Beet Grading and Packing Manual

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

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

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

Contents:

The grades and grade names for beets are Canada No. 1 and Canada No. 2. All beets 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 and Canada No. 2 grades.

Note: The grades do not apply to bunched beets.

Packing Level Tolerances

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

1. 4% of the beets by weight may be below the required or declared size
   
2. 8% of the beets by weight may be over the required or declared size
   
3. 2% of the beets by weight may be affected by decay
   
4. 6% of the beets by weight may be affected by 1 or more defects other than size but including decay.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5% of the beets by weight 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 become worse after packing (i.e. bruising, crushing, decay, freezing, overheating, etc.).

Markings

All packages of beets 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 "Beets" where the product is not visible
   
5. the net weight of the contents on bags or catchweight packages
   
6. the price per kilogram or pound on catchweight 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 at least 1/8 inch in height on tags, 3/16 inch in height on bags and capacity ¼ inch in height on all other packages (cartons, bushels, baskets, etc.).
   
3. All markings must be legible of a permanent nature, and of a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.

Packages

Beets may be packed in the following containers:

1. pints and quarts
   
2. baskets of 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 quart or 2 and 4 litre capacity
   
3. 1,110 cubic inch half bushel box, carton or crate
   
4. 2,220 cubic inch bushel box, carton or crate
   
5. bags, cartons, boxes or crates with the capacity of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 75 and 100 pounds
   
6. any bag, carton or crate that is properly packed and filled which is authorized for experimental use.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of beets 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