Frozen berries are prepared from the properly ripened fresh fruit of the plant (Genus Rubus); are stemmed and cleaned; maybe packed with or without packing media; and are frozen and stored at temperatures necessary for the preservation of the product. The types of berries are Blackberries, Boysenberries, Dewberries, Loganberries, Youngberries, and other similar types, such as Nectarberries.
Grades of Frozen Berries
- U.S. Grade A or U.S. Fancy frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a practically uniform typical color; are practically free from defects; possess a good character; possess a normal flavor and odor; and score not less than 85 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined herein.
- U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a reasonably uniform typical color; are reasonably free from defects; possess a reasonably good character; possess a normal flavor and odor; and score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined herein.
- U.S. Grade D or Substandard frozen berries are berries that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B or U.S. Choice.
Grades of Frozen Berries for Manufacturing
- U.S. Grade A for Manufacturing or U.S. Fancy Grade for Manufacturing frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a practically uniform typical color; possess a reasonably good character; possess a normal flavor and odor; and there may be present:
a. Not more than 4 sepal-like bracts per 16 ounces of net weight;
b. Not more than one stem or one leaf or a piece of leaf or the approximate equivalent of not full cap per 48 ounces of net weight; and
c. Not more than 5 percent, by weight, of berries that maybe undeveloped or damaged.
- U.S. Grade B for Manufacturing or U.S. Choice Grade for Manufacturing frozen berries are berries of similar varietal characteristics which possess a reasonably uniform typical color; may possess a fairly good character typical of fairly well-ripened to very ripe berries with not more than30 percent, by weight, for blackberries and not more than 40 percent, by weight, for boysenberries, dewberries, loganberries, youngberries, and other similar types that may be crushed; possess a normal flavor and odor; and there may be present:
a. Not more than 10 sepal-like bracts per 16 ounces of net weight;
b. Not more than one stem or one leaf or a piece of leaf or the approximate equivalent of one full cap per 16 ounces of net weight; and
c. Not more than 10 percent, by weight, of berries that maybe undeveloped or damaged.
- U.S. Grade D for Manufacturing or Substandard for Manufacturing frozen berries are berries that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B for Manufacturing or U.S. Choice Grade for Manufacturing.