- IN ALL CLASSES, SUBJECT TO THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR EACH CLASS AND THE TOLERANCES ALLOWED, THE FRESH FIGS MUST BE:
- INTACT;
- FRESH FIGS MUST NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY SPOILING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCE.
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- INTACT
- SOUND; PRODUCE AFFECTED BY ROTTING OR DETERIORATION SUCH AS TO MAKE IT UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION IS EXCLUDED.
- FRESH FIGS MUST BE FREE FROM DISEASE OR SERIOUS DETERIORATION WHICH APPRECIABLY AFFECTS ITS APPEARANCE, EDIBILITY OR KEEPING QUALITY. IN PARTICULAR, FRESH FIGS AFFECTED BY ROTTING, EVEN IF THE SIGNS ARE VERY SLIGHT BUT LIABLE TO MAKE THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION UPON ARRIVAL AT ITS DESTINATION, ARE TO BE EXCLUDED.
- WHEN THE FRUITS GROW IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER, WITH THE EFFECT OF HIGH TEMPERATURE, ROTTING BEGINS ON THE TREE.
- FRESH FIGS SHOWING THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED:
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- ROTTING
- ROTTING
- MOULD, ROTTING, SOURING, INSECT DROPPINGS
- CLEAN, PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN MATTER
- FRESH FIGS 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 FRESH FIGS. 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.
- FIG LATEX, A MILKY WHITE LIQUID PRODUCED BY THE FIG TREE, MUST NOT POLLUTE THE FRUIT DURING PICKING OPERATION. MOREOVER, STICKY FRUITS SHOWING GUM DROPS ON THE SURFACE ARE NOT ALLOWED.
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- DUST ON THE FIG
- FIG LATEX
- STICKY FRUITS
- PEST RESIDUE (COBWEB)
- FRESH IN APPEARANCE;
- WHEN THE FIGS STAY ON THE TREE BRANCHES TOO LONG, DRY MATTER CONTENT INCREASES AND THE WATER CONTENT DECREASES. THUS, WATER LOSS AND EXCESSIVE MATURITY OCCUR RESULTING IN DRIED OUT FIGS. SHRIVELLED FRUITS ARE NOT ALLOWED.
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- LACK OF FRESHNESS
- PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS;
- THE PRESENCE OF PESTS CAN DETRACT FROM THE COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE FRESH FIGS. THEREFORE, THE ACCEPTABLE LIMIT FOR “PRACTICALLY FREE” WOULD BE- IN ALL CLASSES – AN OCCASIONAL INSECT, MITE OR OTHER PEST IN THE PACKAGE OR SAMPLE; ANY COLONIES WOULD LEAD TO A REJECTION OF THE PRODUCE.
- THE FIG WAX SCALES (CEROPLASTES RUSCI) OCCUR MAINLY ON THE LEAVES AND YOUNG SHOOTS OR ON THE FRUITS WHEN THE LEAF COVERAGE IS INTENSE. THEY LAY EGGS VERY EARLY IN THE SPRING. WHEN CRUSHED, THE EGGS DISCHARGE A RED STICKY LIQUID. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE FLESH.
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- PRESENCE OF PESTS – (FIG WAX SCALE “CEROPLASTES RUSCI”)
- FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS AFFECTING THE FLESH;
- PEST DAMAGE AFFECTING THE FLESH MAKES THE PRODUCE UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION. ANY PEST DAMAGE AFFECTING THE SKIN ONLY IS RESTRICTED WITHIN THE LIMITS ALLOWED FOR SKIN DAMAGE IN THE RESPECTIVE CLASSES.
- THE DRIED FRUIT BEETLE (CARPOPHILUS SPP.) TRANSMITS MICROORGANISMS TO THE FIG FRUIT CAUSING SOURING. THEY ARE MOSTLY ATTRACTED BY FIG FRUIT THAT HAVE ALREADY SOURING DUE TO YEAST OR MOULD GROWTH. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE FLESH.
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- PEST DAMAGE – (THE DRIED FRUIT BEETLE “CARPOPHILUS SPP.”)
- 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.
- NAME OF ILLUSTRATION
- EXTERNAL MOISTURE
- FREE OF ANY FOREIGN SMELL AND/OR TASTE;
- THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO THE FRESH FIGS 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 PRODUCE GIVING OFF VOLATILE ODOURS.
- THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONDITION OF THE FRESH FIGS MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM:
- TO WITHSTAND TRANSPORTATION AND HANDLING;
- TO ARRIVE IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION AT THE PLACE OF DESTINATION.
