Asparagus Grading and Packing Manual

This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading, packing and marking of asparagus in Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of asparagus in Ontario.

Regulation 378/90 under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act is the source of this information.

This edition is prepared for convenience only. For complete information, please refer to the official volumes of the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act.

Contents:

| Grades | Packing Level Tolerances | Markings | Packages |
| Bilingual and Metric Requirements | OMAFRA Contacts |

Grades

The grades and grade names for asparagus are Canada No. 1, Canada No. 1 Slender and Canada No. 2. All asparagus sold in Ontario must be properly packed to the grade standards and marked accordingly.

The following table identifies the requirements of the Canada No. 1, Canada No. 1 Slender and Canada No. 2 grades.

 Grade
Factors

 Canada No.1

Canada No.1
Slender 

 Canada No.2
Properly
Packed  		 When packaged, the asparagus must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit. When packaged, the asparagus must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit. When packaged, the asparagus must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.
Colour  Not more than 15% of each stalk may be white (white butt). This does not include any faint pink or purple colour on the lower stem. Not more than 15% of each stalk may be white (white butt). This does not include any faint pink or purple colour on the lower stem. Not more than 15% of each stalk may be white (white butt). This does not include any faint pink or purple colour on the lower stem.
Decay  No soft, mushy or leaky breakdown is allowed. No soft, mushy or leaky breakdown is allowed. No soft, mushy or leaky breakdown is allowed.
Trimming  Must be trimmed so that the butts of the stalks are squarely, smoothly and evenly cut and are free from stringy or frayed ends. Must be trimmed so that the butts of the stalks are squarely, smoothly and evenly cut and are free from stringy or frayed ends. Must be trimmed so that the butts of the stalks are squarely, smoothly and evenly cut and are free from stringy or frayed ends.
Length
  1. Stalks must be a minimum length of 5 ½ inches (140 mm) and a maximum length of 9 inches (230 mm) when packed in a 20 lb. (9 kg.) pyramid-type container.
  2. In the case of CANADA NO. 1 and CANADA NO. 1 SLENDER, the stalks must not vary more than 1 ½ inches (38mm) in length.
  1. Stalks must be a minimum length of 5 ½ inches (140 mm) and a maximum length of 9 inches (230 mm) when packed in a 20 lb. (9 kg.) pyramid-type container.
  2. In the case of CANADA NO. 1 and CANADA NO. 1 SLENDER, the stalks must not vary more than 1 ½ inches (38mm) in length.
  1. Stalks must be a minimum length of 5 ½ inches (140 mm) and a maximum length of 9 inches (230 mm) when packed in a 20 lb. (9 kg.) pyramid-type container.
  2. In the case of CANADA NO. 1 and CANADA NO. 1 SLENDER, the stalks must not vary more than 1 ½ inches (38mm) in length.
Diameter
  1. Stalks must be a minimum diameter of 5/16 inch (8mm) and, in the case of CANADA NO. 1 SLENDER a maximum diameter of 23/64 inch (9mm).
  2. Diameter grading is optional, but where asparagus is sold as diameter graded, one of the following designations shall be used:

"Medium" for asparagus 5/16 to 9/16 inch (8 to 14mm) in diameter.

"Large" for asparagus ½ to 13/16 inch (13 to 21mm) in diameter.

"Jumbo" for asparagus with a minimum of ¾ inch (21mm).

  1. Stalks must be a minimum diameter of 5/16 inch (8mm) and, in the case of CANADA NO. 1 SLENDER a maximum diameter of 23/64 inch (9mm).
  2. Diameter grading is optional, but where asparagus is sold as diameter graded, one of the following designations shall be used:

"Medium" for asparagus 5/16 to 9/16 inch (8 to 14mm) in diameter.

"Large" for asparagus ½ to 13/16 inch (13 to 21mm) in diameter.

"Jumbo" for asparagus with a minimum of ¾ inch (21mm).

  1. Stalks must be a minimum diameter of 5/16 inch (8mm) and, in the case of CANADA NO. 1 SLENDER a maximum diameter of 23/64 inch (9mm).
  2. Diameter grading is optional, but where asparagus is sold as diameter graded, one of the following designations shall be used:

"Medium" for asparagus 5/16 to 9/16 inch (8 to 14mm) in diameter.

"Large" for asparagus ½ to 13/16 inch (13 to 21mm) in diameter.

"Jumbo" for asparagus with a minimum of ¾ inch (21mm).

Condition Stalks must be fresh and not limp, wilted, flabby or shrivelled. Stalks must be fresh and not limp, wilted, flabby or shrivelled. Stalks must not be so wilted, shrivelled or flabby as to seriously affect their appearance, edibility or shipping quality.
Cleanliness
  1. Tips must not be affected by any noticeable dirt or foreign matter.
  2. The lower portion of the stalks may be slightly dirty.
  1. Tips must not be affected by any noticeable dirt or foreign matter.
  2. The lower portion of the stalks may be slightly dirty.
  1. Tips may not be affected by any appreciable amount of dirt.
  2. Stalks must not be badly smeared or caked with mud.
Broken
Stalks 		 Stalks or tips must not be broken. Stalks or tips must not be broken. No requirement.
Crushed
Stalks 		 Stalks must not be crushed, split, or have a loss of more than 5% by weight of their green portion. Stalks must not be crushed, split, or have a loss of more than 5% by weight of their green portion. Stalks must not be crushed, split, or have a loss of more than 10% by weight of their green portion.
Insects  No more than 2 aphids or thrips may be present on a stalk. No more than 2 aphids or thrips may be present on a stalk. No more than 5 aphids or thrips may be present on a stalk.
Insect
Damage
  1. None allowed on the green portion of the spear.
  2. An area no more than ¼ inch (6mm) on the stalk may be affected.
  3. An aggregate area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) may be affected.
  4. An aggregate area no more than ¾ inch (19mm) on the white portion of the stalk may be affected.
  1. None allowed on the green portion of the spear.
  2. An area no more than ¼ inch (6mm) on the stalk may be affected.
  3. An aggregate area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) may be affected.
  4. An aggregate area no more than ¾ inch (19mm) on the white portion of the stalk may be affected.
  1. None allowed on the green portion of the spear.
  2. An area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) on the stalk may be affected.
  3. An aggregate area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) may be affected.
  4. When the damage seriously affects the appearance or edible quality of the asparagus.
Hollow  Must be free from doubles that affect the shape of the spear or show a hollow opening in the centre of the spear no more than 1/16 inch (2mm). Must be free from doubles that affect the shape of the spear or show a hollow opening in the centre of the spear no more than 1/16 inch (2mm). Must be free from doubles that affect the shape of the spear.
Spreading or Open Tips The curds must not be elongated and branching out from the centre of the stock. The curds must not be elongated and branching out from the centre of the stock. The bracts must not be open on more than 1/3 of the length of the stalk.
Rust Bract Damage  No more than 2 bracts may show damage.  No more than 2 bracts may show damage.  No more than 4 bracts may show damage.
Stemphylum or Purple Spot Stalk must have no discoloured spots on the top 5 ½ inches (140mm).  Stalk must have no discoloured spots on the top 5 ½ inches (140mm).  No requirement.
Shape 
  1. Tips must not be more than slightly curled or crooked and no more than 45 degrees from the stalk.
  2. Stalks must not have a double appearance.
  3. The appearance of the stalk must not be materially affected by shape.
  1. Tips must not be more than slightly curled or crooked and no more than 45 degrees from the stalk.
  2. Stalks must not have a double appearance.
  3. The appearance of the stalk must not be materially affected by shape
  1. Tips must not be curved more than 90 degrees from the stalk.
  2. The appearance of the stalk must not be seriously affected by shape.
Seedy Appearance  Seeds must not be large, green or numerous to affect the appearance or edibility. Seeds must not be large, green or numerous to seriously affect the appearance or edibility. Seeds must not be discoloured.

 

Packing Level Tolerances

The following tolerances by count apply to any package or lot of asparagus before the package or lot would fail to meet the grade requirements at the packing level:

  1. 10% of the spears by count may fail to meet the diameter or length requirement
  2. 10% of the packages of asparagus may contain spears which exceed the maximum length variation
  3. 1% of the spears by count may be affected by decay
  4. 5% of the spears by count in a lot may have the same grade defect
  5. 10% of the spears by count in a lot may have grade defects of any kind (including decay but not size).

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5% of the asparagus by count in the lot may have condition defects (of which not more than 2% is decay) at any other subsequent level of trade. Condition defects are those which can develop or worsen after packing (i.e. bruising, crushing, decay, freezing, overheating, etc.).

Markings

All packages of asparagus must be marked with the following:

  1. name and address of packer
  2. grade
  3. country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of "Product of "
  4. the word "Asparagus" where the product is not visible
  5. the net weight of the contents on catchweight (random weight) packages.

Note:

  1. The grade and origin markings must be immediately adjacent to one another and of the same size print.
  2. All required markings must be of a print at least 1/8 inch in height on tags and ¼ inch in height on all other packages (baskets, cartons, etc.).
  3. Capacity markings must be at least ½ inch in height for baskets 2 to 11 quart, 2 and 4 litre capacity and for cartons of ½ and 1 bushel capacity.
  4. All markings must be legible of a permanent nature, and of a size reasonable in proportion to the size proportional to the size of the package or label.

Packages

Asparagus may be packed in the following containers:

  1. pyramid containers with a capacity of 20 pounds
  2. 2 and 4 litre baskets
  3. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 11 quart baskets
  4. 1,110 cubic inch half bushel box, carton or crate
  5. 2,220 cubic inch bushel box, carton or crate
  6. a consumer tray pack (catchweight package) of any weight up to 3 pounds.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of asparagus should be printed in equal prominence in both English and French as there is a possibility of export from Ontario. Names and addresses are required only once.

Federal law requires that all net quantity markings be printed in imperial measure (pounds, quarts, etc.) with the equivalent metric measure of the same size.

For further information on bilingual or metric marking requirements or for shipments out of Ontario, contact your local Inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Contact

Foods of Plant Origin
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor North West
Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2
Tel: 519-826-4180 or 1-888-466-2372, Ext. 64180
Fax: 519-826-4375

 



For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Author: OMAFRA Staff
Creation Date: 19 February 2003
Last Reviewed: 16 January 2004