Raisin Grades & Standards

Grades of Processed Raisins

  1. U.S. Grade A is the quality of Seedless Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from well-matured grapes with not less than 80 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well-matured; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture for all varieties of Seedless Raisins except the Monukka variety, which may contain not more than 19 percent, by weight, of moisture; and that meet the additional requirements outlined in Table I of this subpart. 

  2. U.S. Grade B is the quality of Seedless Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a reasonably good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from reasonably well-matured grapes with not less than 70 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well-matured; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture for all varieties of Seedless Raisins except the Monukka variety, which may contain not more than 19 percent, by weight, of moisture; and that meet the additional requirements outlined in Table I of this subpart.

  3. U.S. Grade C is the quality of Seedless Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a fairly good typical color; that have a fairly good flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes with not less than 55 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well-matured; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture for all varieties of Seedless Raisins except the Monukka variety, which may contain not more than 19 percent, by weight, of moisture; and that meet the additional requirements outlined in Table I of this subpart.

  4. Substandard is the quality of Seedless Raisins that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.

Grades of Raisins with seeds - except layer or cluster

  1. U.S. Grade A is the quality of Raisins with Seeds that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a good typical color with not more than 10 percent, by weight, that may be dark reddish-brown berries; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from well-matured grapes; with not less than 80 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well-matured; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture, except that any seeded raisins may contain not more than 19 percent, by weight, of moisture; and meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table II of this subpart.

  2. U.S. Grade B is the quality of Raisins with Seeds that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a reasonably good typical color with not more than 15 percent, by weight, that may be dark reddish-brown berries; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from reasonably well-matured grapes; with not less than 70 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well matured; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture, except that any seeded raisins may contain not more than 19 percent, by weight, of moisture; and meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table II of this subpart.

  3. U.S. Grade C is the quality of Raisins with Seeds that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a fairly good typical color with not more than 20 percent, by weight, that may be dark reddish-brown berries; that have a fairly good flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture, except that any seeded raisins may contain not more than 19 percent, by weight, of moisture; and meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table II of this subpart.

  4. Substandard is the quality of Raisins with Seeds that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.

Grades of Raisins with seeds - layer or cluster 

  1. U.S. Grade A is the quality of Layer or Cluster Raisins with Seeds that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that are uniformly cured and show development characteristics of raisins prepared from well-matured grapes; that contain not more than 23 percent, by weight, of moisture; that not less than 30 percent, by weight, of the raisins, exclusive of stems and branches, are 3-Crown size or larger; and that meet the following additional requirements as outlined in Table III of this subpart.

  2. U.S. Grade B is the quality of Layer or Cluster Raisins with Seeds that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a reasonably good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that are uniformly cured and show development characteristics of raisins prepared from reasonably well-matured grapes; that contain not more than 23 percent, by weight, of moisture; that not less than 30 percent, by weight, of the raisins exclusive of stems and branches, are 3-Crown size or larger; and that meet the additional requirements outlined in Table III of this subpart.

  3. Substandard is the quality of Layer or Cluster Raisins with Seeds that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B.

Grades of Sultana Raisins

  1. U.S. Grade A is the quality of Sultana Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from well-matured grapes; with not less than 80 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well matured; and that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture, and that meet the additional requirements outlined in Table IV of this subpart.

  2. U.S. Grade B is the quality of Sultana Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a reasonably good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from reasonably well-matured grapes; with not less than 70 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well matured; and that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture, and that meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table IV of this subpart.

  3. U.S. Grade C is the quality of Sultana Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a fairly good typical color; that have a fairly good flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes; that contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture; and that meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table IV of this subpart.

  4. Substandard is the quality of Sultana Raisins that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C.

Grades of Zante Currant Raisins

  1. U.S. Grade A is the quality of Zante Currant Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that show development characteristics of raisins prepared from well-matured grapes; that have not less than 75 percent, by weight, of raisins that are well-matured or reasonably well-matured; that contain not more than 20 percent, by weight, of moisture; and meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table V of this subpart.

  2. U.S. Grade B is the quality of Zante Currant Raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; that have a reasonably good typical color; that have a good characteristic flavor; that have development characteristics of raisins prepared from reasonably well-matured and/or fairly well matured grapes; that contain not more than 20 percent, by weight, of moisture; and meet the additional requirements as outlined in Table V of this subpart.

  3. Substandard is the quality of Zante Currant Raisins that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B.

Grades of mixed types of varieties of raisins

  1. The grade of a lot of mixed types of processed raisins shall be the lower (or lowest) grade of any varietal type in the mixture based on the respective requirements for each type, except for moisture, in accordance with this subpart. Mixed types of processed raisins of U.S. Grade A, U.S. Grade B, or U.S. Grade C may contain not more than 18 percent, by weight, of moisture. Mixed types of processed raisins that as a mixture exceed 18 percent, by weight, of moisture are Substandard.

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