SPONGE GOURD agmark

Grade designation ns

Grade requirements

Grade tolerances

1

2

3

Extra class

Sponge 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. sponge gourd must be uniform in colour.

They must be:

-Well trimmed with neatly cut stem (Peduncle up to 5 cm);

-well developed;

– well shaped and practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 20 cm of length of the sponge gourd);

-have a typical colour of the variety; and

-free of defects including all deformations and particularly those caused by seed formation (black coloured seeds).

5        %        by

number        or

weight          of sponge 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

Sponge gourd must be of good quality. They must be characteristics of the variety and/or commercial type. They must be ;

–     reasonably developed;

–    reasonably well shaped and     straight (maximum

10     %     by

number       or

weight of sponge gourd not satisfying the

requirements

height of the arc: 10 mm per 15 cm of the length of sponge gourd).

Provided that 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. 

–   slight deformation;

–     slight defect in colour, slight pale especially the light coloured part of the sponge gourd where it touched the ground during growth; and

-slight skin blemishes due to rubbing and handling or

low temperatures not to exceed 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.

of the grade, but meeting those            of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade.

Class II

This class includes sponge gourd which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements: Provided that the following do not amount to defect if the sponge gourds retain their essential characteristics as regards the general appearance, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package which have –

–     deformation other than seed development;

–   defects in colour up to one-tenth of the surface;

–    considerable defects in colour in the affected part are not allowed;

-healed cracks provided not affecting the flesh;

.- slight damage caused by rubbing and handling not to exceed 10 percent of the total surface area.

The defects must not affect the flesh.

Slightly crooked Sponge Gourd may be allowed in this Class which has a maximum height of the arc of 20 mm per 20 cm of length of the Sponge Gourd

10       %       by

number        or

weight          of Sponge Gourd         not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but     meeting the   minimum requirements.