Grade designation | Grade Requirements | Provision concerning sizing | Grade tolerances |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Extra class | Tomatoes shall be of superior quality. They shall have firm fresh and must be characteristics of the variety as regards shape, appearance and development. They must be free of green backs and other defects. Very slight superficial defects may be there provided these 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 tomatoes not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting those of Class I or exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade. |
Class I | Tomatoes shall be of good quality. They shall have reasonably firm flesh and shall be characteristics of the variety as regards shape, appearance and development. They must be free of cracks and visible green back. The following slight defects may be there provide these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package: slight superficial defects may be there provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package.
– a slight defect in shape and development; |
| 10% by number or weight of tomatoes not satisfying the requirements of the grade, but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that grade. |
| – a slight defect in colouring;
– slight skin defects;
– very slight bruises; ”Ribbed” tomatoes may show :
– healed cracks not more than 1 cm. long;
– no excessive protuberances;
– small non lignified unbilical scars;
– suberization of the stigma upto 1 sq.cm;
– no more than one headed scar;
– unbilical lignified scars not greater than 1 sq.cm. or linear lscar no longer; than 2/3rd of the greatest diameter of the fruit. |
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Class II | Tomatoes shall be reasonably firm flesh and shall be character(but may be slightly less firm than in class I) and must not show unhealed cracks. Following defects may be there provided the tomatoes retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation.
– defects in shape, development and colouring;
– skin defects or bruises, provided the fruit is not seriously affected; |
| 10% by number or weight not satisfying the requirements of the grade but meeting the minimum requirements. In case of trusses of tomatoes, 10 % by number or weight of tomatoes detached from the stalk. |
| – healed cracks not more than 3 cm. in length.
“Ribbed” tomatoes may show:
– more pronounced protuberances but without being misshapen;
– one umbilicus;
– unbilical lignified scars not greater than 2 sq.cm;
– fine blossom scar in elongated form. |
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- whole, sound and fresh in appearance;
- clean, free of any visible foreign matter;
- free of pests affecting the general appearance of the produce;
- free of damage caused by pests;
- free of abnormal moisture excluding condensation following removal from cold storage;
- free of any foreign smell and/or taste;