Grades of Florida Grapefruit
- U.S. Fancy consists of grapefruits which meet the following requirements:
- Basic requirements:
- Discoloration: Not more than one-tenth of the surface, in the aggregate, may be affected by discoloration. (See §51.770.);
- Firm;
- Mature;
- Similar varietal characteristics;
- Smooth texture;
- Well colored and,
- Well formed.
- Free from:
- Ammoniation;
- Buckskin;
- Caked melanose;
- Decay;
- Scab;
- Sprayburn;
- Unhealed skin breaks; and,
- Wormy fruit.
- Free from injury caused by:
- Bruises;
- Green spots;
- Oil spots;
- Scale;
- Scars;
- Skin breakdown; and,
- Thorn scratches.
- Free from damage caused by:
- Dirt or other foreign material;
- Disease;
- Dryness or mushy condition;
- Hail;
- Insects;
- Sprouting;
- Sunburn; and,
- Other means.
- For tolerances see §51.760.
- Basic requirements:
- U.S. No. 1 Bright The requirements for this grade are the same as for U.S. No. 1 except that fruit shall have not more than one-fifth of its surface, in the aggregate, affected by discoloration. For tolerances see §51.760.
- U.S. No. 1 consists of grapefruit which meet the following requirements:
- Basic requirements:
- Discoloration: Not more than one-third of the surface, in the aggregate, may be affected by discoloration. (See §51.770.);
- Fairly smooth texture;
- Fairly well colored;
- Firm;
- Mature;
- Similar varietal characteristics; and,
- Well formed.
- Free from:
- Decay;
- Unhealed skin breaks; and,
- Wormy fruit.
- Free from damage caused by:
- Ammoniation;
- Bruises;
- Buckskin;
- Caked melanose;
- Dirt or other foreign material;
- Disease;
- Dryness or mushy condition;
- Green spots;
- Hail;
- Insects;
- Oil spots;
- Scab;
- Scale;
- Scars;
- Skin breakdown;
- Sprayburn;
- Sprouting;
- Sunburn;
- Thorn scratches; and,
- Other means.
- For tolerances see §51.760.
- Basic requirements:
- U.S. No. 1 Golden the requirements for this grade are the same as for U.S. No. 1 except that not more than 30 percent, by count, of the fruit shall have more than one-third of their surface, in the aggregate, affected by discoloration. For tolerances see §51.760.
- U.S. No. 1 Bronze the requirements for this grade are the same as for U.S. No. 1 except that at least 30 percent, by count, of the fruit shall have more than one-third of their surface, in the aggregate, affected by discoloration. The predominating discoloration on each fruit shall be of rust mite type. For tolerances see §51.760.
- U.S. No. 1 Russet the requirements for this grade are the same as for U.S. No. 1 except that at least 30 percent, by count, of the fruit shall have more than one-third of their surface, in the aggregate, affected by any type of discoloration. For tolerances see §51.760.
- U.S. No. 2 Bright the requirements for this grade are the same as for U.S. No. 2 except that fruit shall have more not than one-fifth of its surface, in the aggregate, affected by discoloration. For tolerances see §51.760.
- U.S. No. 2 consists of grapefruit which meet the following requirements:
- Basic requirements:
- Discoloration: Not more than one-half of the surface, in the aggregate, may be affected by discoloration. (See §51.770.);
- Fairly firm;
- Mature;
- Similar varietal characteristics;
- Slightly colored;
- Not more than slightly misshapen; and,
- Not more than slightly rough texture.
- Free from:
- Decay;
- Unhealed skin breaks; and,
- Wormy fruit.
- Free from serious damage caused by:
- Ammoniation;
- Bruises;
- Buckskin;
- Caked melanose;
- Dirt or other foreign material;
- Disease;
- Dryness or mushy condition;
- Green spots;
- Hail;
- Insects;
- Oil spots;
- Scab;
- Scale;
- Scars;
- Skin breakdown;
- Sprayburn;
- Sprouting;
- Sunburn;
- Thorn scratches; and,
- Other means.
- For tolerances see §51.760.
- Basic requirements:
- U.S. No. 2 Russet The requirements for this grade are the same as for U.S. No. 2 except that at least 10 percent of the fruit shall have more than one-half of their surface, in the aggregate, affected by any type of discoloration. For tolerances see §51.760.
- U.S. No. 3 consists of grapefruit which meet the following requirements:
- Basic requirements:
- Mature;
- Misshapen;
- Poorly colored;
- Rough texture, not seriously bumpy;
- Similar varietal characteristics; and,
- Slightly spongy.
- Free from:
- Decay;
- Unhealed skin breaks; and,
- Wormy fruit.
- Free from very serious damage caused by:
- Ammoniation;
- Bruises;
- Buckskin;
- Caked melanose;
- Disease;
- Dryness or mushy condition;
- Hail;
- Insects;
- Oil spotting;
- Scab;
- Scale;
- Scars;
- Skin breakdown;
- Sprayburn;
- Sprouting;
- Sunburn; and,
- Other means.
- For tolerances see §51.760.
- Basic requirements:
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 Florida Grapefruit (pdf)
- Inspection Instructions for Florida Grapefruit (pdf)
- PATCH 006 Certifying Various Varieties of Citrus (pdf)
- PATCH 039 Reporting Brix-Acid Ratio (pdf)
- Unofficial Florida Grapefruit Visual Aid (pdf)
- Determination of Maturity for Imported Fresh Grapefruit Under Section 8E (pdf)
- USDA Announces Juice Content Requirements for Imported Grapefruit Juice Will Not Be Enforced for Upcoming Crop Year After March 31, 2023