SIZING​ OF ASPARGUS

  • Size is determined by the length and diameter of the shoot.
  • Sizing is compulsory for all classes and will be checked by package or bundle. Two factors must be considered, namely length and diameter of the shoot.

Sizing by length

  • Asparagus must comply with the length-reaches prescribed.
  • The length of the shoots must be:
    • above 17 cm for long asparagus;
    • 12 to 17 cm for short asparagus;
    • for Class II asparagus arranged, but not bundled in the package:
      • white and violet: 12 to 22 cm;
      • violet/green and green: 12 to 27 cm;
    • under 12 cm for asparagus tips.
  • The maximum length allowed for white and violet asparagus is 22 cm, and for violet/green and green asparagus 27 cm.
  • In the case of long asparagus the shoots may vary between 17 cm to 22 cm in length for white and violet asparagus and between 17 cm and 27 cm for violet/ green and green asparagus.
  • To ensure uniformity in size, the range in length between shoots packed in firmly bound bundles shall not exceed 5 cm.
  • For “Extra” Class asparagus packed in bundles, the shoots must be of the same length. Therefore, only shoots of Classes I and II may deviate up to 5 cm in length.

Sizing by diameter

  • The diameter of shoots shall be measured at the mid-point of their length.
  • White and violet asparagus

  • Class

    Minimum Diameter

    The range in size between produce in the same package or bundle shall not exceed

    Extra

    12 mm

    8 mm

    I

    10 MM

    10 MM

    II

    8 MM

    NO PROVISION AS TO UNIFOMITY

  • Violet/green and green asparagus

  • Class

    Minimum Diameter

    The range in size between produce in the same package or bundle shall not exceed

    Extra AND I

    3 mm

    8 mm

    II

    3 MM

    NO PROVISION AS TO UNIFORMITY

  • For all classes, asparagus must comply with a minimum diameter in accordance with the relevant colour group. In addition, for produce classified in “Extra” Class and Class I, the asparagus must be sized so that the maximum difference in diameter between the largest and smallest shoot in the same package or bundle does not exceed the limits set out for the relevant colour group.