Sweet Corn Grading and Packing Manual

This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading, packing and marking of sweet corn in the Province of Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of sweet corn 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 sweet corn is Canada No. 1. All sweet corn 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 sweet corn.

 Grade
Factors 		 Canada No.1
Properly Packed  When packaged, the sweet corn must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.
Variety Must be of similar varietal characteristics. White cannot be mixed with yellow or bicoloured.
Cob Formation Must be free from misshapen or stunted ears. Cobs need not be perfectly straight but cannot be crooked.
Cob Development
 
  1. The undeveloped ends, poorly developed kernels likely to be small, round, white and watery, or no kernels at all, must not exceed ¼ of the length of the ear.
  2. The appearance and quality of the edible portion must not be affected by 1 or part of 1 poorly developed row.
Maturity
  1. Ears must have kernels that are tender, plump and milky. This can be judged by using the thumb test which requires applying pressure with the thumbnail to kernels approximately 1/3 the distance from the tip of the cob. The kernels should emit a milky, creamy juice.
  2. Starchy consistence indicates over maturity while a thin watery cobsistancy indicates under maturity.
  3. Small round whitish kernels would indicate immaturity while dark yellow or golden kernels with dimples would indicate over maturity.
  4. Sweet corn must have rows that are at least fairly well developed. Rows may be wavy with spaces between, but rows or kernels must not be missing or kernels must not be placed every which way.
Husks Husks must be fresh, dark green and moist to light greenish yellow and fairly moist and unbroken. Husk must not be removed to the extent that any of the cob is exposed.
Decay Must be free from decay on cob, silk husk or butt.
Worms Must be free from live worms whether on the cob or the husk.
Worm Damage  Must be free from any damage to the cob. Damage to the husk or silk must not exceed 25% of the surface.
Smut Must free from any amount of smut.
Crushed, Broken or Bruised Kernels No more than 8 kernels per cob may be affected.
Size Must have at least 4 inches (102mm) of edible kernels and not more than 25% of the cob may have under developed or undeveloped kernels.
Trimming
  1. All loose leaves should be removed and shanks maintained within 4 inches (102mm) in length from the butt of the cob. Prepackaged denuded cobs must not show more than 1 inch (25mm).
  2. Cobs may be trimmed at the silk, provided at least 4 inches (102mm) of edible kernels remain and that all evidence of tapering is not removed.

 

Packing Level Tolerances

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

  1. where sweet corn is packed 30 or less ears, 10% of the packages of sweet corn may be 5% more or less than the number of ears declared on the package
  2. where sweet corn is packed 36 or more ears, 10% of the packages may contain 2 ears more or less than the number of ears declared on the package
  3. 5 % of the ears of sweet corn by count may be below the minimum length
  4. 15% of the ears of sweet corn by count may exceed the maximum declared length
  5. 10% of the ears of sweet corn by count may have any defects including not more than 1% decay or 5% that have the same defect.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5% of the sweet corn 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 sweet corn 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 "Sweet Corn" where the product is not visible
  5. the numerical count in multiples of ½ dozen, net volume or measure when packed in a standard container
  6. the word "small" where the ears are 4 to 6 inches (102 to 152mm) in length.

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 or catchweight packages and ¼ inch in height on all other packages (baskets, etc.).
  3. All markings must be legible of a permanent nature, and of a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.

Packages

Sweet corn may be packed in the following standard containers that might be suitable for the required grade lengths:

  1. baskets of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 11 quart capacity
  2. baskets of 2 and 4 litre capacity
  3. half bushel hamper of 16 quart capacity
  4. bushel hamper or 32 quart capacity
  5. half bushel box, carton or crate of 1110 cubic inches capacity
  6. bushel box, carton or crate of 2220 cubic inches capacity
  7. bag, cartons, boxes or crates in any multiple of ½ dozen
  8. transparent packages with any number up to 1 dozen. 

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of sweet corn 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