§ 989.701 - Minimum grade and condition standards for natural condition raisins.

§ 989.701 Minimum grade and condition standards for natural condition raisins.

Effective pursuant to § 989.58, raisins meeting the varietal standards hereinafter set forth shall be considered as standard raisins and those failing to meet such standards shall be considered as off-grade raisins. Where the raisins in any lot consist of two or more varietal types commingled within their containers, the lot shall be considered as a mixed lot and as standard raisins if they meet for each defect the most restrictive requirements for the varietal types of raisins comprising the lot. In the event layered Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or Cluster Seedless raisins are commingled within their containers with loose Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or loose Cluster Seedless raisins respectively, the entire lot shall be considered as loose Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or Natural (sun-dried) Seedless raisins. The raisins shall be considered as standard raisins if the lot as a whole meets the minimum standards for loose Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or Natural (sun-dried) Seedless raisins: Provided, That with respect to the requirements peculiar to a varietal type such as possessing characteristic color, flavor, or odor, the raisins shall be considered as meeting such requirements if they have been properly prepared as raisins. In each category, only those raisins which have been properly dried and cured in original natural condition, are free from active infestation, and are in such condition that they are capable of being received, stored, and packed without undue deterioration or spoilage, shall be considered as storable raisins.

(a) Natural (sun-dried) Seedless, Monukka and Other Seedless raisins. Natural condition Natural (sun-dried) Seedless, Monukka and Other Seedless raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins;

(3) shall contain not more than 5 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes), and shall also contain at least 50 percent well-matured or reasonably well-matured raisins;

(4) shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method, except that there shall be no maximum moisture content for Cluster Seedless raisins; and

(5) shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the order and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee, and that with respect to Cluster Seedless raisins, in addition to the above requirements the raisins shall be fairly free from shattered (or loose end) berries, and be uniformly cured; shall contain 30 percent or more “2 Crown” or larger size berries; and shall be of such quality and condition that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will, except for moisture content, meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(b) Dipped Seedless, Oleate and Related Seedless, and Other Seedless-Sulfured raisins. Natural condition Dipped Seedless, and Other Seedless-Sulfured raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) Shall have a normal characteristic flavor and odor of properly prepared raisins;

(3) Shall contain not more than 5 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes), and for the 1985-86 and subsequent crop years also contain at least 50 percent well-matured or reasonably well-matured raisins;

(4) Shall not exceed 14 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method,

(5) Shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the order and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(c) Golden Seedless. Natural condition Golden Seedless raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) shall have a normal characteristic flavor and odor of properly prepared raisins;

(3) shall contain not more than 5 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes), and for the 1985-86 and subsequent crop years also contain at least 50 percent well-matured or reasonably well-matured raisins;

(4) shall not exceed 14 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method,

(5) shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the order and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee; and

(6) shall possess a color varying from yellowish green to dark amber or dark greenish amber with not more than 15 percent, by weight, of all the raisins being definitely dark berries. Definitely dark berries means raisins which are definitely darker than dark amber and characteristic of “naturally” raisined grapes.

(d) Muscats (including other raisins with seeds). Natural condition Muscat raisins (including other raisins with seeds) shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugar, mechanical injury, sunburn or other similar injury;

(2) Shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins and shall contain not more than 12 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes);

(3) Shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method, except that water dipped, vine sprayed or similarly treated Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) shall not exceed 14 percent moisture, and that there shall be no maximum moisture content for layered Muscats (including other raisins with seeds);

(4) The raisins shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the marketing agreement and order, and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee, and that with respect to layered Muscats (including other raisins with seeds), in addition to the above requirements the raisins shall be fairly free from shattered (or loose end) berries; uniformly cured; 30 percent or more “3 Crown” or larger size; of such quality and condition that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will, except for moisture content, meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(e) Sultana Raisins. Natural condition Sultana raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) Shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins and shall contain not more than 12 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes);

(3) Shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method; and

(4) The raisins shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the marketing agreement and order, and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(f) Zante Currant Raisins. Natural condition Zante Currant raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements;

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins and shall contain not more than 12 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes);

(3) shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method; and

(4) the raisins shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the marketing agreement and order, and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

[42 FR 52378, Sept. 30, 1977, as amended at 46 FR 39121, July 31, 1981; 48 FR 49215, Oct. 25, 1983; 49 FR 1669, Jan. 13, 1984; 49 FR 33994, Aug. 28, 1984; 50 FR 35771, Sept. 4, 1985; 53 FR 34715, Sept. 8, 1988; 67 FR 36793, May 28, 2002; 68 FR 42947, July 21, 2003]