The USDA rates fresh fruit according to pre-set standards.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the United States Department of Agriculture grades fresh fruits according to standards set by the USDA. Fruit industry growers pay for AMS grading and certification as a means of marketing products.
Fresh Fruit Standards
The AMS gives fruit a grade of U.S. 1, 2 or 3, and sometimes Fancy, with U.S. 1 or Fancy representing the highest grade. Separate standards exist for 31 kinds of fruit. In general, a grade of U.S. 1 or Fancy indicates the fruit in question is well-formed, mature, firm, well-colored, and hand-picked, and is not in any way shattered, overripe, tainted with insects, shriveled or injured.
Standards for Fresh Fruit for Processing
The AMS gives fresh fruits intended for processing grades of U.S. 1, 2 or 3, with U.S. 1 representing the highest grade. Separate standards exist for 15 different types of fruits. In general, fresh fruit for processing, which receive a grade of U.S. 1, are firm, not crushed, fairly well-colored, and are free from foreign material, mold and decay.
The Grading Process
Wholesale fruit sellers and buyers use the AMS grades in business transactions, even though actual grades are rarely seen on the fruit itself. The grades are based on measurable attributes of the fruit, with different standards set for each type, and ensure the quality of the fruit being sold.
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