Table Grape Grading and Packing
Manual
This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply
to the grading, packing and marking of table grapes in the Province of
Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the
marketing of table grapes 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 table grapes are Canada
No. 1 and Canada Domestic. All table grapes 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 Domestic grades.
|
Grade Factors
|
Canada No. 1
|
Canada Domestic
|
|
Properly Packed
|
When packaged, the table grapes must not be slack, overpressed
or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage
during handling or in transit.
|
When packaged, the table grapes must
not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to
result in permanent damage during handling or in transit. |
|
Condition
|
Must be free from soft or shrivelled specimens or any other condition
defect which affects the keeping quality.
|
Must be free from soft or shrivelled
specimens or any other condition defect which affects the keeping
quality. |
|
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. |
|
Insects and Larva
|
None allowed.
|
None allowed. |
|
Hail Marks
|
None allowed.
|
None allowed. |
|
Crushed, Split or Dried Berries
|
None allowed.
|
None allowed. |
|
Variety
|
Not more than 1 variety to a package unless marked "Mixed
Varieties" in which case the grapes must be of different
variety and colour and packed in equal proportions in packages
that do not exceed 6 quarts in capacity.
|
Must be of similar varietal characteristics.
|
|
Bunches
|
90% of the bunches must be of a fairly compact nature for the
variety.
|
60% of the bunches must be of a fairly compact nature for the
variety.
|
|
Colour
|
Table grapes must be of good colour meaning 90% of the grapes
on a bunch must be of the colour characteristic of the variety
when mature.
|
Table grapes must be of fair colour meaning 75% of the grapes
on a bunch must be of the colour characteristic of the variety
when mature.
|
|
Disease Mildew or Mould
|
None allowed.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Shattered (Loose) Berries
|
None allowed.
|
No requirement.
|
|
Cleanliness
|
Table grapes must be fairly clean meaning individual berries
must be free from dirt, dust, spray residue or any foreign material
which is noticeably in contrast with the colour of the berry or
that the appearance of the bunch is not more than noticeably affected.
|
Table grapes must be reasonably clean meaning individual berries
must be free from dirt, dust, spray residue or any foreign material
which is seriously in contrast with the colour of the berry or
that the appearance of the bunch is not more than seriously affected.
|
|
Size
|
Table grapes must be of good size meaning 90% of the grapes are
of a size characteristic of the variety when mature and that variation
in size is not sufficient to materially detract from the appearance.
|
Table grapes must be of fair size meaning 65% of the grapes are
of a size characteristic of the variety when mature and that variation
in size is not sufficient to seriously detract from the appearance.
|
Packing Level Tolerances
The following tolerances by weight apply to any package
or lot of table grapes before the package or lot would fail to meet
the grade requirements at the packing level:
-
5% of the table grapes by weight may be affected
by the same defect other than decay.
-
3% of the table grapes by weight may be affected
by decay.
-
10% of the table grapes by weight may have grade
defects of any kind.
Additional Destination Tolerances
In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5
% of the table grapes 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 table grapes must be marked with the following:
- Name and Address of Packer.
- Grade.
- Country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of "
Product of ".
- The word "Table Grapes" where the product is not visible.
- The net weight of the contents on bags or catchweight packages.
- The price per kilogram or pound on catchweight packages.
- The word "Mixed Varieties" where different colour
and variety are packed.
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, 3/16 inch in height on bags and capacity ¼ inch in height
on all other packages (cartons, bushels, baskets etc.).
- All markings must be legible, of a permanent nature, and of
a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.
Packages
Table grapes may be packed in the following containers:
- Half pints, pints and quarts.
- Baskets of 2, 4, 6, 8, 11 quart or 2 and 4 litre capacity.
- 1,110 cubic inch half bushel box, carton or crate.
- 2,220 cubic inch bushel box, carton or crate.
- Half bushel hamper of 16 quart capacity.
- Bushel hamper of 32 quart capacity.
- Consumer package of any weight up to 3 pounds.
- Any container that is properly packed and filled which is authorized
for experimental use.
Bilingual and Metric Requirements
All markings on packages of table grapes 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
