Fresh Cranberry Grades and Standards

Grades of Fresh Cranberries

U.S. No.1 consists of cranberries which meet the following requirements:
1. Basic requirements:
  1. One variety or similar varietal characteristics;
  2. Clean;
  3. Mature;
  4. Firm; and,
  5. Not soft or decayed.
2. Free from damage caused by:
  1. Moisture;
  2. Bruises;
  3. Freezing;
  4. Smothering;
  5. Scarring;
  6. Sunscald;
  7. Foreign material;
  8. Disease;
  9. Insects; or,
  10. Mechanical or other means.
3. Color: Individual cranberries shall be at least fairly well colored, and the cranberries in the container shall be fairly uniform in color.
4. Size: Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each cranberry shall be not less than thirteen thirty-seconds of an inch.
5. Tolerances: In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in this grade, the following tolerances, by count, in any lot are provided:
  1. 3 percent for cranberries which fail to meet the size requirements;
  2. 5 percent for cranberries which fail to meet the remaining requirements of the grade, but not more than three-fifths of this amount, or 3 percent, shall be allowed for cranberries which are soft or decayed at shipping point: Provided, That an additional tolerance of 2 percent, or a total of not more than 5 percent, shall be allowed for soft or decayed berries en route or at destination; and,
  3. 5 percent for containers in which the cranberries fail to meet the requirements of fairly uniform in color.