Forced Rhubarb Grading and Packing Manual

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

Packing Level Tolerances

The following tolerances by count apply to any package or lot of Ontario No. 1 forced rhubarb before the package or lot would fail to meet the grade requirements at the packing level:

1. 5% of the forced rhubarb by count may have the same defect.
2. 5% of the forced rhubarb by count may be affected by decay or disease.
3. 10% of the forced rhubarb by count may have grade defects of any kind including those in (1) and (2).

The following tolerances by count apply to any package or lot of Ontario No. 2 forced rhubarb before the package or lot would fail to meet the grade requirements at the packing level:

1. 10% of the forced rhubarb by count may have excess basal husks
2. 10% of the forced rhubarb by count may be affected by decay or disease
3. 10% of the forced rhubarb by count may have any other single defect
4. 15% of the forced rhubarb by count may have defects of any kind including (1) to (3).

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5 % of the forced 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 forced rhubarb 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 "Forced Rhubarb" 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 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

Forced rhubarb may be packed in the following containers:

1. Baskets of 4, 6, 8, or 11 quart capacity.
2. Baskets of 4 litre capacity
3. Half bushel box, carton or crate hamper of 16 quart or 1110 cu. inch capacity
4. Bushel box, carton or crate of 32 quart or 2220 cu. inch capacity
5. Cartons of 10 pound capacity.
6. Any other container that is properly packed and filled which is authorized for experimental use.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of forced 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