%

16%

139

15%

187 20%

(a) "Maple sirup" means sirup made by the evaporation of maple sap or by the solution of maple concrete (maple sugar) and contains not more than 35 percent of water, and weighs not less than 11 pounds to the gallon (231 cubic inches).

(b) The standards in this subpart are applicable to sirup which is packed in drums or other large containers for further processing. It is not intended that they shall apply to sirup packed in containers for table use. Another set of standards entitled "U.S. Standards for Table Maple Sirup" has been issued for this purpose (§§ 52.5961-52.5968).

GRADES

§ 52.5922 U.S. Grade AA (Fancy).

U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Maple Sirup for Reprocessing shall consist of maple sirup which meets the following requirements:

(a) The color shall not be darker than light amber as represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(b) The weight shall be not less than 11 pounds per gallon of 231 cubic inches at 68 degrees F. corresponding to 65.46 degrees Brix or 35.27 degrees Baumé (Bureau of Standards Baumé scale for sugar solutions, modulus 145).

(c) The sirup shall possess a characteristic maple flavor, shall be free from fermentation and free from damage. caused by scorching, buddiness, any objectionable foreign flavor or odor or other means. "Damage" means any defect that materially affects the appearance or the edibility or shipping quality of the sirup. § 52.5923 U.S. Grade A.

(a) U.S. Grade A Maple Sirup for Reprocessing shall consist of maple sirup which meets the requirements of U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Maple Sirup for Reprocessing except for color.

(b) The color shall be darker than light amber but shall not be darker than medium amber as represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

§ 52.5924 U.S. Grade B.

(a) U.S. Grade B Maple Sirup for Reprocessing shall consist of maple sirup which meets the requirements of U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Maple Sirup for Reprocessing except for color.

(b) The color shall be darker than medium amber but shall not be darker than dark amber as represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

§ 52.5925 U.S. Grade C.

(a) U.S. Grade C Maple Sirup for Reprocessing shall consist of maple sirup which meets the requirements of U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Maple Sirup for Reprocessing except for color.

(b) The color shall be darker than dark amber represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

§ 52.5926 Unclassified.

Unclassified Maple Sirup for Reprocessing shall consist of maple sirup which has not been classified in accordance with the foregoing grades. The term "Unclassified" is not a grade within the meaning of the standards in this subpart but is provided as a designation to show that no definite grade has been applied to the lot.

Subpart-United States Standards for Grades of Table Maple Sirup SOURCE: $ 52.5961 to 52.5968 appear at 82 F.R. 7579, May 24, 1967, unless otherwise noted.

(a) "Maple sirup" means sirup made by the evaporation of maple sap or by the solution of maple concrete (maple sugar) and contains not more than 35 percent of water, and weighs not less than 11 pounds to the gallon (231 cubic inches).

(b) The standards in this subpart are issued for the purpose of classifying maple sirup packed in containers for table use. It is not intended that they shall apply to sirup which is packed in drums or other large containers for later reprocessing. Another set of standards entitled "U.S. Standards for Maple Sirup for Reprocessing" has been issued for this purpose (§§ 52.5921-52.5926). GRADES

§ 52.5962 U.S. Grade AA (Fancy).

U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Table Maple Sirup shall consist of maple sirup which meets the following requirements:

(a) The color shall not be darker than light amber as represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(b) The sirup shall not be cloudier than light amber cloudy standard as represented by the standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for cloudi

ness.

(c) The weight shall be not less than 11 pounds per gallon of 231 cubic inches at 68 degrees F. corresponding to 65.46 degrees Brix or 35.27 degrees Baumé (Bureau of Standards Baumé scale for sugar solutions, modulus 145).

(d) The sirup shall possess a characteristic maple flavor, shall be clean, free from fermentation, and free from damage caused by scorching, buddiness, any objectionable flavor or odor or other

means.

§ 52.5963 U.S. Grade A.

(a) U.S. Grade A Table Maple Sirup shall consist of maple sirup which meets the requirements for U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Table Maple Sirup except for color and cloudiness.

(b) The color shall not be darker than medium amber as represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(c) The sirup shall not be cloudier than medium amber cloudy standard as represented by the standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for cloudi

ness.

§ 52.5964 U.S. Grade B.

(a) U.S. Grade B Table Maple Sirup shall consist of maple sirup which meets the requirements for U.S. Grade AA (Fancy) Table Maple Sirup except for color and cloudiness.

(b) The color shall not be darker than dark amber as represented by the color standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(c) The sirup shall not be cloudier than dark amber cloudy standard as represented by the standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for cloudiness. § 52.5965 Unclassified.

Unclassified Table Maple Sirup shall consist of maple sirup which has not been classified in accordance with the foregoing grades. The term "Unclassified" is not a grade within the meaning of the standards in this subpart but is provided as a designation to show that no definite grade has been applied to the lot.

TOLERANCES, PACKING

§ 52.5966 Tolerances for preceding grades.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not