Pepper Grading and Packing Manual

This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading, packing and marking of peppers in the Province of Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of peppers 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 grade and grade name for peppers is Ontario No. 1. All Peppers sold in Ontario must be properly packed to the grade standards and marked accordingly.

The following table identifies the requirements of the Ontario No. 1 grade for peppers.

 Grade
Factors

Ontario No. 1
Properly Packed When packaged, the peppers must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.
Variety All peppers must be of similar varietal characteristics with the same general type and shape.
Condition Must be fresh, firm and not soft or shrivelled.
Bruises Must be free of bruises.
Mechanical Injury Must be free of mechanical injury which includes crushing and splitting.
Decay Must be free from decay.
Insects Must be free from insects, insect larva and insect injury.

 

Packing Level Tolerances

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

  1. 3 % of the peppers by count may be affected by decay
  2. 5 % of the peppers by count may have the same defect
  3. A maximum of 10 % of the peppers by count may have grade defects of any kind including decay.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5% of the peppers by count in the lot may have condition defects of which not more than 2% may be affected by decay at any other subsequent level of trade.

Markings

All masters packages of peppers 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 "Peppers" where the product is not visible
  5. the word "Sweet" or "Hot" on the container.

Note:

  1. The grade and origin markings must be immediately adjacent to one another and of the same size print.
  2. Cartons of half-bushel and 1 bushel capacity shall have letters and figures not less than ½ inch in size.
  3. All other required markings must be of print at least 1/8 inch in height on tags and 1/4 inch in height on all other packages.
  4. All markings must be legible of a permanent nature, and of a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.

Packages

Peppers 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. half bushel, cartons or boxes of 1110 cu. inch capacity
  4. one bushel, cartons or boxes of 2220 cu. inch capacity
  5. 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 peppers 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