7 CFR §51.1525

Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the following grades, the following tolerances, by count, based on a minimum 50-count sample, except when packages contain less than 50 fruit, a minimum 25-count sample shall be examined, (when packages contain less than 25 fruit adjoining packages shall be opened to obtain the 25-count minimum sample), are provided as specified:

(a)U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 1—(1) For defects of plums or prunes other than Italian type prunes at shipping point. 1 8 percent for fruit which fails to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 4 percent shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including in this latter amount not more than one-half of 1 percent for fruit which is affected by decay.
1. (2)For defects of plums or prunes other than Italian type prunes en route or at destination. 12 percent for fruit which fails to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for defects listed:
  1. (i)8 percent for permanent defects;
  2. (ii)6 percent for defects causing serious damage, including therein not more than 4 percent for serious damage by permanent defects and not more than 2 percent for decay.
2. (3)For defects of Italian type prunes at shipping point. 1 Not more than a total of 12 percent of the fruit in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
  1. (i)10 percent for prunes which fail to meet the color requirement;
  2. (ii)10 percent for prunes which fail to meet the minimum diameter requirement;
  3. (iii)8 percent for prunes which fail to meet the remaining requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 4 percent, shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including in the latter amount not more than one-half of 1 percent for decay.
3. (4)For defects of Italian type prunes en route or at destination. Not more than a total of 18 percent of the fruit in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:
  1. (i)12 percent for permanent defects including therein not more than 10 percent which fail to meet the color requirement, 10 percent which fail to meet the minimum diameter requirement, and 8 percent which fail to meet the requirements of the grade because of other permanent defects;
  2. (ii)6 percent for defects causing serious damage, including therein not more than 4 percent for serious damage by permanent defects and not more than 2 percent for decay.
(b)U.S. Combination and U.S. No. 2—(1) For defects at shipping point. 1 8 percent for fruit which fails to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than 4 percent shall be allowed for sunscald, decay or serious damage by insects or heat injury, including in this latter amount not more than one-half of 1 percent for decay.
1. (2)For defects en route or at destination. 12 percent for fruit which fails to meet the requirements of the specified grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for defects listed:
  1. (i)8 percent for permanent defects including therein not more than 4 percent for sunscald, or serious damage by insects or heat injury; and,
  2. (ii)2 percent for decay.
2. (3)When applying the tolerance for the U.S. Combination grade individual packages may have not more than 10 percent less than the percentage of U.S. No. 1 required: Provided, That the entire lot averages within the required percentage. (See § 51.1526.)