This group consists of leaves normally grown above the midpoint of the stalk. Cured leaves from the upper stalk position have a tendency to fold, concealing the face of the leaf and exposing the stem or midrib. These leaves have a pointed tip and generally are medium to heavy in body. They are narrower in relation to their length than corresponding qualities of the C Group.

Open Table
Grades Grade names and specifications
B1F Choice Tan Leaf.
          Medium body, ripe, open, smooth, clear finish, deep color intensity, spready, 20 or over in length, 95 percent uniform, and 5 percent injury tolerance.
B2F Fine Tan Leaf.
          Medium body ripe, open, even, clear finish, deep color intensity, spready, 20 or over in length, 90 percent uniform, and 10 percent injury tolerance.
B3F Good Tan Leaf.
          Medium body, mature to ripe, firm to open, wavy to even, moderate finish and color intensity, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4F Fair Tan Leaf.
          Medium body, mature, firm, wavy, dull finish, weak color intensity, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5F Low Tan Leaf.
          Medium body, mature, firm, wrinkly, dingy finish, pale color intensity, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B2FL Fine Tannish-buff Leaf.
          Medium body, ripe, open, even, clear finish, strong color intensity, spready, 20” or over in length, 90 percent uniform, and 10 percent injury tolerance.
B3FL Good Tannish-buff Leaf
          Medium body, mature to ripe, firm to open, wavy to even, moderate finish and color intensity, narrow to normal width, 18” or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4FL Fair Tannish-buff Leaf.
          Medium body, mature, firm, wavy, dull finish, weak color intensity, narrow, 16” or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B1FR Choice Tannish-red Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, ripe, open, smooth, clear finish, deep color intensity, spready, 20 or over in length, 95 percent uniform, and 5 percent injury tolerance.
B2FR Fine Tannish-red Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, ripe, open, even, clear finish, strong color intensity, spready, 20 or over in length, 90 percent uniform, and 10 percent injury tolerance.
B3FR Good Tannish-red Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, mature to ripe, firm to open, wavy to even, moderate finish and color intensity, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4FR Fair Tannish-red Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, mature firm, wavy, dull finish, weak color intensity, narrow, 16 or over in length 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5FR Low Tannish-red Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, mature, firm, wrinkly, dingy finish, pale color intensity, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B1R Choice Red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, ripe, firm to open, even, clear finish, deep color intensity, spready, 20 or over in length 95 percent uniform, and 5 percent injury tolerance.
B2R Fine Red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, ripe, firm to open wavy, clear finish, strong color intensity, spready, 20 or over in length 90 percent uniform, and 10 percent injury tolerance.
B3R Good Red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, mature to ripe, firm, wrinkly to wavy, moderate finish and color intensity, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4R Fair Red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, mature, close to firm, wrinkly, dull finish, weak color intensity, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5R Low red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, mature, close, rough, dingy finish, pale color intensity, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B4D Fair Dark-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, mature, close, wrinkly, dull finish, weak color intensity, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5D Low Dark-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, underripe to mature, solid, rough, dingy finish, pale color intensity, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B3K Good Variegated Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, mature to ripe, firm to open, wrinkly to wavy, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4K Fair Variegated Leaf.
          Fleshy, mature, close to firm, wrinkly, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5K Low Variegated Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, underripe to mature, solid to close, rough, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B2M Fine Mixed Color Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, ripe, open, even, clear finish, strong color intensity, 20” or over in length, 90 percent uniform, and 10 percent injury tolerance.
B3M Good Mixed Color Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, mature to ripe, firm to open, wavy to even, moderate finish and color intensity, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4M Fair Mixed Color Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, mature to ripe, firm to open, wavy, dull finish, weak color intensity, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5M Low Mixed Color Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, underripe to mature, firm to open, wrinkly, dingy finish, pale color intensity stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B3VF Good Greenish-tan Leaf.
          Medium body, underripe, firm to open, wavy to even, moderate finish, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4VF Fair Greenish-tan Leaf.
          Medium body, underripe, close to firm, wavy, dull finish, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5VF Low Greenish-tan Leaf.
          Medium body, underripe, close, wrinkly, dingy finish, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B3VR Good Greenish-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, underripe, firm, wrinkly to wavy, moderate finish, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4VR Fair Greenish-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, underripe, close to firm, wrinkly, dull finish, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5VR Low Greenish-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, underripe, close, rough, dingy finish, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B3GF Good Green-tan Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, immature, firm to open, wrinkly to wavy, moderate finish, narrow to normal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform, and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4GF Fair Green-tan Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, immature, close to firm, wrinkly, dull finish, narrow, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5GF Low Green-tan Leaf.
          Fleshy to medium body, immature, close, rough, dingy finish, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform, and 30 percent injury tolerance.
B3GR Good Green-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, immature, close to firm, wrinkly to wavy, moderate finish, narrow to formal width, 18 or over in length, 85 percent uniform and 15 percent injury tolerance.
B4GR Fair Green-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, immature, solid to close, wrinkly, dull finish, narrow width, 16 or over in length, 80 percent uniform, and 20 percent injury tolerance.
B5GR Low Green-red Leaf.
          Heavy to fleshy, immature, solid, rough, dingy finish, stringy, 16 or over in length, 70 percent uniform and 30 percent injury tolerance.

[24 FR 8771, Oct. 29, 1959, as amended at 49 FR 16758, Apr. 20, 1984; 51 FR 40407, Nov. 7, 1986]


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