Blueberries for Processing Grade Standards

These standards apply to species of the genus Vaccinium which contain numerous small seeds that are barely noticeable and not to the true huckleberries of the genus Gaylussacia which contain 10 large seeds with bony coverings.

Grades of Blueberries for Processing

  1. U.S. No. 1. - U.S. No. 1 shall consist of blueberries which internally are free from worms, and are free from other kinds of berries, clusters, large stems, leaves and other foreign material, distinctly immature berries, and free from damage caused by visible mold and decay, shriveling, dirt, overmaturity, or other means. (a)In order to allow for variations incident to proper handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted for grade defects in a half-pint cup sample:(b)Not more than a total of 5 leaves and other foreign material, not more than a total of 20 distinctly immature berries, clusters and large stems, and not more than 3 berries other than blueberries. No tolerance shall be allowed for large pieces of foreign material.

  2. U.S. No. 2.- U.S. No. 2 shall consist of blueberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade except that the blueberries shall be free from serious damage caused by shriveling, overmaturity, and 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 for grade defects in a half-pint cup sample:(1) Not more than a total of 15 leaves and other foreign material, not more than a total of 40 distinctly immature berries, clusters, and large stems, and not more than 5 berries other than blueberries. No tolerance shall be allowed for large pieces of foreign material.

  3. U.S. No. 3. - U.S. No. 3 shall consist of blueberries which meet all the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade except that the blueberries shall be free from serious damage caused by overmaturity and from very serious damage caused by shriveling and 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 for grade defects in a half-pint cup sample: (1) Not more than a total of 20 leaves and other foreign material, not more than a total of 70 distinctly immature berries, clusters and large stems, and not more than 12 berries other than blueberries. No tolerance shall be allowed for large pieces of foreign material.

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: