Sweet Cherries for Canning or Freezing Grades and Standards

Grades of Sweet Cherries for Canning or Freezing

  1. U.S. No.1 consists of sweet cherries of one variety which are well formed, mature, free from decay, worms, pulled pits, doubles, and free from damage caused by softness, shriveling, bruises, skin breaks, scars, hail marks, windwhips, limbrubs, russeting, sunscald, dirt or other foreign matter, birds, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, stems shall be removed. (See §51.4363.)

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of 7 percent, by count, of the cherries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, but not more than 5 percent may fail to meet the grade requirements other than for attached stems, including not more than 1 percent for cherries affected by decay. No part of any tolerance shall be allowed for cherries infested with worms. (See §51.4363.)

  1. U.S. No. 2 consists of sweet cherries which meet all of the requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade, except that a total tolerance of 12 percent, by count, of the cherries in any lot shall be permitted for grade defects, but not more than 10 percent may fail to meet the grade requirements other than for attached stems, including not more than 2 percent for cherries affected by decay. No part of any tolerance shall be allowed for cherries infested with worms. (See §51.4363.)

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: