Fresh Produce Packaging and Grading Standards in the United States

Fresh produce is packed in containers of different sizes and shapes. • Each item is packed in a container that is suited to its size, shape and texture.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal agency that imposes standards for the quality and safety of foods, including fruit. • Both fresh and processed fruits may be graded by the USDA, however, grading is not mandatory.

Grade categories for fresh fruits are different for each type of fruit. • Grade categories used for canned or frozen fruit include the following: • US Grade A or Fancy • US Grade B or Choice • US Grade C or Standard

Bushel- a volume measure of 35.24 liters or about 2200 cubic inches • Case- a box or container of varying size. Cases for produce may be cardboard, wood, plastic, or foam. • Crate- a wooden case.

Count- a specific number of pieces of uniform-sized produce in a case or container. For example, a case of 140 count lemons has 140 uniform-sized lemons in each case. • Flat- A shallow single-layered case used for delicate products like berries and figs. • Lug- a large bulk-packed case.

Peck- One-fourth bushel. • Gross weight- The total weight of a container and the product. • Net weight- the weight of the product without the package. • Tare weight- the weight of the package alone.

Citrus Fruits • Apples & Pears • Stone Fruits • Berries • Grapes • Melons • Tropical & Exotic Fruits

Used for their flesh, juice, rind and/or zest (contains the highly flavorful oils)*Know for Test. • Available almost year-around. • Key indicator of quality is weight. Heavier Fruit generally has a greater juice content

Once only a breakfast table staple, grapefruit has now become popular in salads, sauces and desserts. • Florida & Texas are the leading producers in the United States • At their peak September through June.

Grapefruit fall into one of two categories based on the color of their flesh: white or pink. • Most popular white flesh: Marsh seedless grapefruit • Most popular pink flesh: Ruby Red grapefruit

Tangerines are a part of a larger category of citrus fruits known as mandarins. • Mandarins are varieties of citrus fruits that have an easy to-peel skin. • The majority of mandarins in the U.S. are grown in Florida and are available October through May. The height of the season is November through January.

Clementine is a popular variety imported from Spain. • Mineolas and tangelos are hybrids of tangerine and grapefruit.

Two main categories of lime are Tahiti and Mexican. The Tahiti lime is a larger oval fruit with a thicker skin and dark green color (more commonly used in the U.S.) The Persian lime is the most common Tahitian variety. • Mexican limes are smaller, lightered colored fruit with thin skins. The Key lime, a variety cultivated in the Florida Keys, is probably the best known variety in the Mexican category.

Though not usually eaten as a lone ingredient, lemons are a staple in most kitchens. They are prized for their acidic juice and use as a garnish. • Look for lemons with fine textured skin and relatively heavy weight for their size. Deep yellow color is a sign of maturity and less acid. • California and Arizona provide most of the US production of lemons year-round.

Some variety of orange is available every month of the year in the U.S. • Florida is the nation’s number 1 producer, followed by California and Arizona. • When choosing oranges don’t be fooled by the color. Green streaks in the skin are not necessarily a sign of under-ripeness. Bumpy-skinned oranges are usually thick skinned, easier to peel and best for eating of hand. • Smooth skinned oranges are usually harder to peel therefore reserved for juicing.

Valencia oranges are the most important variety of orange and are grown in both Florida and California. They are in season from February through October. • Navel oranges are named for the navel-like protrusion near their stem and are grown primarily in California. They have a slightly thicker skin, which makes them easier to peel. Navels are in season from November through May.

Blood oranges are named for the deep red color of their flesh. They are originally from the Mediterranean island of Malta and lend their name to sauce Maltaise, a hollandaise sauce flavored with their juice. Blood oranges are in season from March through May.

Apples and pears have been popular since ancient times. They grow abundantly in all regions of the world with a continental climate and store well without refrigeration. • They are a great source of dietary fiber.

Most popular in the U.S. and grown in most parts of the country, but led by Washington state. • The most common pack for foodservice is a 40 pound case (approximately one bushel). • Apples are typically packed with a foam tray between each layer to prevent bruising. • Apples may be sprayed with a food-grade wax for appearance to prevent moisture loss.

When selecting apples, look for a bright fresh appearance with appropriate color according to the variety. They should be firm to the touch and not mushy. The skins should be smooth and free of bruises. • Refrigerated and controlled atmosphere storage allows apples to stay at their peak for months.

When choosing apples for a particular use, the texture and flavor of the variety of apple should be considered. • Firmer, tart apples are better for cooking, baking and applesauce. • Sweeter, softer fleshed apples are better for eating fresh.

Eating Apples • Red Delicious • McIntosh • Gala • Cortland

Cooking and Baking Apples • Granny Smith • Northern Spy • Newton Pippin

All Purpose Apples • Braeburn • Fuji • Golden Delicious • Jonathon • Jonagold • Rome Beauty

Pears are a popular fruit because most pears can be stored for several months or longer under refrigeration. • Pears are commonly packed in a 45-pound case (Approximately one bushel). They are packed either in trays or individually wrapped in paper to prevent damage.

Ripe pears should yield slightly to a gentle squeeze. • Avoid pears that are scarred or have soft spots. • Many chefs prefer to buy immature pears and ripen the pears themselves. If pears are allowed to ripen on the tree, they tend to have a gritty texture.

Bartlett • Anjou • Bosc • Comice • Seckel • Asian Pear (apple pear)

Stone fruits are grouped together because of their pits or stones. They are often called tree fruits or drupes. • They tend to be at the peak of their relatively short season during the summer months.

Fresh apricots are fragrant with juicy yellow fruit. • The season is June through July, therefore much of the apricot crop is canned, dried or preserved.

The peach is called the “queen of fruits” because when at the peak of ripeness, no other fruit has such a wonderful, juicy, fragrant flavor as a peach. • Season is May to October. • Categorized into clingstone or freestone. • Clingstone- flesh is hard to separate from the pit (used for primarily for canning) • Freestone-pits are easy to remove (great for eating)

Peaches are most commonly packed in a 20 pound case. • Look for peaches that are slightly firm because they ripen quickly. • Quality peaches should have a fragrant aroma. Avoid hard peaches with no give to their flesh, as well as green color or fruit with bruised or broken skin.

Nectarines have a similar flavor and texture as peaches, but they don’t have the exterior fuzz that peaches have. • A lot of people believe that nectarines a cross between a peach and a plum. • Look for the same ripeness quality as peaches.

Cherries are classified into sweet and sour. • Sweet (dessert) cherries are best for eating fresh • Sour (pie) cherries are best for cooking, baking and preserving. • Season for fresh cherries is June to August.

Bing-red mahogany color and sweet, rich flavor • Rainier (Golden Bing)-yellow color, sweet delicate flavor and fine textured flesh. • Montmorency- main variety of sour cherry grown in the U.S. Noticeable for it’s bright red skin and juicy fruit.

There are over 200 varieties of plums that all fall into 2 categories- European and Japanese. • European- oval in shape with bluish purple color (referred to as prune plums, because they are generally made for making dried prunes) • Japanese- come in a variety of colors—red, yellow, orange, green, but NOT purple.

Traditionally available from May to October (but with shipments available from the Southern hemisphere make some varieties available during the winter months) • Look for plums that have good color for their variety and a firm texture that yields slightly to pressure.

Pound for pound these are some of the more expensive fruit.*Test • They have a delicate texture and must be handled very carefully. • Have a relatively short shelf life and need to be used in a timely manner. • Most popular category of fruit because of the intense flavor and bright colors.

Berry fruits are packed by volume rather than by weight. They are shipped in flats or single layer cases of dry pints of half pints. • Berries should be firm, plump, bright colored and free of dirt, insects or mold. • Watch for juice stains at the bottom of the containers as it is a sign of deterioration. • Should be refrigerated at temps 33-38 degrees

Blackberry- plump and shiny dark fruit with excellent juice content (Season: June-Sept) • Blueberry- have a patina or dull frosty appearance to their skin (Season: June-Sept) • Cranberry- fruit of an aquatic plant that grows in ponds. Have good shelf life (2-3 months if refrigerated), freeze well, and are sturdy and easy to handle. (Season: Sept-January)

Currant- small round fruit and intense tart flavor. Used for jellies, preservers, flavoring vinegars and sauces (Season: June-August) • Raspberry- come in red, golden and black varieties. Most delicate textured berry. (Season May to August) • Strawberry- have a distinctive heart shape, seeds on the outside and are packed with their hull intact. (Season: May-July)

Table grapes is the term used for grapes that are eaten fresh rather than used for juice or raisins. • Majority of U.S. grapes come from California. • Traditional season for table grapes is summer and fall. • Unlike some fruits, the flavor of grapes doesn’t improve or ripen after they are picked.

Look for compact bunches with plump fruit and good color for their variety. The stem is a good indicator of freshness; reject grapes with dry, brittle or moldy stems or with a large number of empty spots on the clusters. • Grapes are most often packed in a 22 pound case of bunches bundles in mesh bags.

Thompson Seedless • Flame Seedless • Red Globe • Ribier • Concord • Corinth (champagne)

Some of the less well known melons include: • Crenshaw- a large melon with striped, green skin and salmon colored flesh • Casaba- a melon with a tough, wrinkled yellow skin and white flesh. • Santa Claus or Christmas melon- large green oval melon with slightly netted skin and light colored flesh.

The term cantaloupe has become the name for all varieties of muskmelons. Muskmelons are characterized by the netted or lace patter on their skin. • Deep orange- or salmon colored flesh and green inner rind. When ripe it is juicy, fragrant and very sweet. • Although the flesh of melons may soften if left at room temperature for a few days, they don’t ripen or get any sweeter after they are picked.

Inspect the stem end of the cantaloupe. If there is an indentation where the stem was, the melon was ripe and pulled away from the vine easily. This state of ripeness is called “full slip.” If there is no indentation or stem intact, the melon was unripe when picked and won’t improve in flavor. • Should be served chilled. Prime months: June through August.

Ripe honeydew melons have a smooth creamy white rind, and pale green to white flesh. They are noted for their sweetness. • Honeydew melons are often picked before they reach the “full slip” stage and ripened by the wholesaler. • Will ripen at room temperature. Avoid melons with dark green streaks, which is a sign that they were picked way under ripe. • Can weigh as much as 7 pounds each. (At peak between May and November)

There are hundreds of varieties of watermelon grown throughout the United States. • Shapes range from small round to oval to elongated. • The flesh ranges from light pink, to deep crimson, to golden yellow. • The quantity, size and color of the seeds also vary. • Due to their heavy size, watermelon is usually sold by weight. Many foodservice operations tend to prefer oblong-shaped melons that average 18-22 pounds.

Ideal storage temperature for watermelons is 55 degrees. It is important to avoid temperatures near freezing as they destroy the melon’s texture. • Regardless of the color of the outer rind, the best sign of ripeness is a pale yellow underside.

Fresh Produce Packaging and Grading Standards in the United States