Canned Apricots Grades and Standards | Agricultural Marketing Service

Grades of Canned Apricots

U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy is the quality of halves, slices, and whole canned apricots, that:

Have similar varietal characteristics;
Have a normal flavor and odor;
Have at least a reasonably good color that scores not less than 17 points;
Are at least reasonably uniform in size and symmetry for the applicable styles except for limits of off-suture cuts in the style of halves;
Are practically free from defects;
Have at least a reasonably good character; and
For those factors which are scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart the total score is not less than 90 points.

U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice is the quality of canned apricots of any style that:

Have similar varietal characteristics;
Have a normal flavor and odor;
Have at least a reasonably good color;
Are at least fairly uniform in size and symmetry for the applicable styles except for the limits of off-suture cuts in the style of halves;
Are at least reasonably free from defects;
Have at least a reasonably good character; and
For those factors which are scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart the total score is not less than 80 points.

U.S. Grade C or U.S. Standard is the quality of canned apricots of any style that:

Have a similar varietal characteristics;
Have a normal flavor and odor;
Have at least a fairly good color;
Are at least fairly uniform in size and symmetry for the applicable style.
Are at least fairly free from defects;
Have at least a fairly good character; and
For those factors which are scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart the total score is not less than 70 points.

Substandard is the quality of canned apricots that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.

Has normal flavor and odor;
Has at least a fairly good color;
Has at least a fairly good character;
Is at least fairly free from defects; and
Scores not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.'

Substandard is the quality that fails to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.