Greenhouse Tomatoes Grading and Packing Manual

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

| Grades | Packing Level Tolerances | Markings | Packages |
| Bilingual and Metric Requirements | OMAFRA Contact |

Grades

The grades and grade names for greenhouse tomatoes are Canada No. 1, Canada Commercial Canada No. 2. and Ontario Jumbo. All greenhouse tomatoes 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 Commercial and Canada No.2 grades. Ontario Jumbo grade follows this table.

Grade Factors

Canada No. 1

Canada Commercial

Canada No. 2

Properly Packed

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

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

Vareity

Each package must contain tomatoes of similar varietal characteristics and type e.i. red tomatoes cannot be mixed with pink.

 Each package must contain tomatoes of similar varietal characteristics and type e.i. red tomatoes cannot be mixed with pink. Each package must contain tomatoes of similar varietal characteristics and type e.i. red tomatoes cannot be mixed with pink.

Condition

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury or water soaked areas.
  3. Soft or overripe which yield to moderate pressure.
  4. Shrivelled or wrinkled.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality.

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury or water soaked areas.
  3. Soft or overripe which yield to moderate pressure.
  4. Shrivelled or wrinkled.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality.

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury or water soaked areas.
  3. Soft or overripe which yield to moderate pressure.
  4. Shrivelled or wrinkled.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality.

 

Uniformity of Maturity

Tomatoes packed in containers must be within one of the following stages of maturity:

  1. "Mature" showing a tinge of pink colour at the blossom end.
  2. "Turning" showing a tinge of pink at the blossom end to 25% of the surface of pink or red.
  3. "Semi-ripe" a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 75% of the surface of pink or red colour.
  4. "Firm-ripe" pink or red colour covering at least 75% of the surface.

Note:

10% of the tomatoes in a package may be of an adjacent maturity stage or stages.

Tomatoes packed in containers must be within one of the following stages of maturity:

  1. "Mature" showing a tinge of pink colour at the blossom end.
  2. "Turning" showing a tinge of pink at the blossom end to 25% of the surface of pink or red.
  3. "Semi-ripe" a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 75% of the surface of pink or red colour.
  4. "Firm-ripe" pink or red colour covering at least 75% of the surface.

Note:

10% of the tomatoes in a package may be of an adjacent maturity stage or stages.

Tomatoes packed in containers must be within one of the following stages of maturity:

  1. "Mature" showing a tinge of pink colour at the blossom end.
  2. "Turning" showing a tinge of pink at the blossom end to 25% of the surface of pink or red.
  3. "Semi-ripe" a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 75% of the surface of pink or red colour.
  4. "Firm-ripe" pink or red colour covering at least 75% of the surface.

Note:

10% of the tomatoes in a package may be of an adjacent maturity stage or stages.

Cleanliness

Must be free from:

  1. Thickly smeared foreign matter, spray residue , dirt, etc. that exceeds an aggregate area of ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter.
  2. Lightly smeared material that exceeds an aggregate area of ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Must be free from:

  1. Thickly smeared foreign matter, spray residue , dirt, etc. that exceeds an aggregate area of ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter.
  2. Lightly smeared material that exceeds an aggregate area of ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Must be free from:

  1. Thickly smeared foreign matter, spray residue , dirt, etc. that exceeds an aggregate area of ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter.
  2. Lightly smeared material that exceeds an aggregate area of ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Scald

Must be free from dark discoloured or watery blistered areas.

 Must be free from dark discoloured or watery blistered areas. Must be free from dark discoloured or watery blistered areas.

Ground Spots

Must be free from soft or discoloured areas.

Must be free from soft or discoloured areas. Must be free from soft or discoloured areas.

Worm Holes

Must be free from worm holes or damage caused by worms.

 Must be free from worm holes or damage caused by worms. Must be free from worm holes or damage caused by worms.

Blossom End Rot

Must be free from any penetration of flesh by decay breakdown causing leaking.

Must be free from any penetration of flesh by decay breakdown causing leaking. Must be free from any penetration of flesh by decay breakdown causing leaking.

Anthracnose

Must be free from all sunken, water soaked areas.

 Must be free from all sunken, water soaked areas. Must be free from all sunken, water soaked areas.

Blight

Must be free from areas that are dark brown, leathery and somewhat sunken.

 Must be free from areas that are dark brown, leathery and somewhat sunken. Must be free from areas that are dark brown, leathery and somewhat sunken.

Shape

Tomatoes must not be more than slightly kidney-shaped, lopsided, elongated, angular, sharply creased, distinctly ridged or rough. No spurs are allowed.

Tomatoes may be kidney- shaped but not ridged, or rough so as to affect the shipping quality or seriously affect the saleability. No spurs are allowed.

Tomatoes must not be badly misshapen. No spurs are allowed.

Size

Minimum diameter is 1 ½ inches (38mm) and in the case of extra large tomatoes, a minimum diameter of 2 7/8 inches (73mm).

The size variation is 1 inch (25mm) where tomatoes are packed 2 inches (51mm) or greater, and ½ inch (13mm) where tomatoes are pack 1 ½ to 2inches (38 to 51mm).

Minimum diameter is

2 ½ inches (63mm).

Minimum diameter is 1 ½ inches (38mm).

Growth Cracks

Must be free from growth cracks that are:

  1. Not well healed (flesh exposed).
  2. Well healed and aggregate in length more than ¼ the diameter of the tomato.
  3. Over the shoulder of the tomato.

Must be free from growth cracks that are:

  1. Not well healed (flesh exposed).
  2. Well healed and aggregate in length more than ¼ the diameter of the tomato.
  3. Over the shoulder of the tomato.

Must be free from growth cracks that are:

  1. Not well healed (flesh exposed).
  2. Well healed and aggregate in length more than ½ the diameter of the tomato.
  3. Well healed but extend beyond the shoulder of the tomato.

Scars

Must be smooth and not exceed an aggregate area of ½ inch (13mm) in diameter. No holes or leakers are permitted.

Must be smooth and not exceed an aggregate area of ½ inch (13mm) in diameter. No holes or leakers are permitted.

Must not be more than slightly rough with shallow holes from irregular tissue growth and not exceed an aggregate area of more than 1 inch (25mm) in diameter. No deep or pinpoint holes or leakers are permitted.

Stitching

Must be free from stitching:

  1. That is rough.
  2. That is accompanied by holes.
  3. Where the aggregate total length of stitching exceeds the length of one line running from stem to blossom end.

Must be free from stitching:

  1. That is rough.
  2. That is accompanied by holes.
  3. Where the aggregate total length of stitching exceeds the length of one line running from stem to blossom end.

Must be free from stitching:

  1. Where the aggregate total length of stitching exceeds the length of two lines running from stem to blossom end.
  2. That has holes penetrating into the flesh.

Blotchy Ripening

Must be uniformly coloured and free from blotchy ripening (any browning of the vascular bundles of the cell wall).

 Must be uniformly coloured and free from blotchy ripening (any browning of the vascular bundles of the cell wall).

Must be free from blotchy ripening which exceeds an aggregate area of 15% of the surface. No more than 15% of the tomatoes in a lot may be affected.

Insects
Stings

Must be free from stings that:

  1. Are not well healed.
  2. Exceed 2 per tomato.

Must be free from stings that:

  1. Are not well healed.
  2. Exceed 2 per tomato.

Must be free from stings that:

  1. Are not well healed.
  2. Exceed an aggregate area of ¼ the diameter of the tomato.

White Fly Injury

Must be free from:

  1. Injury that has etched into the surface.
  2. Thickly smeared residue exceeding ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter.
  3. Lightly smeared residue exceeding ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Must be free from:

  1. Injury that has etched into the surface.
  2. Thickly smeared residue exceeding ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter.
  3. Lightly smeared residue exceeding ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Must be free from injury exceeding 1 inch (25mm) in diameter.

Puffiness

Up to ½ the cells may show separation such that the open space shall not be greater than ½ the thickness of the cell wall.

 Up to ½ the cells may show separation such that the open space shall not be greater than ½ the thickness of the cell wall.

All cells may show separation not greater than the width of the cell wall.

Other Defects

Must be from injury, defect or combination of defects that materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the tomato.

Must be from injury, defect or combination of defects that materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the tomato.

Must be from injury, defect or combination of defects that seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the tomato.

 

Grade Factor

Ontario Jumbo Grade

Properly Packed

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

Maturity

Must possess a tinge of pink at the blossom end. When in a package, colour must be uniform according to the maturity categories. ei. Mature, turning, semi ripe and firm ripe.

Unifirmity of Maturity

Tomatoes packed in containers must be within one of the following stages of maturity:

  1. "Mature" showing a tinge of pink colour at the blossom end.
  2. "Turning" showing a tinge of pink at the blossom end to 25% of the surface of pink or red.
  3. "Semi-ripe" a minimum of 25% to a maximum of 75% of the surface of pink or red colour.

"Firm-ripe" pink or red colour covering at least 75% of the surface.

Shape

Must be free from tomatoes which are completely bent double with deep ridges at the bent causing a waste in excess of 5%. No spurs are allowed.

Size

Must be a minimum of 2 ½ inches (63mm) in diameter.

Scald

Must be free from blisters that are soft or leaking.

Ground Spot

Must be free from areas that are likely to leak.

Worm Holes

Must be free from worm holes that are likely to leak or affect the appearance.

Blossom End Rot

Must be free from any penetration of flesh by decay breakdown causing leaking.

Anthracnose

Must be free from all sunken, water soaked areas.

Blight

Must be free from areas that are dark brown, leathery and somewhat sunken.

Growth Cracks

Must be free from open wet cracks, cracks over the shoulder, or cracks that are likely to cause leaking or materially affect the appearance of the tomato.

Scars

Must be free from scars that are likely to cause leaking or materially affect the appearance of the tomato.

Stitching

Must be free from stitching that is likely to cause leaking or materially affects the appearance of the tomato.

Blotchy Ripening

Must be free from blotchy ripening that exceeds 5% of the surface or materially affects the appearance of the tomato.

Insect Stings

Must be free from insect stings that exceed an aggregate area of 5% of the surface or materially affect the appearance of the tomato.

White Fly Injury

Must be free from white fly injury that materially affects the appearance of the tomato.

Puffiness

Must be free from puffiness that materially affects the appearance of the tomato.

Other Defects

Must be free from any injury, damage, defect or a combination thereof that causes waste of more than 5% or that affects the edibility of the tomato.

Packing Level Tolerances

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

    1. 5% by count of the greenhouse tomatoes may be below the minimum size.
    2. 10% by count of the packages may contain greenhouse tomatoes that exceed that maximum diameter variation.
    3. 1% by count of the greenhouse tomatoes may be affected by decay.
    4. 5% by count of the greenhouse tomatoes by count in a lot may have grade defects other than size but including decay.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5 % of the greenhouse tomatoes 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.).

Markings

All packages of greenhouse tomatoes 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 "Greenhouse tomatoes" where the product is not visible.
    5. The net weight of the contents in trays, baskets, cartons, lugs, boxes, crates and catchweight (random weight) packages.
    6. The capacity for baskets, one-half bushel or bushel cartons.
     

    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. Capacity markings must be at least ½ inch in height for baskets 2 to 11 quart, 2 and 4 litre capacity and for cartons of ½ and 1 bushel capacity.
    4. 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

Greenhouse tomatoes may be packed in the following containers:

    1. Trays, cartons, baskets, boxes and crates with a capacity of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 pounds and multiples of 5 pounds.
    2. 2 and 4 litre baskets.
    3. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 11 quart baskets.
    4. 1,110 cubic inch half bushel box, carton or crate.
    5. 2,220 cubic inch bushel box, carton or crate.
    6. Tomato tubes with a minimum net weight of 14 oz.
    7. Crates or lugs measuring 16 1/8 x 13 ½ x 6 ½ inches.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of greenhouse tomatoes 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 and 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