This document discusses produce quality and condition standards set by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. It begins by outlining objectives to identify types of quality and condition defects in fresh produce and how they affect grading. It then explains that the USDA has established grade standards to provide fair market trade, using blackberries as an example. The rest of the document discusses why grading matters, common types of quality defects like shape, texture, scars and color, and condition defects such as bruising, sunken areas, shriveling, discoloration and decay. It emphasizes that defects impact cost and concludes by recommending staff training on receiving produce according to specifications.

1. Produce Safety
Produce Quality and Condition
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2. Objectives
After this session, the participant will be able to:
1. Identify the types of fresh produce quality
defects.
2. Identify the types of fresh produce condition
defects.
3. Discuss how quality and condition affect the
grade of fresh produce.
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3. U.S. Grade Standards
• Developed by the Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS)
• Describe measurable “quality” and “condition”
characteristics of fresh produce
• Provide fair market trade for produce grown in
the U.S.
• Updated periodically due to industry requests
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4. U.S. No. 1. Grade Standard for
Blackberries
Firm, well colored, well developed and not overripe, free from
caps (calyxes), mold and decay, and damage caused by dirt or
other foreign
matter, shriveling, moisture, disease, insects, mechanical, or
other means.
No more than 10 % of the berries in any lot may fail to meet
the requirements of this grade, including not more than 5 %
for defects causing serious damage, and not more than 1 % for
berries that are affected by mold or decay.
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Source: www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5050347

5. Why does grade matter?
• Provides specification with the language to get what
you want
• Provides receiving staff the quality and condition
descriptions on:
• What produce to accept
• What produce to reject
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6. Types of Defects
• Quality defects
• Condition defects
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7. Quality Defects: Shape
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8. Quality Defects: Texture
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9. Quality Defects: Scars
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10. Quality Defects: Color
White shoulders on
strawberries
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11. Quality Defects: Growth Cracks
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12. Condition Defects: Bruising
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13. Condition Defects:
Sunken Discolored Areas (SDA)
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14. Condition Defects: Shriveling
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15. Condition Defects:
Surface Discoloration
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16. Condition Defects: Decay
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17. Defects
Quality and condition impact cost
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18. Training
Train staff to receive produce
based on specifications
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19. Activity and Discussion
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