All percentages shall be calculated on the basis of weight.

“U.S. No. 1” consists of pears of one variety which are mature, handpicked, firm, well formed, free from scald, hard end, black end, internal breakdown, decay, worms and worm holes, and from damage caused by broken skins, limbrubs, sprayburn, sunburn, scab, russeting, bruises, hail, frost, drought spot, disease, insects, mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, the pears shall not be further advanced than yellowish green. Tree-ripened pears and pears grown from late blooms shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of this grade. (See §§ 51.1349 and 51.1350.)

“U.S. No. 2” consists of pears of one variety which are mature, handpicked, firm, not seriously deformed, free from scald, hard end, black end, internal breakdown, decay, worms and worm holes, and free from serious damage by any other cause. Unless otherwise specified, the pears shall not be further advanced than yellowish green. Tree-ripened pears and pears grown from late blooms shall not be considered as meeting the requirements of this grade. (See §§ 51.1349 and 51.1350.)

“Culls” are pears which do not meet the requirements of either of the foregoing grades.

Size may be specified in connection with a grade by agreement between buyer and seller and stated in terms of minimum diameter or minimum and maximum diameters. Diameters shall be specified in inches and not less than eighth-inch fractions thereof. In addition, size may be stated in terms of ratio of length to diameter.

(a) Tolerances shall not apply in the application of the standards to determine the percentages of U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 quality, culls and off-size in a lot of pears; for example, when determining compliance with a grower-processor contract.

(b) Tolerances. The following tolerances, by weight, shall apply when a lot of pears has been sorted to meet a specific grade, such as a shipment to a processor which is intended to meet the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade:

(1) For defects. 10 percent for pears which fail to meet the requirements of the grade: Provided, That included in this amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed:

(i) 2 percent for pears which are affected by decay.

(ii) 5 percent for pears which are infested by worms or have worm holes.

(2) For off-size. 5 percent for pears which are smaller than any specified minimum size, and 10 percent for pears larger than any specified maximum size.

Mature means that the pear has reached the stage of maturity which will insure the proper completion of the ripening process.

Handpicked means that the pears do not show evidence of having been on the ground.

Firm means that the pear is fairly solid and yields only very slightly to moderate pressure, and is not wilted, shriveled, rubbery or flabby.

Well formed means that the pear has the shape characteristic of the variety, so that after paring, cutting in halves, and coring, each half of the pear shall be well formed. Bartlett pears shall have at least a fairly well developed neck.

Damage means any injury or defect which materially affects the processing quality of the fruit. After paring, cutting in halves, and coring, each half of the pear shall be well formed or the pear is considered damaged. Pears showing surface blemishes shall be considered damaged when the injury cannot be completely removed in the ordinary process of paring for commercial use.

Pears grown from late blooms. Such pears often have excessively long stems (commonly termed “rat tails”), or may be misshapen or slightly rough. Such pears do not ripen properly for ordinary canning use.

Seriously deformed means that the pear is so badly misshapen as to cause a loss during the usual commercial preparation for use of over 20 percent, by weight, of the pear in excess of that which would occur if the pear were well formed. Round or apple-shaped pears shall not be considered seriously deformed.

Serious damage means any injury or defect which cannot be removed during the usual commercial preparation for use without a loss of over 20 percent, by weight, of the pear in excess of that which would occur if the pear were not defective.

Diameter means the greatest dimension of the pear taken at right angles to a line running from the stem to the blossom end.