Shelled Almonds Grades and Standards

Grades of Shelled Almonds

  1. U.S. Fancy consists of shelled almonds of similar varietal characteristics which are whole, clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, doubles, split or broken kernels, particles and dust, and free from injury caused by chipped and cratched kernels, and free from damage caused by mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means. (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:

a) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;
b) For doubles. 3 percent;
c) For kernels injured by chipping and/or scratching. 5 percent;
d) For foreign material. One-twentieth of 1 percent (0.05 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
e) For particles and dust. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent); and,
f) For other defects. 2 percent, including not more than one-half of this amount, or 1 percent, for split or broken kernels, and including not more than one-half of the former amount, or 1 percent, for seriously damaged kernels.
  1. U.S. Extra No. 1 consists of shelled almonds of similar varietal characteristics which are whole, clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, doubles, split or broken kernels, particles and dust, and free from damage caused by chipped and scratched kernels, mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means. (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:

a) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;
b) For doubles. 5 percent;
c) For kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching. 5 percent;
d) For foreign material. One-twentieth of 1 percent (0.05 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
e) For particles and dust. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent); and,
f) For other defects. 4 percent, including not more than one-fourth of this amount, or 1 percent, for split or broken kernels, and including not more than three-eighths of the former amount, or 1-1/2 percent, for seriously damaged kernels.
  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of shelled almonds of similar varietal characteristics which are whole, clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, doubles, split or broken kernels, particles and dust, and free from damage caused by chipped and scratched kernels, mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means. (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:

a) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;
b) For doubles. 15 percent;
c) For kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching. 10 percent;
d) For foreign material. One-twentieth of 1 percent (0.05 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
e) For particles and dust. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent); and,
f) For other defects. 5 percent including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for split or broken kernels, and including not more than three-tenths of the former amount, or 1- 1/2 percent, for seriously damaged kernels.
  1. U.S. Select Sheller Run consists of shelled almonds of similar varietal characteristics which are whole, clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, doubles, split or broken kernels, particles and dust, and free from damage caused by chipped and scratched kernels, mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means. (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:

a) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;
b) For doubles. 15 percent;
c) For kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching. 20 percent;
d) For foreign material. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
e) For particles and dust. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent);
f) For split and broken kernels. 5 percent: Provided, that not more than two-fifths of this amount, or 2 percent, shall be allowed for pieces which will pass through a round opening 20/64 inch (7.9 mm) in diameter; and,
g) For other defects. 3 percent, including not more than two-thirds of this amount, or 2 percent, for serious damage.
  1. U.S. Standard Sheller Run consists of shelled almonds of similar varietal characteristics which are whole, clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, doubles, split or broken kernels, particles and dust, and free from damage caused by chipped and scratched kernels, mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means. (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:

a) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;
b) For doubles. 25 percent;
c) For kernels damaged by chipping and/or scratching or split and broken. 35 percent; Provided, that not more than three-sevenths of this amount, or 15 percent, shall be allowed for split and broken: And Provided Further, that not more than one-third of this latter amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for pieces which will pass through a round opening 20/64 inch (7.9 mm) in diameter;
d) For foreign material. Two-tenths of 1 percent (0.20 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
e) For particles and dust. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent); and,
f) For other defects. 3 percent, including not more than two-thirds of this amount, or 2 percent, for serious damage.
  1. U.S. No. 1 Whole and Broken consists of shelled almonds of similar varietal characteristics which are clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, doubles, particles and dust, and free from damage caused by mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means.

a) In this grade not less than 30 percent, by weight, of the kernels shall be whole. Doubles shall not be considered as whole kernels in determining the percentage of whole kernels.
b) Unless otherwise specified, the minimum diameter shall be not less than 20/64 of an inch (7.9 mm). (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)
c) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:
1) For dissimilar varieties. 5 percent, including not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds;
2) For doubles. 35 percent;
3) For foreign material. Two-tenths of 1 percent (0.20 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
4) For particles and dust. One-tenth of 1 percent (0.10 percent);
5) For undersize. 5 percent; and,
6) For other defects. 5 percent, including not more than three-fifths of this amount, or 3 percent, for serious damage. 
  1. U.S. No. 1 Pieces consists of shelled almonds which are not bitter, which are clean and well dried, and which are free from decay, rancidity, insect injury, foreign material, particles and dust, and free from damage caused by mold, gum, shriveling, brown spot or other means.

a) Unless otherwise specified, the minimum diameter shall be not less than 8/64 of an inch (3.2 mm). (See §§51.2113 and 51.2114.)
b) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by weight, shall be permitted:
1) For bitter almonds mixed with sweet almonds. 1 percent;
2) For foreign material. Two-tenths of 1 percent (0.20 percent). No part of this percentage shall be allowed for glass and metal;
3) For particles and dust. 1 percent; and
4) For other defects. 5 percent, including not more than three-fifths of this amount, or 3 percent, for serious damage.

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