Parsnip Grading and Packing Manual

This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading, packing and marking of parsnips in the Province of Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of parsnips 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 parsnips are Canada No. 1, Canada No. 1 Cut Crowns and Canada No. 2. All parsnips 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: Canada No. 1 Cut Crowns grade is provided for parsnips that have had all crowns or shoulders completely removed but that in all other respects must meet the requirements for Canada No. 1 grade.

 Grade
Factors

 Canada No.1

 Canada No.2
Properly Packed When packaged, the parsnips must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit. When packaged, the parsnips must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.
Variety Must have similar varietal characteristics. Must have similar varietal characteristics.
Decay Must be free from decay, any soft mushy condition or leaky breakdown from freezing injury. Must be free from decay, any soft mushy condition or leaky breakdown from freezing injury.
Seeders Must be free from any sign of a seed stem, thick top, or parsnips that are hard and woody to cut. Must be free from any sign of a seed stem, thick top, or parsnips that are hard and woody to cut.
Pithiness Must be free from parsnips that are spongy or porous. Must be free from parsnips that are spongy or porous.
Broken Specimens Broken parsnips must meet the minimum length and diameter of the grade and the break must be smooth, clean and not badly discoloured. Broken parsnips must meet the minimum length and diameter of the grade and the break must be smooth, clean and not badly discoloured.
Trimming Must not be trimmed into the crown. Must not be trimmed into the crown.
Texture Must not be soft, flabby, shrivelled, wilted or rubbery and must not be woody when cut. Must not be soft, flabby, shrivelled, wilted or rubbery and must not be woody when cut.
Top Growth Not more than 75% should show top growth over ½ inch (13mm) and remainder must not exceed 1 inch (25mm). Must not exceed 1 inch (25mm) in length.
Appearance Must be fairly smooth, not rough, ridged, or covered with secondary rootlets to affect the appearance. Must not be rough, ridged or covered with secondary rootlets to seriously affect the appearance.
Shape

Must not:

  1. be turnip shaped, forked, or misshapen to materially affected the appearance
  2. have double corkscrew-like twists with constrictions or sharp curves.

Must not be badly:

  1. forked or corkscrew shaped as to seriously affect the appearance
  2. curved with sharp constrictions that would result in more than 10% cut-off by weight.
Cleanliness

Must be clean if washed. If not washed, must not be affected by:

  1. mould, decayed matter or caked dirt over 5% of the surface
  2. staining or clinging dirt over more than 15% of the surface.

Must be reasonably clean if washed. If not washed, must not be affected by:

  1. caked dirt over more than 25% of the surface
  2. clinging dirt over more than 50% of the surface.
Size

Parsnips must:

  1. have a minimum diameter of 1 inch (25mm) and a maximum diameter of 3 inches (76mm)
  2. have a minimum diameter of 1 inch (25mm) and
    • conform to the diameter size range marked on the package or label
    • are packed in a transparent package
    • are in a bulk display at a retail store.
  3. have a minimum diameter of 1 ¾ inches (44mm) or greater and be packed in a container marked "1 ¾ inches (44mm)" and up or the greater minimum size designation that may be applicable
  4. have a minimum length of 5 inches (127mm)
  5. not vary more than 1 ½ inches (38mm) in diameter when packed as a prepackaged product.
Parsnips must have a minimum diameter of 1 inch (25mm) and a minimum length of 4 inches (102mm).
Growth Cracks

Must not be deep or rough that:

  1. exceed ¼ inch (6mm) in depth
  2. exceed ¼ inch (6mm) in width
  3. have 1 crack exceeding 1/3rd the length of the parsnip.
  4. have more than 1 crack exceeding ½ the length of the parsnip.

Must not be severe and long that:

  1. exceed ¼ inch (6mm) in depth
  2. exceed ¼ inch (6mm) in width
  3. have 1 crack exceeding ½ the length of the parsnip
  4. have more than 1 crack exceeding 2/3rd the length of the parsnip.

Mechanical Injury, Insect Damage, Cuts and Bruises

Must be free from damage that:

  1. exceeds 3/16 inch (5mm) in depth
  2. is noticeably discoloured
  3. affects an aggregate area of more than ½ the diameter of the parsnip.
Must be free from serious damage which causes more than 10% cut-off by weight.
Crown Damage

Must be free from damage which:

  1. is more than ½ inch (13mm) in depth
  2. is noticeably discoloured
  3. affects an aggregate area exceeding ½ the diameter of the parsnip.
Must be free from damage which seriously affects the appearance or saleability of the parsnip.
Discolouration Darker than light tan colour must not exceed 15% of the surface. Darker than light tan colour must not exceed 50% of the surface.
Bruising Bruised, scuffed or ruptured areas that show water soaked spots or are grey to light black in colour must not exceed 5% cut-off by weight. Bruised, scuffed or ruptured areas that show water soaked spots or are grey to light black in colour must not exceed 10% cut-off by weight.
Wart-Like Growth and Colour Must be free from injury that has a dark colour and wart-like appearance. Must not exceed an aggregate of ½ inch (13mm) of dark discolouration.
Other Damage

Must be free of any other damage or defect not described which:

  1. materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the parsnips
  2. cannot be removed by 5% of the total weight.

Must be free of any other damage or defect not described which:

  1. seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the parsnips
  2. cannot be removed by 10% of the total weight.

Packing Level Tolerances

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

  1. a maximum of 4% of the parsnips by weight in a lot may be below the minimum diameter or minimum length
  2. a maximum of 8% of the parsnips by weight in a lot may be over the maximum diameter or maximum length
  3. 10% of the containers in a lot of prepackaged parsnips may exceed the 1 ½ inch (38mm) size variation
  4. a maximum of 2% of the parsnips by weight may be affected by decay
  5. a maximum of 5% of the parsnips by weight may be affected by the same defect other than size.
  6. a maximum of 6% of the parsnips in a lot by weight may defects other than size but including decay.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5% of the parsnips 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 worsen after packing (i.e. bruising, crushing, decay, freezing, overheating, etc.).

Markings

All packages of parsnips 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 "Parsnips" 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

Parsnips may be packed in the following containers:

  1. baskets of 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 quart capacity
  2. baskets of 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 parsnips 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