Southern Peas Grades and Standards

Grades of Southern Peas

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of pods of southern peas of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly well formed, fairly well filled, not overmature or excessively young, and which are free from decay and worm holes, and free from damage caused by stems, leaves and trash, stings or other insect injury, scars, discoloration, wilting, dirt or other adhering foreign material, disease, mechanical or other means.
a. Unless otherwise specified, each pod shall be not less than 5 inches in length.
b. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted:
1. 5 percent for pods which are shorter than the specified minimum length;
2. 5 percent for pods which are excessively young; and,
3. 10 percent for other grade defects, including not more than 5 percent for pods with worm holes or affected by decay, but not more than one-fifth of this amount, or 1 percent, for pods affected by decay. (See §51.2674 and 51.2675.)
  1. U.S. Commercial consists of pods of southern peas which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade, except that they shall be free from serious damage caused by stems, leaves and trash, and there shall be no requirement for minimum length, and except for the increased tolerances specified in this section.
a. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted:
1. 10 percent for pods which are excessively young; and,
2. 15 percent for other grade defects, including not more than 5 percent for pods with worm holes or affected by decay, but not more than two-fifths of this amount, or 2 percent, for pods affected by decay. (See §51.2674 and 51.2675.)

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Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: