This section of our reports will include all leaf lettuces (Romaine, Green Leaf, Red Leaf) as well as Broccoli, Cauliflower, Celery, and all other vegetables we inspect.
| Shipper |
| This indicates the company for whom the product was harvested. |
| Label |
| This indicates under what label the product is being shipped. |
| Lot |
| This indicates the grower and/or field designation the product was harvested in. These will be mostly indicated on pallet tags. If a lot number cannot be determined we will indicate this by “No Lot” or “NL.” |
| Commodity |
| This indicates the specific commodity inspected. |
| Weight |
| The weight is determined by the inspector using a hand scale (60lb Max), unless otherwise indicated as a specific weight on the box. An average weight will be given and if the product is weighed wet, we will indicate this with a “W.” If the commodity is to be iced before shipping we will indicate this as “Iced.” |
| Size |
| This differs depending on the commodity inspected. All leaf lettuces will be 24 counts unless otherwise indicated. See below for how we determine size on various commodities. |
|
| Size |
Abbreviation |
Length (in inches) |
| Small |
S |
<10 |
| Small+ |
S+ |
10-11 |
| Medium |
M |
11-13 |
| Medium + |
M+ |
13-15 |
| Large |
L |
>15 |
|
| Size |
Abbreviation |
Length (in inches) |
| Small |
S |
<8 |
| Small+ |
S+ |
8-9 |
| Medium |
M |
9-10 |
| Medium + |
M+ |
10-11 |
| Large |
L |
>11 |
| Cauliflower |
| Size of Cauliflower is indicated by counts per carton. The most common counts are: 9, 12, and 16. |
| Celery |
| Size of Celery is indicated by counts per carton. These counts are 18, 24, 30, 36, and 48. Celery hearts are most commonly in shipped in clear wrap sleeves with counts of 18x2. |
| Broccoli |
| Sizes of Broccoli include: Florets, Crowns, bunched 14s, bunched 18s, and export 38ct crowns. Bunch count, length, dome diameter, bead size, and stalk diameter are described in the comments section. |
| Mixed Vegetables |
| This includes all other commodities and is usually indicated by count per carton. Descriptions such as length, diameter, counts per bunch, etc. are indicated in the comments section. |
| Color |
| The color score is based on overall brilliance, depth, and consistency of color. Some grades may be elaborated on further in comments section. Grades are as Follows: |
Score |
Grade |
10 |
Excellent |
9 |
Very Good |
8 |
Good |
7 |
Fairly Good |
6 |
Fair |
5 and below |
Poor |
*Cauliflower Color Descriptions: Cream (Crm) Off-White (OW) White (Wht)
| Texture |
| Our texture grade is based on the visual and especially the tactile quality of the different produce we inspect. We look for crisp, clean produce with adequate hydration. Insect damage, dehydration, brittleness, and rough texture impact this score. |
Grade |
Abbreviation |
Very Good |
VG |
Good |
Gd |
Fairly Good |
FG |
Fair |
Fr |
Poor |
Pr |
| Appearance |
| The appearance represents the overall presentation upon opening the box. A near perfect score is clean, of proper size, uniform color, and no obvious defects present. An organized pack with size uniformity, clean of any foreign substances such as dirt, mud, or chemical residue are taken into account as well. Appearance grades are as follows: |
Score |
Grade |
10 |
Excellent |
9 |
Very Good |
8 |
Good |
7 |
Fairly Good |
6 |
Fair |
5 and below |
Poor |
| Pack |
| The pack grade reflects the performance of the field crew harvesting the product. Packs should be free of any foreign materials such as dirt, mud, or chemical residue. We take into account poor selection, mechanical damage, size uniformity, poor trim, unorganized packs, and adequate number of protective wrapper leaves (when applicable). Sizes should be consistent with their respective packs. Packs should not be slack, over pressed, or otherwise in a condition likely to be affected during handling and shipping. Pack scores are as follows: |
Score |
Grade |
10 |
Excellent |
9 |
Very Good |
8 |
Good |
7 |
Fairly Good |
6 |
Fair |
5 and below |
Poor |
| Solidity: The solidity grade measures the density of the produce. The commodities for which this category is inapplicable will be left blank. Note: grades vary for leaf lettuces and Broccoli. Solidity is described by the following: |
Hard: Very compact. Does not yield when pressure is applied
Firm: Compact but may yield slightly to moderate pressure
Fairly Firm: Yields to moderate pressure but not to the point of being spongy.
Soft: Easily compressed, spongy.
Leaf Lettuce Solidity Grades:
Full: 7-10” Diameter
Fairly Full: 10+” Diameter
Broccoli solidity grades:
Tight: The ideal broccoli solidity. The floretts are tightly grouped with no space in between.
Fairly Tight: Floretts are tightly grouped but may have occasional space between.
Loose: Floretts are spread apart and loosely grouped. |
| Condition |
The condition grade represents strength of commodity and how well we feel the product will hold up during the handling, cooling, and shipping processes. Higher numbers correspond with higher quality.
We take into account the current condition as well as any defects listed that will adversely affect the overall retail appearance and shelf life. See commodity strength map for recommended shipping points. |
| Comments |
| In this section we give a brief description to support the scores. Some commodities are elaborated on further in this section with descriptions such as bunch size, length, counts per, etc. These are straightforward and easily interpreted. |
Common Broccoli Defects:
Dome Defects: |
Bracketing
Brown Bead
Cat-Eye
Flowering
Frost Damage
Immature Bead
Knuckly
Pin Rot
Purple Cast
Spread
Water Damage
Yellow Bead |
| Stem Defects |
Branchy
Cracked
Curved
Frost Damage
Hollow Core
Poor Trim
Scarring
Spurs
Woody |
| Broccoli Stalk Diameter Measurements: |
Dime: 1/2-3/4”
Nickel: 3/4-1”
Quarter: 1-1.25”
Half Dollar: 1.25-1.5”
Dollar: 1.5+” |
| Common Cauliflower Defects - Curd Defects: |
Black Mold
Bruising
Close Trim
Fuzz
Head Shape (Cold weather promotes flat shaped heads, while hotter weather promotes more conical shaped heads)
Knuckly
Ricey
Rough Curd
Soft Rot
Soft Shoulder
Yellow Cast |
| Jacket Defects: |
Close trim
Leafy
Scarring |
| Stem Defects: |
| Hollow Core |
| Common Celery Defects: |
Aphids
Blight
Bow
Bruising
Cracked Node
Dirt & Mud
Freeze Damage
Growth Crack
Heart Rot
Insect Damage
Pith
Scuffing
Seeder
Short Shank |
Terms used to measure quantity |
Term (abbreviation) |
Percentage |
| Very Occasional (VryOc) |
1-4% |
| Occasional (Occ) |
5-10% |
| Few (Fw) |
11-20% |
| Some (Sm) |
21-35% |
| Many (Mny) |
36-50% |
| Most (Mst) |
51-75% |
| Displaying (Dsplng) |
76-100% |
Common Descriptive terms |
Abbreviation |
Anthracnose |
Anthrcns |
| Aphid |
Aphd |
| Bead |
Bd |
| Big Vein |
BigV |
| Blight |
Blght |
| Blistering |
Blstr |
| Bow |
Bow |
| Bracketing |
Brcktng |
| Branchy |
Brnchy |
| Bruise |
Brs |
| Cat-Eye |
Cat |
| Close trim |
ClsTrm |
| Count |
Cnt |
| Crisp |
Crsp |
| Decay |
DK |
| Dehydrated |
Dehy |
| Diameter |
Diam |
| Dirt |
Drt |
| Epidermal Peel |
EP |
| Flowering |
Flwrng |
| Fringe Burn |
FB |
| Frog-skin |
Frog |
| Fuzz |
Fuz |
| Heart Rot |
HrtRot |
| Hollow Core |
HC |
| Immature Bead |
ImmBd |
| Insect damage |
InsDam |
| Internal Burn |
IntrnlBrn |
| Internally |
Intrnly |
| Irregular Sizing |
IrrSz |
| Jacket |
Jkt |
| Knuckly |
Knckly |
| Leaf Minor Stings |
LMS |
| Leggy |
Lgy |
| Length |
Lngth |
| Mildew |
Mldw |
| Mold |
Mld |
| Over-pack |
OvrPk |
| Pin Rot |
PR |
| Pith |
Pith |
| Purple Cast |
PC |
| Rib |
Rib |
| Ribby |
Rby |
| Ricey |
Ricy |
| Rough Curd |
RC |
| Salt & Pepper |
S&P |
| Seeder |
Sdr |
| Shank |
Shnk |
| Shoulder |
Shldr |
| Slip |
Slp |
| Soft Shoulder |
SftShldr |
| Sunken |
Snkn |
| Thrip |
Thrp |
| Wind Bruise |
WndBrs |
| Wind Burn |
WndBrn |
| Yellow Leaves |
YL |
|
