Raspberry Grading and Packing Manual

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

Regulation 378/90 under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act is the source of this information.

This edition 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 grade and grade name for raspberries is Ontario No. 1. The sale of raspberries on a graded basis is optional. If raspberries are sold as Ontario No. 1, they must be marked accordingly and meet the grade standard set out below.

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

Grade
Factors

 Ontario No. 1
Properly Packed When packaged, the raspberries must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.
Freshness Raspberries must be freshly picked and packed. 
Cleanliness Raspberries must be free from dirt, dust, spray residue, mould, mildew, cores, stems, green or dried berries, or any other foreign matter.
Condition Berries must be whole, firm, and free from condition defects including decay, breakdown, soft or shrivelled specimens, freezing injury or other defect affecting the keeping quality.
Maturity Berries must be mature.
Variety Raspberries in any package must be of one variety.
Size Berries must be uniform in size and have a minimum diameter of ½ inch (13mm).

 

Packing Level Tolerances

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

  1. 5% of the raspberries by volume may be below the minimum diameter
  2. 10% of the raspberries by volume may be affected by grade defects other than size.


Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5% of the raspberries by volume in the lot may have condition defects (decay, softening, mould, mildew, freezing, etc.) of which not more than 2% may be affected by decay at any other subsequent level of trade.

Markings

All masters packages of raspberries must be marked with the following:

  1. name and address of packer
  2. grade (if sold by grade)
  3. country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of "Product of "
  4. the word "Raspberries" where the product is not visible
  5. the net weight of the contents of catchweight packages or measure when in standard containers.


Note:

  1. The grade (if sold on a graded basis) 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 or catchweight packages and ¼ inch in height on all other packages (baskets, etc.).
  3. Capacity markings must be at least ½ inch in height for baskets and cartons of 2 quart capacity.
  4. All markings must be legible of a permanent nature, and of a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.

Packages

Raspberries may be packed in the following containers:

  1. half pint
  2. pint
  3. quart
  4. baskets of 2 quart capacity
  5. baskets of 2 and 4 litre capacity
  6. consumer tray packs of up to 3 pounds.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of raspberries should be printed in equal prominence in both English and French where there is a possibility of export from Ontario or where required in 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