Nectarines Grades and Standards

Grades of Nectarines

  1. U.S. Fancy consists of nectarines of one variety which are mature but not soft or overripe, which are well formed, clean, and free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, worms, worm holes, and free from injury caused by bruises, growth cracks, hail, sunburn, sprayburn, scab, bacterial spot, scale, split pit, scars, russeting, other disease, insects, or mechanical or other means.

a. Each nectarine shall have not less than one-third of its surface showing red color characteristic of the variety. (See §51.3150.)

  1. U.S. Extra No. 1 consists of nectarines of one variety which are mature but not soft or overripe, which are well formed, clean, and free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, worms, worm holes and free from injury caused by split pit and free from damage caused by bruises, growth cracks, hail, sunburn, sprayburn, scab, bacterial spot, scale, scars, russeting, other disease, insects or mechanical or other means.

a. At least 75 percent of the nectarines in any lot shall show some blushed or red color including therein at least 50 percent of the nectarines with not less than one-third of the fruit surface showing red color characteristic of the variety. (See §51.3150.)

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of nectarines of one variety which are mature but not soft or overripe, which are well formed, clean, and free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, worms, worm holes, and free from injury caused by split pit and free from damage caused by bruises, growth cracks, hail, sunburn, sprayburn, scab, bacterial spot, scale, scars, russeting, other disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. 

  2. U.S. No. 2 consists of nectarines of one variety which are mature but not soft or overripe, which are not badly misshapen, which are clean and free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, worms, worm holes, and free from serious damage caused by bruises, growth cracks, hail, sunburn, sprayburn, scab, bacterial spot, scale, split pit, scars, russeting, other disease, insects, or mechanical or other means.

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Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: