- In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the cherries must be:
- Intact; missing stems are not regarded as a defect, provided the skin is not damaged and there is no severe leakage of juice;
- Cherries must not have any damage or injury spoiling the integrity of the produce.
- Sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded;
- Cherries must be free from disease or serious deterioration which appreciably affects their appearance, edibility or keeping quality. In particular, cherries affected by rotting, even if the signs are very slight but liable to make the produce unfit for consumption upon arrival at their destination, are to be excluded.
- Cherries showing the following defects are therefore excluded:
- Name of illustration
- Rotting, Monilia, Bruising
- Clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter;
- Cherries must be practically free of visible soil, dust, chemical residue or other foreign matter.
- The presence of visible foreign matter can detract from the commercial presentation and acceptance of cherries. Therefore, the acceptable limit for “practically free” would be – in all classes – very slight traces of dust. Any traces of dust, soiling or visible chemical residues would lead to the rejection of the produce.
- Name of illustration
- Dust, bird droppings, traces of soil
- Fresh in appearance;
- The cherries must not show signs of shrivelling, wilting or drying out of the fruit. Cherries should be packed as soon as possible after harvesting. Pre-cooling of the produce is recommended. During preparation and loading the produce must not show any signs of wilting.
- Name of illustration
- Fresh in appearance
- Practically free from pests;
- The presence of pests can detract from the commercial presentation and acceptance of the cherries. Therefore, the acceptable limit for “practically free” would be – in all classes – the occasional insect, mite or other pest in the package or sample; any colonies would lead to the rejection of the produce.
- Name of illustration
- Presence of pests
- Practically free from damage caused by pests;
- Pest damage affecting the flesh makes the produce unfit for consumption. Therefore, the acceptable limit for “practically free” would be – in all classes – very slight traces of damage caused by pests.
- Name of illustration
- Pest damage
- Firm (according to the variety);
- Free of abnormal external moisture;
- This provision applies to excessive moisture, for example, free water lying inside the package but does not include condensation on produce following release from cool storage or refrigerated vehicle
- Leakage of juice is considered as abnormal external moisture.
- Name of illustration
- Condensation
- Free of any foreign smell and/or taste.
- This provision applies to cherries stored or transported under poor conditions, which have consequently resulted in their absorbing abnormal smells and/or tastes, in particular through the proximity of other product which give off volatile odours.
- The development and condition of the cherries must be such as to enable them:
- To withstand transportation and handling
- To arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.
