Pears Grading and Packing Manual

This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading, packing and marking of pears in the Province of Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of pears 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 pears are Canada Extra Fancy, Canada Fancy, Canada Commercial. and Ontario Jumbo. All pears sold in Ontario must be properly packed to the grade standards and marked accordingly.

Note: Pears graded as Canada Fancy may be alternately designated as "Canada No. 1" and pears graded as Canada Commercial may be alternately designated "Canada Cee", "Canada C" or "Canada Domestic".

The following table identifies the requirements of the Canada Extra Fancy, Canada Fancy and Canada Commercial grades. Ontario No. 3 grade follows this table.

Grade Factors

Canada Extra Fancy

Canada Fancy

Canada Commercial

Properly Packed

When packaged, the pears must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.

 When packaged, the pears must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit. When packaged, the pears 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 one variety.

 Must be of one variety. Must be of one variety.

Hand Picked

Pears must be hand picked and not show signs of rough handling.

 Pears must be hand picked and not show signs of rough handling. Pears must be hand picked and not show signs of rough handling.

Condition

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury.
  3. Bitterpit.
  4. Soft, shrivelled or overripe specimens.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the keeping quality.

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury.
  3. Bitterpit.
  4. Soft, shrivelled or overripe specimens.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the keeping quality.

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury.
  3. Bitterpit.
  4. Soft, shrivelled or overripe specimens.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the keeping quality.

Insects and Insect Larvae

None allowed.

None allowed. None allowed.

Maturity

Pears must be mature but not overripe.

Pears must be mature but not overripe. Pears must be mature but not overripe.

Black End

Must be free from blackend.

Must be free from blackend. Must be free from blackend.

Storage Scald

Must be free from storage scald.

Must be free from storage scald. Must be free from storage scald.

Size

Must have a minimum diameter for the following varieties:

Anjou, Clapps Favourite, Delicious, Deveau, Flemish Beauty, Howel: 2 ¼ inches (57mm).

Bartlett and French Bartlett: 2 3/16 inches (56mm).

Bosc, Kieffer: 2 1/8 inches (54mm).

Gifford: 2 inches (51mm).

Seckel: 1 1/4 inches (32mm).

All other varieties: 2 inches (51mm).

Pears packed in tiered packages must not have a diameter size range greater than ¼ inch (6mm).

Must have a minimum diameter for the following varieties:

Anjou, Clapps Favourite, Delicious, Deveau, Flemish Beauty, Howel: 2 ¼ inches (57mm).

Bartlett and French Bartlett: 2 3/16 inches (56mm).

Bosc, Kieffer: 2 1/8 inches (54mm).

Gifford: 2 inches (51mm).

Seckel: 1 1/4 inches (32mm).

All other varieties: 2 inches (51mm).

Pears packed in tiered packages must not have a diameter size range greater than ¼ inch (6mm).

Must have a minimum diameter for the following varieties:

Clapps Favourite, Delicious, Deveau, Howel:

2 inches (51mm).

Bartlett, French Bartlett:

1 7/8 inches (48mm). Anjou, Bosc, Flemish Beauty: 1¾ inches(44mm).

Kieffer: 1 5/8inch(41mm).

Gifford: 1 ½ inch (38mm).

Seckel: 1 inch(25mm).

All other varieties:

1 ½ inch (38mm).

Bruising

Must be free from bruises that exceed an aggregate area of ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter or that have caused brown discolouration under the skin.

 Must be free from bruises that exceed an aggregate area of ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter or that have caused brown discolouration under the skin.

Must be free from bruises that exceed an aggregate area of 1inch (25mm) in diameter or that have caused brown discolouration under the skin.

Drought Spots

None allowed.

None allowed.

Must not exceed 3 spots per pear or have a noticeably depressed discoloured area.

Scale and Scale Spots

Must not:

  1. Exceed 2 per pear .
  2. Affect more than 5% of the pears in a lot.

Must not:

  1. Exceed 2 per pear .
  2. Affect more than 5% of the pears in a lot.

Must not be affected by more than 10 spots per pear.

Cleanliness

Must be clean and not be affected by dirt, dust, spray residue or other foreign material.

Must be fairly clean and not be more than slightly affected by dirt, dust, spray residue or other foreign material. Lightly smeared foreign matter must not exceed an aggregate area of ¾ inch and heavily smeared foreign matter must not exceed an aggregate area of ¼ inch.

Must be reasonably clean and areas affected by dirt, dust, spray residue or other foreign material must not noticeably contrast with the background colour. Lightly smeared foreign matter must not exceed an aggregate area of 1¼ inch and heavily smeared foreign matter must not exceed an aggregate area of ¼ inch.

Shape

Must be well formed and smooth. The shape must be characteristic of the variety and not be ridged, angular or indented.

Must be fairly well formed and smooth. Fruit must not be ridged, angular or indented.

Not more than 15% of the surface may have an abnormal shape or the abnormal shape causes a depression greater than ¼ inch (6mm).

Skin Punctures

None allowed in all varieties except Anjou where punctures:

  1. Do not exceed one per pear.
  2. Do not exceed 3/16 inch (5mm).
  3. Do not affect more than 10% of the pears in a lot.

None allowed in all varieties except Anjou where punctures:

  1. Do not exceed one per pear.
  2. Do not exceed 3/16 inch (5mm).
  3. Do not affect more than 15% of the pears in a lot.

In all varieties except Anjou, punctures must not:

  1. exceed one per pear.
  2. exceed 3/16 inch (5mm).

In the case of Anjou, punctures must not:

  1. exceed one per pear.
  2. exceed 3/16 inch (5mm).

Hail Damage

Must be free from hail damage that:

  1. Has broken the skin.
  2. Has caused discolouration.
  3. Has caused an individual mark exceeding 1/8 inch (3mm) in diameter.
  4. Exceeds an aggregate area of ¼ inch (6mm) in diameter per pear.

Must be free from hail damage that:

  1. Has broken the skin.
  2. Exceeds an aggregate area of ½ inch (13mm) in diameter per pear.
  3. Has noticeably depressed the affected areas or materially affects the appearance of the pear.

Must be free from hail damage that:

  1. Has not broken the skin but affects an aggregate area exceeding ¾ inch (13mm) in diameter.
  2. Has broken the skin and is not well healed.
  3. Has broken the skin and is well healed but affects and aggregate area exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.
  4. Has noticeably depressed the affected areas or seriously affects the appearance of the pear.

Limb Rub or Leaf Mark

Must be free from limb rub or leaf mark that is:

  1. Soft, rough, or dark in colour.
  2. Light brown in colour or of a smooth russet character and affects an aggregate area per pear exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.

Must be free from limb rub or leaf mark that is:

  1. Soft, rough, or dark in colour.
  2. Light brown in colour or of a smooth russet character and affects an aggregate area per pear exceeding ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Must be free from limb rub or leaf mark:

  1. Where the affected area is seriously depressed.
  2. That affects an aggregate area per pear exceeding 1 inch (25mm) in diameter.

Russeting

Must be free from russeting that is:

  1. Rough.
  2. Smooth but not characteristic of the variety and affects an aggregate area per pear exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.

Must be free from russeting that is:

  1. Rough.
  2. Smooth but not characteristic of the variety and affects that 25% of the surface of a pear.

Must be free from rough russeting that exceeds an aggregate area per pear of 1 inch (25mm) in diameter.

Stoney Pit

None allowed.

Must not exceed 1 spot per pear.

Must not affect an aggregate area per pear exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.

Freckled Pit

None allowed.

Must not affect an aggregate area per pear exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.

Must not affect more than 15% of the surface of the pear or discolour the pear.

Scab Spots

None allowed.

Must not affect an aggregate area per pear exceeding 1/8 inch (3mm) in diameter.

Must not affect an aggregate area per pear exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.

Leaf Roller Injury

None allowed.

Must not deform the pear or affect an area exceeding ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Must not affect an aggregate area per pear exceeding 1inch (25mm) in diameter.

Insect Stings

None allowed.

Must not exceed 3stings per pear. Sting punctures must not exceed 1/8 inch (3mm) in depth or diameter inclusive of any encircling discoloured ring.

Stings must be well healed and must not affect an aggregate area exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter inclusive of any encircling discoloured ring.

Pear Psylla

Must not affect:

  1. The appearance of the pear.
  2. An aggregate area per pear exceeding ½ inch (13mm) in diameter.

Must not affect more than 5% of the surface of the pear.

Must not affect more than 15% of the surface of the pear.

Sunscald and Sprayburn

None allowed.

Must be free from sunburn or sprayburn which:

  1. Does not blend with the normal colour of the pear.
  2. Has caused blistering or cracking of the skin.

Must be free from sunburn or sprayburn which:

  1. Does not blend with the normal colour of the pear.
  2. Is soft, blistered or cracked.
  3. Affects more than 15% of the surface of the pear.

Combination of Above Defects

Combinations of 2 or more of the above defects must not exceed in aggregate area the greater single area tolerance prescribed for the particular defects of the combination.

 Combinations of 2 or more of the above defects must not exceed in aggregate area the greater single area tolerance prescribed for the particular defects of the combination. Combinations of 2 or more of the above defects must not exceed in aggregate area the greater single area tolerance prescribed for the particular defects of the combination.

Other Injury, Defect or Combination

Must not affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the pears.

Must not materially affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the pears.

Must not seriously affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the pears.

The following table identifies the requirements of the Ontario No.3 Grade

Grade Factor

Ontario No. 3 Grade

Properly Packed

When packaged, the pears 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 one variety.

Hand Picked

Pears must be hand picked and not show signs of rough handling.

Condition

Must be sound, meaning free from:

  1. Decay or breakdown.
  2. Freezing injury.
  3. Bitterpit.
  4. Soft, shrivelled or overripe specimens.
  5. Any injury or defect which affects the keeping quality.

Insects and Insect Larvae

None allowed.

Maturity

Pears must be mature but not overripe.

Black End

Must be free from blackend.

Storage Scald

Must be free from storage scald.

Size

All varieties must be a minimum diameter of 1 ½ inches (38mm) except for Seckel pears which must be a minimum diameter of 1 inch (25mm).

Bruising

Must be free from bruises that affect more that 15% of the surface area of the pear.

Drought Spots

Must not be more than slightly discoloured or depressed.

Cleanliness

Must be free from foreign matter that materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the pear.

Shape

Must not be more than slightly deformed.

Stoney Pit

Must not materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the pear.

Scab Spots

Must not affect more that 15% of the surface area of the pear.

Hail Damage

Must not have broken the skin or affect an aggregate area exceeding ¾ inch (19mm) in diameter.

Limb Rubs and Leaf Marks

Must not exceed more than 15% of the surface area of the pear.

Leaf Roller Injury

Injury must not deform more than 25% of the surface area of the pear.

Insect Stings

Insect injury must not have broken the skin.

Pear Psylla

Must not affect more than 15% of the surface area of a pear.

Skin Punctures

None allowed except on Anjou variety where punctures must not exceed 2 per pear and not exceed 1/8 inch (3mm) in diameter.

Sunscald and Sprayburn

Must be free from sunburn or sprayburn which affects more than 15% of the surface area of a pear.

Combination of Above Defects

Combinations of 2 or more of the above defects must not exceed in aggregate area the greater single area tolerance prescribed for the particular defects of the combination.

Other Injury, Defect or Combination

Must not materially affect the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the pears.

Packing Level Tolerances

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

    1. 5% by count of the pears may be below the minimum size requirement.
    2. 5% by count of the pears may exceed the maximum size requirement.
    3. 10% by count of the packages may contain pears that exceed the maximum diameter variation.
    4. 3% by count of the pears may be affected by decay.
    5. 10% by count of the pears by count in a lot may have defects of any kind other than size but including decay and not more than 5% of the same defect.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5 % of the pears by count 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 pears 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 "Pears" where the product is not visible.
    5. The net weight of the contents in trays, baskets, cartons, lugs, boxes, crates and catchweight (random weight) packages.
    6. The capacity for baskets, one-half bushel or bushel cartons.
     

    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 of a print at least 1/8 inch in height on tags and ¼ inch in height on all other packages (baskets, cartons, etc).
    3. Capacity markings must be at least ½ inch in height for baskets 2 to 11 quart, 2 and 4 litre capacity and for cartons of ½ and 1 bushel capacity.
    4. All markings must be legible, of a permanent nature, and of a size reasonable in proportion to the size proportional to the size of the package or label.

Packages

Pears may be packed in the following standard containers:

  1. 2 and 4 litre baskets.
  2. Consumer tray pack of any weight up to three pounds.
  3. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 11 quart baskets.
  4. 16 quart half bushel hamper.
  5. 32 quart half bushel hamper.
  6. 2/3 bushel cartons.
  7. 1,110 cubic inch half bushel box, carton or crate.
  8. 2,220 cubic inch bushel box, carton or crate.
  9. Boxes, crates or cartons measuring
    • 16 1/8 x 8 5/8 x 7 5/8 inches.
    • 16 1/8 x 11 ½ x 5 ¾ inches.
    • 17 x 10 ¾ x 5 inches.
    • 18 x 11 ½ x 8 ½ inches.
    • 19 ¾ x 12 x 11 ¾ inches.

Exigences relatives au bilinguisme et au système métrique

S'il y a possibilité d'exportation hors de l'Ontario, toutes les marques sur les emballages de fraises doivent être à la fois en anglais et en français avec une visibilité égale pour les deux langues. Les noms et adresses ne sont requis qu'une seule fois.

La loi fédérale exige que toutes les marques de quantité nette soient en mesures impériales (livres, pintes, etc.) avec la mesure métrique équivalente de même dimension.

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur les exigences relatives au bilinguisme ou au système métrique ou sur les expéditions hors de l'Ontario, communiquez avec votre inspecteur local de l'Agence canadienne d'inspection des aliments (ACIA).

Personnes-ressources au Ministère de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur l'emballage des asperges, communiquez avec votre représentant local de la Direction de l'inspection des aliments du ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation:

Coordonnateur, Programm`e du contrôle de la qualité
Ministère de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation
1, rue Stone ouest, 5e étage N.-O.
Guelph, (ON) N1G 4Y2

 


Pour plus de renseignements :
Sans frais : 1 877 424-1300
Local : 519 826-4047
Courriel : ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca


Auteur : Le personnel du MAAARO
Date de création : 19 février 2003
Dernière révision : 16 janvier 2004