Spinach for Processing Grades and Standards

Grades of Spinach for Processing

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of spinach which is fairly fresh and free from decay, mildew, grass, weeds, wood, muck chips or other foreign material, roots, and worms, and which is free from damage caused by discoloration, seedstems, seedbuds, coarse stalks and stems, other disease, other insects, spray residue, adhering dirt, or mechanical or other means.
a. Not more than 25 percent, by weight, of the spinach in any lot may consist of leaf stems
b. In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted in a 100 ounce sample:
1. For decay, mildew, grass, small weeds, and leaves which are damaged by discoloration, not more than a total of 20 pieces: Provided, That not more than three-fourths of this amount, or 15 pieces, shall be permitted for decay, grass and small weeds;
2. For wood, muck chips, or other foreign material over one-half inch in length, not more than 2 pieces; and
3. For other defects, including foreign material not over one-half inch in length, not more than 5 ounces.
4. None of the foregoing tolerances shall apply to worms.
  1. U.S. No. 2 consists of spinach which meets all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade except for the increased tolerances specified in this section.
a. In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted in a 100 ounce sample:
1. For decay, mildew, grass, small weeds, and leaves which are damaged by discoloration, not more than a total of 40 pieces;
2. For wood, muck chips, or other foreign material over one-half inch in length, not more than 3 pieces; and,(3) For other defects, including foreign material not over one-half inch in length, not more than 10 ounces.
3. None of the foregoing tolerances shall apply to worms.

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