Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens Grades and Standards

Grades of Mustard Greens and Turnip Greens

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of mustard greens or turnip greens of similar varietal characteristics which are fresh, fairly tender, fairly clean, and which are free from decay and free from damage caused by seedstems, discoloration, freezing, foreign material, disease, insects or mechanical or other means.

a. Specifications for roots. In the case of turnip greens with roots attached, the roots shall be firm and free from damage by any cause and unless otherwise specified, the maximum diameter of the root shall be 1-1/2 inches.

b. Tolerance for defects. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, other than for size of roots and mixtures of plants and leaves, not more than a total of 10 percent, by weight, of the units in any lot, may fail to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for serious damage by any cause and including therein not more than 2 percent of decay. (See §51.1034.)

c. Tolerance for mixtures of whole plants and leaves. Not more than 5 percent, by weight, of the mustard or turnip greens may consist of cut leaves in a lot consisting of plants, or of plants in a lot consisting of cut leaves. (See §51.1034.)
d. Tolerance for size. Turnip greens with roots attached shall have not more than 10 percent, by weight, of roots which are larger than the specified maximum size. (See §51.1034.)

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: