ASPARGUS GRADING (OCED)

·       THIS STANDARD APPLIES TO SHOOTS OF ASPARAGUS OF THE VARIETIES (CULTIVARS) GROWN FROM ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS L., TO BE SUPPLIED FRESH TO THE CONSUMER, ASPARAGUS FOR INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING BEING EXCLUDED.

ASPARAGUS IS CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR GROUPS ACCORDING TO COLOUR:

WHITE ASPARAGUS;

·       VIOLET ASPARAGUS, HAVING TIPS OF A COLOUR BETWEEN PINK AND VIOLET OR PURPLE AND A PART OF THE SHOOT WHITE;

·       VIOLET/GREEN ASPARAGUS, PART OF WHICH IS OF VIOLET AND GREEN COLOURING;

·       GREEN ASPARAGUS HAVING TIPS AND MOST OF THE SHOOT GREEN.

·       THE SHOOTS OF ASPARAGUS ARE FORMED BY THE SPROUTING OF BUDS ON A RHIZOME (ROOTSTOCK). BY GROWING THESE SHOOTS UNDERGROUND IN RIDGES, THE ASPARAGUS STAYS WHITE OR VIOLET. HOWEVER, AS A RESULT OF TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT, THESE SHOOTS CAN BE COLOURED VIOLET/GREEN. GREEN ASPARAGUS GROWS ABOVE THE GROUND. ADVANCEMENT CAN TAKE PLACE BY COVERING THE ASPARAGUS FOR INSTANCE WITH PLASTIC TUNNELS. WITH THE USE OF HEAT ONE SPEAKS OF FORCING.

·       THE TIPS AND THE BRACTS OF GREEN ASPARAGUS CAN HAVE A VIOLET TINT DEPENDING ON
 THE VARIETY.

·       THIS STANDARD DOES NOT APPLY TO GREEN AND VIOLET/GREEN ASPARAGUS OF LESS THAN 3 MM DIAMETER AND WHITE AND VIOLET ASPARAGUS OF LESS THAN 8 MM DIAMETER, PACKED IN UNIFORM BUNDLES OR UNIT PACKAGES.