Fresh Dewberries and Blackberries Grades and Standards

Grades of Fresh Dewberries and Blackberries

1. U.S. No. 1 consists of dewberries or blackberries of one variety which are firm, well colored, well developed and not overripe, which are free from caps (calyxes), mold and decay, and from damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, shriveling, moisture, disease, insects, mechanical or other means.
   1. Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than 10 percent, by volume, of the berries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, including therein not more than 5 percent for defects causing serious damage, and including in this latter amount not more than 1 percent for berries which are affected by mold or decay.

2. U.S. No. 2 consists of dewberries or blackberries of one variety which fail to meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade but which do not contain more than 10 percent, by volume, of berries in any lot which are seriously damaged by any cause, including therein not more than 2 percent for berries which are affected by mold or decay.

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources:

• U.S. Grade Standards for Fresh Dewberry and Blackberries (pdf)
• Inspection Instructions for Fresh Dewberry and Blackberries (pdf)
• PATCH 034 Scoring of Red Drupelet Disorder (pdf) 
• Unofficial Fresh Dewberry and Blackberry Visual Aids (pdf)