Grades of California and Arizona Oranges
- U.S. Fancy consists of oranges of similar varietal characteristics which are mature, well colored, firm, well formed, of smooth texture, and which are free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, hard or dry skins, exanthema, growth cracks, dryness or mushy condition, and free from injury caused by bruises, split, rough, wide or protruding navels, creasing, scars, oil spots, scale, skin breakdown, sunburn, dirt or other foreign material disease, insects or mechanical or other means. (See §51.1091)
- U.S. No. 1 consists of oranges of similar varietal characteristics which are mature, firm, well formed, of fairly smooth texture, and which are free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, hard or dry skins, exanthema, growth cracks, and free from damage caused by bruises, dryness or mushy condition, split, rough, wide or protruding navels, creasing, scars, oil spots, scale, skin breakdown, sunburn, dirt or other foreign material, disease, insects or mechanical or other means. Each fruit shall be well colored except Valencia oranges which shall be at least fairly well colored: Provided, That navel oranges in any lot which is destined for export and which is certified as meeting the standards for export need be only fairly well colored. (See §51.1091)
- U.S. Combination consists of a combination of U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 oranges: Provided, That at least 40 percent, by count, of the oranges in each lot shall meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade. (See §51.1092)
- U.S. No. 2 consists of oranges of similar varietal characteristics which are mature, fairly well colored, fairly firm, fairly well formed, which may be of slightly rough texture, and which are free from decay, broken skins which are not healed, hard or dry skins, exanthema, growth cracks, and free from serious damage caused by bruises, dryness or mushy condition, split or protruding navels, creasing, scars, oil spots, scale, skin breakdown, sunburn, dirt or other foreign material, disease, insects or mechanical or other means. (See §51.1091)
Visual Aids
Official Visual Aids are available for Purchase. See How to Purchase Visual Aids for more details.
Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources:
- U.S. Grade Standards for California and Arizona Oranges (pdf)
- Inspection Instructions for California and Arizona Oranges (pdf)
- PATCH 006 Certifying Various Varieties of Citrus (pdf)
- PATCH 039 Reporting Brix-Acid Ratio (pdf)
- Unofficial California and Arizona Orange Visual Aid (pdf)