External defects are defects which can be detected externally. However, cutting may be required to determine the extent of the injury. Some external defects are listed in Tables III, IV, V and VI.
Table III--External Defects------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defects Damage Serious damage\1\------------------------------------------------------------------------Air Cracks.................. When removal causes When removal causes
a loss of more than a loss of more than
5 percent of the 10 percent of the
total weight of the total weight of the
potato or when the potato or when the
air crack(s) air crack(s)
affects more than affects more than
\1/3\ the length or \3/4\ the length or
diameter of the diameter of the
potato (whichever potato (whichever
is greater) in the is greater) in the
aggregate. aggregate.Artificial Coloring......... When unsightly or When concealing a
when concealing any serious defect or
defect causing when penetrating
damage or when into the flesh and
penetrating the removal causes loss
flesh and removal of more than 10
causes loss of more percent of total
than 5 percent of weight of potato.
total weight of
potato.Bruises (Not including When removal causes When removal causes
pressure bruise and sunken a loss of more than a loss of more than
discolored areas). 5 percent of the 10 percent of the
total weight of the total weight of the
potato or when the potato or when the
area affected is area affected is
more than 5 percent more than 10
of the surface in percent of the
the aggregate surface in the
(i.e., \3/4\ inch aggregate (i.e.,
on a 2\1/2\ inch or 1\1/4\ inches on a
6 oz. potato). 2\1/2\ inch or 6
Correspondingly oz. potato).
lesser or greater Correspondingly
areas in smaller or lesser or greater
larger potatoes. areas in smaller or
larger potatoes.Cuts........................ When one smooth cut Cut(s) that affect
affects more than 5 more than 10
percent of the percent of the
surface area. surface area in the
aggregate or when a
single side cut
extends beyond \1/
2\ the length of
the potato.Dirt........................ When materially When seriously
detracting from the detracting from the
appearance of the appearance of the
potato. potato.Elephant Hide............... When affecting over When affecting over
10 percent of the 25 percent of the
surface area of the surface area.
potato.Enlarged Lenticels.......... When materially When seriously
detracting from the detracting from the
appearance of the appearance of the
potato. potato.External Discoloration When more than 30 When more than 60
(Areas that are light tan percent of the percent of the
or lighter in color and surface is affected surface is affected
blends should be ignored). by light tan or by light tan or
light brown colors light brown colors
which do not blend which do not blend
or when more than or when more than
15 percent of the 30 percent of the
surface is affected surface is affected
by colors darker by colors darker
than light tan or than light tan or
light brown. light brown.Flattened or Depressed Areas/ When removal of When removal of
Pressure Bruises. underlying underlying
discolored flesh discolored flesh
causes a loss of the causes a loss
more than 5 percent of more than 10
of the total weight percent of the
of the potato or weight of the
when the flattened potato or when the
or depressed flattened depressed
area(s) covers more area(s) covers more
surface area than surface area than
allowed in Table allowed in the
IV. (See Table IV.). Table IV. (See
Table IV.)Flea Beetle Injury.......... When materially When seriously
detracting from the detracting from the
appearance or when appearance of the
removal causes a potato or when
loss of more than 5 removal causes a
percent of the loss of more than
total weight of the 10 percent of the
potato or when the weight of the
area affected is potato or when the
more than 5 percent area affected is
of the surface in more than 10
the aggregate. percent of the
surface in the
aggregate.Greening.................... When removal causes When removal causes
a loss of more than a loss of more than
5 percent of the 10 percent of the
total weight of the weight of the
potato or when potato or when
green color affects green color affects
more than 25 more than 50
percent of the percent of the
surface in the surface in the
aggregate. aggregate.Growth Cracks............... When the growth When the growth
crack(s) affects crack(s) affects
more than \1/2\ the more than \3/4\ the
length of the length of the
potato in the potato in the
aggregate on round aggregate or when
varieties or more the depth is
than \1/3\ the greater than that
length in the as outlined in
aggregate on long Table V. (See Table
varieties; or, when V.).
the depth is
greater than that
as outlined in
Table V. (See Table
V.).Grub Damage................. When removal causes When removal causes
a loss of more than a loss of more than
5 percent of the 10 percent of the
total weight of the total weight of the
potato or when potato or when
affecting more than affecting more than
5 percent of the 10 percent of the
surface area (i.e. surface area (i.e.
more than \3/4\ more than 1\1/4\
inch on a 2\1/2\ inch on a 2\1/2\
inch or 6 ounce inch or 6 ounce
potato). potato).
Correspondingly Correspondingly
lesser or greater lesser or greater
areas in smaller or areas in smaller or
larger potatoes. larger potatoes.Insects or Worms............ (See Serious When present inside
Damage.). the potato.Nematode (Root Knot)........ When removal causes When removal causes
loss of more than 5 loss of more than
percent of total 10 percent of total
weight of potato. weight of potato.Rhizoctonia................. When affecting more When affecting more
than 15 percent of than 50 percent of
the surface in the the surface in the
aggregate. aggregate.Russeting (On Non Russet When more than 50 N/A.
Type). percent of the
surface is affected
in the aggregate.Rodent or Bird Damage....... When removal causes When removal causes
a loss of more than a loss of more than
5 percent of the 10 percent of the
total weight of the total weight of the
potato or when potato or when
affecting more than affecting more than
5 percent of the 10 percent of the
surface area (i.e. surface area (i.e.
more than \3/4\ more than 1\1/4\
inch on a 2\1/2\ inch on a 2\1/2\
inch or 6 ounce inch or 6 ounce
potato). potato).
Correspondingly Correspondingly
lesser or greater lesser or greater
areas in smaller or areas in smaller or
larger potatoes. larger potatoes.
Scab, Pitted................ When removal causes When the removal
a loss of more than causes a loss of
5 percent of the more than 10
total weight of the percent of the
potato or when scab total weight of the
affects an potato or when scab
aggregate area of affects an
more than \1/2\ aggregate area of
inch. (Based on a more than 1 inch.
potato 2\1/2\ (Based on a potato
inches in diameter 2\1/2\ inches in
or 6 oz. in diameter or 6 oz.
weight.) in weight.)
Correspondingly Correspondingly
lesser or greater lesser or greater
areas in smaller or areas in smaller or
larger potatoes. larger potatoes.Scab, Russet................ Smooth and affecting Rough and affecting
more than \1/3\ of more than 25
the surface or percent of the
rough russet scab surface in the
which affects more aggregate.
than 10 percent of
the surface in the
aggregate.Scab, Surface............... When more than 5 When more than 25
percent of the percent of the
surface in the surface in the
aggregate is aggregate is
affected. affected.Second Growth............... When materially When seriously
detracting from the detracting from the
appearance of the appearance of the
potato. potato.Silver Scurf................ When affecting more When its severity
than 50 percent of causes a wrinkling
the surface area of of the skin over
the potato. more than 50
percent of the
surface.Sprouts..................... When more than 5 When more than 10
percent of the percent of the
potatoes in any lot potatoes in any lot
have any sprout have any sprout
more than \1/4\ more than \1/2\
inch in length at inch in length at
shipping point; shipping point;
more than \1/2\ more than 1 inch in
inch in length at length at
destination; or destination; or
have numerous have numerous
individual and/or individual and/or
clusters of sprouts clusters of sprouts
which materially which seriously
detract from the detract from the
appearance of the appearance of the
potato. potato. Serious
damage by sprouts
shall only be
scored against the
U.S. Commercial and
U.S. No. 2 grades.Sunburn..................... When removal causes When removal causes
loss of more than 5 loss more than 10
percent of total percent of total
weight of potato. weight of potato.Sunken Discolored Areas..... SEE TABLE VI........ SEE TABLE VI.Surface Cracks (Areas When smooth shallow When rough deep
affected by fine net-like cracking affects cracking affects
cracking should be more than \1/3\ of more than 10
ignored.). the surface or when percent of the
rough deep cracking surface.
affects more than 5
percent of the
surface.Wireworm or Grass Damage.... When affecting the When affecting the
flesh of the potato flesh of the potato
and removal causes and removal causes
loss of more than 5 loss of more than
percent of total 10 percent of total
weight of potato.. weight of potato.------------------------------------------------------------------------The following defects are considered serious damage when present in any
degree: 1. Freezing. 2. Late blight. 3. Ring rot. 4. Southern
bacterial wilt. 5. Soft rot. 6. Wet breakdown.
Table IV--Flattened or Depressed Areas--Pressure Bruises Maximum Area Allowed----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diameter Weight No. 1 (aggregate area) No. 2 (aggregate area)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Potato is: Potato is: Not more than: Not more than:
Less than 2 in.................. Less than 4 oz...... \1/2\ in............. 1 in
2 to 2\1/2\ in.................. 4 to 6 oz........... 1 in................. 1\1/2\ in
More than 2\1/2\ to 3 in........ More than 6 to 8 oz. 1\1/4\ in............ 1\3/4\ in
More than 3 to 3\1/2\ in........ More than 8 to 14 oz 1\1/2\ in............ 1\7/8\ in
More than 3\1/2\ to 4 in........ More than 14 to 20 1\3/4\ in............ 2 in
oz.
More than 4 to 4\1/2\ in........ More than 20 to 28 2 in................. 2\1/4\ in
oz.
More than 4\1/2\ to 5 in........ More than 28 to 36 2\1/4\ in............ 2\3/4\ in
oz.
More than 5 in.................. More than 36 oz..... 2\1/2\ in............ 3\1/4\ in----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table V--Depth Allowed for Growth Cracks----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diameter Weight No. 1 (depth) No. 2 (depth)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Potato is: Potato is: Not more than: Not more than:
Less than 2 in.................. Less than 4 oz...... \1/8\ in............. \1/4\ in
2 to 2\1/2\ in.................. 4 oz to 6 oz........ \1/4\ in............. \3/8\ in
More than 2\1/2\ to 3 in........ More than 6 oz to 8 \3/8\ in............. \1/2\ in
oz.
More than 3 in.................. More than 8 oz...... \1/2\ in............. \5/8\ in----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table VI--Sunken Discolored Areas Maximum Area Allowed----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diameter Weight No. 1 (aggregate area) No. 2 (aggregate area)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Potato is: Potato is: Not more than: Not more than:
Less than 2 in.................. Less than 4 oz...... \3/8\ in............. \3/4\ in
2 to 2\1/2\ in.................. 4 to 6 oz........... \3/4\ in............. 1 in
More than 2\1/2\ to 3 in........ More than 6 to 8 oz. 1 in................. 1\1/4\ in
More than 3 to 3\1/2\ in........ More than 8 to 14 oz 1\1/4\ in............ 1\1/2\ in
More than 3\1/2\ to 4 in........ More than 14 to 20 1\1/2\ in............ 1\3/4\ in
oz.
More than 4 to 4\1/2\ in........ More than 20 to 28 1\3/4\ in............ 2 in
oz.
More than 4\1/2\ to 5 in........ More than 28 to 36 2 in................. 2\1/4\ in
oz.
More than 5 in.................. More than 36 oz..... 2\1/4\ in............ 2\1/2\ in---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [35 FR 18258, Dec. 1, 1970, as amended at 73 FR 15055, Mar. 21, 2008; 73 FR 70586, Nov. 21, 2008; 76 FR 31789, June 2, 2011]