Field Rhubarb Grading and Packing
Manual
This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply
to the grading, packing and marking of field rhubarb in the Province of
Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the
marketing of field rhubarb 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 field rhubarb are Canada
No. 1, and Canada Domestic. All field rhubarb 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.
|
Grade Factors
|
Canada No. 1
|
Canada Domestic
|
|
Properly Packed
|
When packaged, the field rhubarb must not be slack, overpressed
or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage
during handling or in transit.
|
When packaged, the field rhubarb 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 soft mushy breakdown of soft tissue.
|
Must be free from decay or soft mushy
breakdown of soft tissue. |
|
Freshness
|
Must be fresh and not wilted.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Trimming
|
Must be trimmed so that
- the butt of the rhubarb has not been cut.
- loose skin has been removed.
- the leafy portion does not exceed 1 inch (25mm) in length.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Colour
|
Have not less that 1/3 of each stalk of a characteristic red
colour.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Seeders
|
Must be free from stalks pulled from the seed stem.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Length
|
Must have a minimum length of 10 inches (254mm).
|
No requirement.
|
|
Width
|
Must have a minimum diameter of ¾ inch (19mm) or a minimum circumference
of
2 ½ inches (63mm) at or near the butt.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Insect, Pest and Disease
|
Must be free from insects, other pests or disease.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Dirt, Trimmings and Foreign Matter
|
Must be free from dirt, trimmings and foreign matter.
|
No requirement.
|
Packing Level Tolerances
The following tolerances by count apply to any package or lot of field
rhubarb before the package or lot would fail to meet the grade requirements
at the packing level:
- 5% of the field rhubarb by count may have the same defect other
than decay.
- 1% of the field rhubarb by count may be affected by decay.
Additional Destination Tolerances
In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5
% of the field rhubarb by count in the lot may have permanent grade defects.
Note: Condition defects shall apply against the grade
only at packing level.
Markings
All packages of field rhubarb must be marked with the following:
- Name and Address of Packer.
- Grade.
- Country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of "
Product of ".
- The word "Field Rhubarb" where the product is not
visible.
Note:
- The grade and origin markings must be immediately adjacent to
one another and of the same size print.
- 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.).
- All markings must be legible, of a permanent nature, and of
a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.
Packages
Field rhubarb may be packed in the following containers:
- Baskets of 4, 6, 8, or 11 quart capacity.
- Baskets of 4 litre capacity
- Half bushel box, carton or crate hamper of 16 quart or 1110
cu. inch capacity
- Bushel box, carton or crate of 32 quart or 2220 cu. inch capacity
- Any other container that is properly packed and filled which
is authorized for experimental use.
Bilingual and Metric Requirements
All markings on packages of field rhubarb 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
