OAR 603-051-0200: Grades

(1) Oregon No. 1 grade sulphured whole cherries shall consist of properly matured cherries of similar varietal characteristics that are clean, firm, well formed, and well bleached. The cherries shall be free from damage caused by mechanical injury, surface discoloration, rain cracks, blemishes, or other means. In order to allow for variations incident to proper preparation, grading, and handling, at least 95 percent of the cherries of any lot must meet the requirements of “firm.” In addition, not more than 10 percent of the cherries of any lot may be below the remaining requirements of this grade, of which not more than 1/2 or five percent shall be allowed for defects classified as serious damage. (2) Oregon No. 1 grade sulphured halved cherries shall consist of portions of sliced cherries, no particle of which shall be smaller than an estimated 1/3 or more than an estimated 2/3 of a whole cherry. The cherries shall be properly matured, of similar varietal characteristics that are clean, firm, well formed, and well bleached. The cherries shall be free from damage caused by mechanical injury, surface discoloration, rain cracks, blemishes, or other means. In order to allow for variations incident to proper preparation, grading, and handling, at least 95 percent of the cherries of any lot must meet the requirements of “firm.” In addition, not more than 10 percent of the cherries of any lot may be below the remaining requirements of this grade, of which not more than 1/2 or five percent shall be allowed for defects classified as serious damage. (3) Oregon No. 2 grade sulphured whole cherries shall consist of properly matured cherries of similar varietal characteristics that are clean, fairly firm, well formed, and fairly well bleached. The cherries shall be free from serious damage caused by mechanical injury, surface discoloration, rain cracks, blemishes or other means. In order to allow for variations incident to proper preparation, grading, and handling, at least 90 percent of the cherries of any lot must meet the requirements of “fairly firm.” In addition, not more than 10 percent of the cherries of any lot may be below the remaining requirements of this grade. (4) Oregon No. 2 grade sulphured halved cherries shall consist of properly matured cherries of similar varietal characteristics that are clean, fairly firm, well formed, and fairly well bleached. The cherries shall be free from serious damage caused by mechanical injury, surface discoloration, rain cracks, blemishes, or other means. In order to allow for variations incident to proper preparation, grading, and handling, at least 90 percent of the cherries of any lot must meet the requirements of “fairly firm.” In addition, not more than 10 percent of the cherries of any lot may be below the remaining requirements of this grade. (5)(a) Oregon Combination Grade sulphured cherries shall be a combination of Oregon No. 1 and Oregon No. 2 cherries of any style. When such a combination grade is packed, unless otherwise specified, the lot shall average not less than 50 percent Oregon No. 1 quality cherries; (b) A tolerance of not more than 10 percent shall be allowed for cherries which fall below the requirements of Oregon No. 2 grade; (c) The tolerances for the standards are on a container basis. However, individual containers in any lot may vary from the specified tolerances, providing the averages for the entire lot, based on sample inspection, are within the tolerances specified. No part of any tolerance shall be allowed to reduce, for the lot as a whole, the 50 percent of cherries of the higher grade requirement in the combination; but individual containers may not have less than 35 percent of the higher grade or more than 20 percent below the requirements of Oregon No. 2 grade; (d) When other combinations are specified, individual containers may not have more than 15 percent less than the percentage specified of the higher grade or more than 20 percent below the requirements of Oregon No. 2 grade. (6) Oregon No. 3 grade sulphured cherries shall consist of cherries which fail to meet the requirements of the above grades, and shall be practically free of stems, leaves, fruit spurs, bark, dirt, or foreign material.