SNAKE GOURD OR SERPENT GOURD agmark

Grade designations

Grade requirements

Grade tolerances

1

2

3

Extra class

Snake Gourd or serpent gourd must be of superior quality. They must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type in shape, external appearance, development and colour. 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. Snake gourd must be uniform in colour. They must be:

–       well developed;

–       well shaped;

–       have a typical colour for the variety; and

–       free of defects including all deformation.

5% of the number or weight     of      snake gourd not satisfying the requirements of the       grade,       but meeting     those     of Class    I   grade    or, exceptionally, coming    within    the tolerances    of    that grade.

Class I

Snake gourd or serpent gourd must be of good quality. They must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type. They must be –

–   reasonably developed;

–  reasonably well shaped

(maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of the length of Snake Gourd)

The following do not amount to defect if they do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package which have –

–       a slight deformation,

–       a slight defect in colour; and

–       slight skin blemishes due to rubbing and handling or low temperatures not exceeding 5 percent of the total surface area, provided that such blemishes have healed and do not affect the keeping quality.

The defect must not affect the flesh.

10 % of the number or weight, of snake gourd not satisfying the requirements of the       grade,       but meeting     those     of Class          II          or, exceptionally, coming    within    the tolerances    of    that grade.

Class II

This class includes snake gourd which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements. The following do not amount to defect if the Snake Gourd/Serpent Gourd retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, keeping quality and presentation which have –

–       deformation other than serious seed development;

–       defects in colour up to twentieth part of the surface;

–       but does not include snake gourd grown under protection, considerable defects in colour in the affected part;

–       healed cracks provided not affecting the flesh;

–       slight damage caused by rubbing and handling not exceeding 5 percent of the total surface area, provided that does not seriously affect the keeping quality and appearance.

Provided that the defect has not affect the flesh and the ribs.

Crooked snake gourds are allowed only if they have no more than slight defects in colour and have no defects of deformation other than crookedness.

Slightly crooked snake gourds have a maximum height of the arc of 15 mm per 10 cm of length of the snake gourd.

10 % by number or weight of snake gourd not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting                             the minimum requireme nts.