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California raisins come in three sizes or grades. Each grade meets USDA standards, ensuring you are getting the highest quality available.
Size of seedless raisins
"Select" size raisins means that no more than 60 percent, by weight, of all the raisins will pass through round perforations 8.7mm (22/64-inch) in diameter.
"Small" or "Midget" size raisins means that 95 percent, by weight, of all the raisins will pass through round perforations 9.5mm (24/64-inch) in diameter, and not less than 70 percent, by weight, of all raisins will pass through round perforations 8.7mm (22/64-inch) in diameter.
"Mixed" size raisins means a mixture which does not meet either the requirements for "select" size, or for "small" or "midget" size.
USDA Standards for Grades of Processed Raisins
|
Quality
Characteristics
Maximum |
Natural Seedless
Grade
|
Muscats (Seeded)
Grade
|
Zante Currants
Grade
|
| Moisture |
18% all grades |
18% all grades |
20% all grades |
| Pieces of stem per pound(s) |
1/6 |
2/6 |
4/6 |
1/2 |
2/2 |
3/2 |
1/1.5 |
1/1 |
| Seeds per pound |
. |
. |
. |
12 |
15 |
20 |
12 |
15 |
| Capstems per pound |
15 |
25 |
35 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
1.5 |
2 |
Percent by Weight
(Underdeveloped/Substandard) |
| Midget |
2% |
3% |
5% |
2% |
5% |
8% |
2% |
5% |
| Select |
1% |
1.5% |
2% |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mixed |
1% |
2% |
3% |
|
|
|
|
|
Discolored, Damaged, or Mold
(Damaged if following precent is not exceeded) |
4% |
6% |
9% |
5% |
7% |
9% |
5% |
7% |
| Damaged |
2% |
3% |
5% |
3% |
4% |
5% |
2% |
3% |
| Mold Damaged |
2% |
3% |
4% |
2% |
3% |
4% |
3% |
4% |
| Sugared |
5% |
10% |
15% |
5% |
10% |
15% |
5% |
10% |
| Grit, Sand, Silt |
None |
None |
Trace |
None |
None |
Trace |
None |
None |
| Well Matured |
80% |
70% |
70% |
80% |
70% |
|
75% |
| SOURCE; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) STANDARDS FOR GRADES OF PROCESSED RAISINS, 7TH ISSUE, DECEMBER 1, 1978.
Category of Natural Seedless Raisins includes natural sun-dried Thompson, tunnel-dried Thompson and golden Thomson Seedless raisins.
Definitions of Terms
Stems: A portion of the branch or main stem.
Capstem: Small woody stem exceeding 1/8" in length which attaches the raisin to the branches of the bunch.
Sugared: Internal or external sugar crystals are readily apparent.
Discolored: Dark brown area around capstem area greater than 1/8', provided it does not seriously affect the quality of the fruit.
Damage: Raisins affected by sunburn, scars, mechanical injury, or other similar means which seriously affect the appereance, edibility, keeping quality, or shipping quality of the raisins.
Mold Damage: Individual berries that have been exposed to field mold growth, resulting in breakdown of skin or flesh tissue characterized by a lighter color and a sloughing skin.
Maturity: Well-matured and reasonably well-matured raisins are full-fleshed and rounded in appearance and may have numerous fine wrinkles or shallow wrinkles with thick-edged ridges.
Underdeveloped: Extremely small, light berries that lack sugary tissue, indicating incomplete development; small, shriveled, hard berries.
Substandard: Raisins practically lacking in flesh, and having deep wrinkles with thin-edged ridges.
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