Grade designations | Grade requirements | Grade tolerances |
1 | 2 | 3 |
Extra class | Okra must be of superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety. They must be free of defects, with the exception of very slight superficial defects, provided they do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package. | 5 % by number or weight of Okra not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting those of Class I or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade. |
Class I | Okra must be of good quality. They must be characteristics of the variety. Okra may have following slight defects, provided they do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package; – slight defects in colour; – Slight skin defects (scar, blemishes, scratches, bruises, scraps) not to | 10 % by number or weight of Okra not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade. |
| exceed 2 % of the total surface area. |
|
Class II | This grade includes Okra which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher grades, but satisfy the minimum requirements. Okra may have following defects, provided they retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package. – defects in colour; – defects in shape and development; – defects in skin(scars, blemishes, scratches, bruises, scraps) not to exceed 5 % of the total surface area. | 10 % by number or weight of Okra not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting the minimum requirements. |
- whole with peduncle and intact tip;
- firm;
- sound and fresh in appearance;
- tender;
- clean,
- free of bruising;
- free of any visible foreign matter;
- free of abnormal external moisture, excluding condensation following removal from cold storage,
- free from damage caused by low or high temperature;
- free of any foreign smell /or taste;
- free of damage caused by pests;
- sufficiently developed (should be plucked before fiber formation);
- free of hard seeds.
Size tolerances:
- For all classes, 10 % by number or weight of Okra not conforming to the size specified for the grade, but meeting the size requirement for the grade immediately below