Celery Grading and Packing Manual

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

Grades

The grades and grade names for celery are Canada No. 1, Canada No. 1 Hearts and Canada No. 2. All celery 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

Hearts

Canada No. 2

Properly Packed

When packaged, the celery must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.

 When packaged, the celery must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit. When packaged, the celery must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.

Decay

Must be free from decay or any soft and slimy tissue.

 Must be free from decay or any soft and slimy tissue. Must be free from decay or any soft and slimy tissue.

Heart Rot

Must be free from any dark or black discolouration affecting the heart leaves.

 Must be free from any dark or black discolouration affecting the heart leaves. Must be free from any dark or black discolouration affecting the heart leaves.

Seed Stems

When spreading the outer leaves (1/2 to 2/3 up the length), the stalk must be free from any sign of the heart growing out of the base, revealing the first node of the seed stem.

 When spreading the outer leaves (1/2 to 2/3 up the length), the stalk must be free from any sign of the heart growing out of the base, revealing the first node of the seed stem. When spreading the outer leaves (1/2 to 2/3 up the length), the stalk must be free from any sign of the heart growing out of the base, revealing the first node of the seed stem.

Varietal Characteristics

Must be of similar type. Long straight types of celery should not be mixed with short stubby, golden , blanched or white types.

Must be of similar type. Long straight types of celery should not be mixed with short stubby, golden , blanched or white types.

No requirements.

Freshness

Stalks must be fresh, crisp, firm, bright and with normal succulence.

Stalks must be fresh, crisp, firm, bright and with normal succulence.

Stalks must not be so wilted, shrivelled or flabby as to seriously affect their appearance.

Cleanliness

Not more than 2 branches may be affected by caked dirt which is 1 1/2 inches (38.2mm) in length and 1/2 the width of the branch.

Not more than 2 branches may be affected by caked dirt which is 1 1/2 inches (38.2mm) in length and 1/2 the width of the branch.

Not more than 4 branches may be affected by caked dirt which is 1 1/2 inches (38.2mm) in length and 1/2 the width of the branch.

Trimming

Outside coarse or damaged branches must be removed including all suckers. The main root and rootlets must not exceed 3 inches (76.2 mm) in length.

Outside coarse or damaged branches must be removed including all suckers. The main root and rootlets must not exceed 3 inches (76.2 mm) in length.

No requirements, provided that the appearance of the stalk is not seriously affected.

Over Trimming

No more that 2 branches may be loose.

No more that 2 branches may be loose.

No more that 4 branches may be loose.

Insect and Snail Damage

  1. No insects or snails allowed.
  2. No damage allowed on inner branches.
  3. An aggregate area of no more than 1sq.inch (6.45 sq.cm) per stalk on the outer branches may be affected.
  1. No insects or snails allowed.
  2. No damage allowed on inner branches.
  3. An aggregate area of no more than 1sq.inch (6.45 sq.cm) per stalk on the outer branches may be affected.
  1. No insects or snails allowed.
  2. An aggregate area of no more than 2 sq.inches (25.81 sq.cm) per stalk may be affected.

Pithiness

No more than 2 branches may show a coarse white open texture with air spaces in the centre of the branch.

No more than 2 branches may show a coarse white open texture with air spaces in the centre of the branch.
  1. No more than 4 branches may show a coarse white open texture with air spaces in the centre of the branch.
  2. No more than 1/2 the outer branches may be affected.

Blight

Not more than 1 branch may be affected by spots on the midrib or leaves.

Not more than 1 branch may be affected by spots on the midrib or leaves.

Not more than 2 branches may be affected by spots on the midrib or leaves.

Mechanical Damage, Cracked and Broken Branches

Not more than 2 branches per stalk may be affected.

Not more than 2 branches per stalk may be affected.

Not more than 2 branches per stalk may be affected.

Scuffing or Bruising

Not more than 2 branches may have an aggregate discolouration area of 1 sq. in. (6.45 sq.cm).

Not more than 2 branches may have an aggregate discolouration area of 1 sq. in. (6.45 sq.cm).

Not more than 4 branches may have an aggregate discolouration area of 1 sq. in. (6.45 sq.cm).

Growth Cracks

No more than 2 branches may be affected by cracks which are over 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in length.

No more than 2 branches may be affected by cracks which are over 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in length.

No more than 4 branches may be affected by cracks which are over 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in length.

Boron Deficiency

No more than 2 branches may be materially affected.

No more than 2 branches may be materially affected.

No more than 4 branches may be seriously affected.

Freezing Damage

  1. Not more than 1 branch may be discoloured at the midrib.
  2. Not more than 2 branches or 1/2 of the midrib may be affected by peeling and blistering.
  3. Not more than 4 branches are affected by any degree of peeling and blistering.
  1. Not more than 1 branch may be discoloured at the midrib.
  2. Not more than 2 branches or 1/2 of the midrib may be affected by peeling and blistering.
  3. Not more than 4 branches are affected by any degree of peeling and blistering.
  1. Not more than 2 branches may be discoloured at the midrib.
  2. Not more than 4 branches or 1/2 of the midrib may be affected by peeling and blistering.
  3. Not more than 6 branches are affected by any degree of peeling and blistering.

Other Defects or Injury

None allowed that materially affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the celery.

None allowed that materially affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the celery.

None allowed that seriously affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the celery.

Size

  1. Must have a minimum stalk length of 12 inches (30.5cm).
  2. Must have an average minimum midrib length of 7 inches (17.8 cm).
  3. Have a minimum diameter of 2 1/2 inches (63.5 mm) when packed ina package count greater than 24 stalks and a minimum diameter of 3 inches (76.2 mm) when packed in a package count less than 24 stalks.
  4. When in a package, stalks must not vary more than 1 1/2 inches (38.1 mm) in diameter or 2 inches (51mm) in length.

No requirements

Must have a minimum diameter of 2 1/2 inches (63.5mm).

 

Packing Level Tolerances

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

    1. 10% of the packages where celery is in packages may contain more than 5% greater or fewer stalks than the number of stalks marked on the package.
    2. 10% of the packages of celery may contain stalks which exceed the permittes size variation.
    3. 5% of the celery by count may be below the minimum diameter or length requirement.
    4. 2% of the celery by count may be affected by decay.
    5. 5% of the celery by count in a lot may have the same grade defect.
    6. 10% of the celery 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 celery 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, pithiness etc.).

Markings

All packages of celery must be marked with the following:

    Name and Address of Packer. Grade.
    1. Country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of " Product of ".
    2. The numarical count on cartons and closed packages.
    3. The word "Celery" where the product is not visible.
     

    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. 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

Celery may be packed in the following containers:

  1. 1,110 cubic inch half bushel box, carton or crate.

  2. 2,220 cubic inch bushel box, carton or crate.

  3. 19 1/2 in. x 16 1/2 in. x 11 in. cartons for regular celery.
    20 in. x 14 in. x 10in. cartons for celery hearts.
    20 in. x 14 1/2 in. x 11 in. for celery hearts and stalks.
    Transparent bags or sleeves where 2-3 heart or 1-2 stalks are packaged.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of celery 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



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