Rutabaga Grading and Packing Manual
This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading,
packing and marking of rutabagas in the Province of Ontario. It is supplied
by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of rutabagas
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 rutabagas is Canada No. 1.
All rutabagas 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 grade for rutabagas.
Grade
Factors |
Canada No.1 |
| Properly Packed |
When packaged, the rutabagas must not be slack, overpressed or
otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during
handling or in transit. |
| Variety |
Rutabagas must be of similar varietal characteristics and colour. |
| Firmness |
Flesh must be firm (unyielding to slight pressure), not soft or
shrivelled to any extent. |
| Shape |
Rutabagas must:
- be reasonably regular in contour and cannot be distinctly
ridged, rough or otherwise misshapen
- not have a length of more than 1½ times the diameter
- have only 1 neck and 1 main tap root.
|
| Trimming |
- necks should be cut back flat, not over ¾ inch (19mm)
in length and not into the shoulder.
- all green leafy growth must be removed
- trimming is not allowed on the upper purple half of the root
- the lower half may be smoothly but not deeply trimmed to remove
blemishes, secondary roots and rootlets. Trimming should not
alter the general appearance of the rutabaga.
|
| Decay |
Must be free from any soft mushy condition or wet freezing injury. |
| Appearance |
Unwaxed rutabagas must not have more than:
- 5% of the surface in the aggregate affected by caked dirt,
mould or foreign matter
- 15% of the surface in the aggregate affected by stain or covered
with loose dirt on the lower half.
Waxed rutabagas must be clean.
|
| Discolouration |
Not more than:
- 5% of the surface on the lower portion may be affected by
dark grey, dark brown to black discolouration which shows some
penetration of the skin
- 15% of the surface on the lower portion may be affected by
light brown to tan discolouration which shows some penetration
of the skin.
|
| Size |
Rutabagas packed in containers must:
- be marked with a minimum and maximum diameter
- have the word "Small" marked on containers where
the minimum diameter is 2 inches (51mm) and maximum diameter
is 4 inches (102mm)
- have the word "Small Medium" marked on containers
where the minimum diameter is 3 1/2 inches (89mm) and maximum
diameter is 5 1/2 inches (140mm) except that prior to September
1 the minimum diameter may be 3 inches (76mm)
- have the word "Medium" marked on containers where
the minimum diameter is 4 inches (102mm) and maximum diameter
is 6 inches (152mm)
- have the word "Large" marked on containers where
the minimum diameter is 5 inches (127mm) and maximum diameter
is 7 inches (178mm)
- not vary by more than 2 inches (51mm) in diameter.
|
| Insects and Worm Injury |
Rutabagas must be free free insects and insect larva. Tunnels
or discolouration should not penetrate into the root more than 1
inch (25mm) in the aggregate. |
| Growth Cracks |
Rutabagas must be free from growth cracks which are not healed,
discoloured, materially affect the appearance or are deeper than:
- 1/8 inch (3mm) where diameter is between 2 inches (51mm) and
4 inches (102mm)
- 1/4 inch (6mm) where diameter is between 4 inches (102mm)
and 6 inches (152mm)
- 3/8 inch (10mm) where diameter is greater than 6 inches (152mm).
|
Other Damage or Defects
|
Rutabagas must be free from:
- any damage or defect that affects the upper half other than
growth cracks
- external damage on the lower half that exceeds 25% of the
surface
- any other damage, defect or any combination which exceeds
5% cutoff by weight or which materially affects the appearance,
edibility or shipping quality.
|
Packing Level Tolerances
The following tolerances by count apply to any package or lot of rutabagas
before the package or lot would fail to meet the grade requirement at
the packing level:
- 10% by count of the rutabagas in the lot may be up to ½ inch
(13mm) below the minimum diameter requirement
- 10% by count of the rutabagas in the lot may be up to ½ inch
(13mm) over the maximum diameter requirement
- 5% by count of the rutabagas in the lot may be affected by decay
- 10% of the rutabagas by count in the lot may have any defects including
decay but not size.
Additional Destination Tolerances
In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5%
of the rutabagas by count in the lot may have condition defects of which
not more than 2% may be decay at any other subsequent level of trade.
Markings
All packages of rutabagas must be marked with the following:
- ame and address of packer
- grade with size designation
- country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of "Product
of "
- the word "Rutabagas" where the product is not visible
- "Waxed" where clean rutabagas have been immersed in a wax
solution.
Note:
- The grade and origin markings must be immediately adjacent to one
another and of the same size print.
- 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.).
- All markings must be legible of a permanent nature, and of a reasonable
size proportional to the package or label.
Packages
Rutabagas may be packed in the following standard containers that might
be suitable for the required grade lengths:
- half bushel hamper of 16 quart capacity
- bushel hamper or 32 quart capacity
- half bushel box, carton or crate of 1110 cubic inches capacity
- bushel box, carton or crate of 2220 cubic inches capacity
- bag, cartons, boxes or crates weighing 5, 10, 15, 25, 40, 50, 75,
or 100 pounds
- 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 rutabagas 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 Contact
Foods of Plant Origin
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor North West
Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2
