Sweet Corn for Processing Grades and Standards

  1. U.S. No. 1 consists of ears of sweet corn of similar color characteristics which are fresh and free from damage by freezing, cross pollination, denting, worms, birds, fermentation, smut or other disease or other means. Kernels on each ear shall be developed beyond the "blister stage", but shall not have reached the "hard stage" of maturity. (See §51.3379.)
    1. Unless otherwise specified, each ear shall have not less than an average of 4 inches of the cob covered with undamaged kernels, in addition to any good kernels which would necessarily be lost in the usual method of trimming to remove damaged kernels.
  2. U.S. No. 2 consists of ears of sweet corn of similar color characteristics which are fresh, free from damage by freezing, fermentation, smut or other disease, and free from serious damage by cross pollination, denting, worms, birds or other means. Kernels on each ear shall be developed beyond the "blister stage", but shall not have reached the "hard stage" of maturity. (See §51.3379.)
    1. Unless otherwise specified, each ear shall have not less than an average of 3 inches of the cob covered with kernels which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 2 grade, in addition to any good kernels which would necessarily be lost in the usual method of trimming to remove damaged kernels.

Visual Aids

Detailed standards, Inspection Instructions & Other Resources: