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.
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 |
- 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.
- 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.
|
- 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.
- 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.
|
- 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.
- 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 |
- 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).
- 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).
|
- 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).
- 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).
|
- 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).
- 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 |
- Tips must not be affected by any noticeable dirt or foreign
matter.
- The lower portion of the stalks may be slightly dirty.
|
- Tips must not be affected by any noticeable dirt or foreign
matter.
- The lower portion of the stalks may be slightly dirty.
|
- Tips may not be affected by any appreciable amount of dirt.
- 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 |
- None allowed on the green portion of the spear.
- An area no more than ¼ inch (6mm) on the stalk may be
affected.
- An aggregate area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) may be affected.
- An aggregate area no more than ¾ inch (19mm) on the white
portion of the stalk may be affected.
|
- None allowed on the green portion of the spear.
- An area no more than ¼ inch (6mm) on the stalk may be
affected.
- An aggregate area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) may be affected.
- An aggregate area no more than ¾ inch (19mm) on the white
portion of the stalk may be affected.
|
- None allowed on the green portion of the spear.
- An area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) on the stalk may be affected.
- An aggregate area no more than 3/8 inch (9mm) may be affected.
- 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 |
- Tips must not be more than slightly curled or crooked and no
more than 45 degrees from the stalk.
- Stalks must not have a double appearance.
- The appearance of the stalk must not be materially affected
by shape.
|
- Tips must not be more than slightly curled or crooked and no
more than 45 degrees from the stalk.
- Stalks must not have a double appearance.
- The appearance of the stalk must not be materially affected
by shape
|
- Tips must not be curved more than 90 degrees from the stalk.
- 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. |
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:
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.).
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).