· IN ALL CLASSES, SUBJECT TO THE SPECIAL PROVISIONS
FOR EACH CLASS AND THE TOLERANCES ALLOWED, BUNCHES AND BERRIES MUST BE: |
· SOUND; PRODUCE AFFECTED BY ROTTING OR
DETERIORATION SUCH AS TO MAKE IT UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION IS EXCLUDED. o
TABLE GRAPES MUST
BE FREE FROM DISEASE OR SERIOUS DETERIORATION WHICH APPRECIABLY AFFECTS THEIR
APPEARANCE, EDIBILITY OR MARKET VALUE. IN PARTICULAR, THIS EXCLUDES TABLE
GRAPES AFFECTED BY ROTTING, EVEN IF THE SIGNS ARE VERY SLIGHT BUT LIABLE TO
MAKE THE TABLE GRAPES UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION UPON ARRIVAL AT THEIR
DESTINATION. o
TABLE GRAPES
SHOWING THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS ARE THEREFORE EXCLUDED: § SHRIVELLED BERRIES AND WILTED RACHIS (STALK) AND
PEDICELS (CAP STEMS) § DAMAGED OR BURNED BERRIES DUE TO CHEMICAL
TREATMENT § SPLIT BERRIES § DETERIORATION OR ALTERATION OF THE SKIN OR PULP
CAUSED BY FUNGAL DISEASES: Ø BLACK ROT (GUIGNARDIA BIDWELLII) Ø POWDERY MILDEW (UNCINULA NECATOR) Ø ANTHRACNOSE (ELSINOE AMPELINA) Ø GREY MOULD (BOTRYTIS CINEREA) |
· CLEAN AND PRACTICALLY FREE OF ANY VISIBLE FOREIGN
MATTER. o
TABLE GRAPES MUST
BE PRACTICALLY FREE OF VISIBLE SOIL, DUST, CHEMICAL RESIDUE OR OTHER FOREIGN
MATTER. HOWEVER, AS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CLEAN THE BERRIES OF TABLE GRAPES
BEFORE EATING, CHEMICAL RESIDUE, SOIL, DUST, SOOTY MOULD OR POLLUTION BY
MEALY BUG SECRETION IS NOT ALLOWED. |
· PRACTICALLY FREE FROM PESTS. o
TABLE GRAPES MUST
BE FREE OF INSECTS OR OTHER PESTS. THE PRESENCE OF PESTS CAN DETRACT FROM THE
COMMERCIAL PRESENTATION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE TABLE GRAPES. |
· PRACTICALLY FREE FROM DAMAGE CAUSED BY PESTS. o
PEST DAMAGE CAN
DETRACT FROM THE GENERAL APPEARANCE AND AFFECT THE KEEPING QUALITY AND
EDIBILITY OF THE TABLE GRAPES. |
· FREE OF ABNORMAL EXTERNAL MOISTURE. o
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. |
· FREE OF ANY FOREIGN SMELL AND/OR TASTE. o
THIS PROVISION APPLIES
TO TABLE GRAPES STORED OR TRANSPORTED UNDER POOR CONDITIONS, WHICH HAVE
CONSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN THEIR ABSORBING SMELLS AND/OR TASTES, IN PARTICULAR
THROUGH THE PROXIMITY OF OTHER PRODUCT WHICH GIVE OFF VOLATILE ODOURS. |
· IN ADDITION, BERRIES MUST BE: o
INTACT. § BERRIES MUST NOT HAVE ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY
SPOILING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRODUCE. o
WELL FORMED. o
NORMALLY
DEVELOPED. § DRIED (BLACK OR BROWN BERRIES) AND SHOT BERRIES
(UNDERDEVELOPED BERRIES) ARE NOT ALLOWED. |
· PIGMENTATION DUE TO SUN IS NOT A DEFECT. o
BERRIES OF WHITE
VARIETIES EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT TURN YELLOW AND MAY SHOW PIGMENTATION ON THE
SKIN ONLY. o
SPOTS OF SUN
SCORCH THAT DETERIORATE THE SKIN AND MAY AFFECT THE FLESH ARE NOT ALLOWED. |
· BUNCHES MUST HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY PICKED. o
HARVESTING
OPERATIONS NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FRAGILITY OF THE FRUIT AND THE FACT
THAT THE SLIGHTEST DAMAGE MAY LEAD TO DETERIORATION. IT IS VITAL TO AVOID
APPLYING ANY PRESSURE. DURING THE HARVEST THE SKIN OF THE GRAPES SHOULD,
WHEREVER POSSIBLE, BE DRY. BUNCHES SHOULD BE HANDLED AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE TO
KEEP THE BLOOM INTACT. THESE PRECAUTIONS RELATE TO PICKING AS WELL AS TO ALL
OTHER STAGES WHEN HANDLING THE PRODUCE. |
· THE BUNCHES MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED AND
DISPLAY SATISFACTORY RIPENESS. o
WITH RESPECT TO A
SUFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT ARE THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS EXCLUDED: § “THIN” (STRAGGLY) BUNCHES, I.E. WITH BERRIES TOO
FAR APART ON THE STALK OR WITH TOO § “UNEVENLY DEVELOPED” BUNCHES, I.E. WITH «SHOT»
BERRIES RESULTING FROM INSUFFICIENT POLLINATION. THE “SHOT” BERRIES ARE
USUALLY SEEDLESS IN THOSE VARIETIES THAT NORMALLY DEVELOP SEEDS. THEY MAY BE
ENTIRELY GREEN AND HARD OR MATURE AND COLOUR UNIFORMLY WITH THE NORMAL
BERRIES. |
· THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONDITION OF THE TABLE GRAPES
MUST BE SUCH AS TO ENABLE THEM: o
TO WITHSTAND
TRANSPORT AND HANDLING, o
TO ARRIVE IN
SATISFACTORY CONDITION AT THE PLACE OF DESTINATION. |