U.S. Grade A shall consist of stalks of celery of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly well developed and have fairly good heart formation; which are clean, well trimmed, and not badly spread, and which are free from blackheart, decay (except dry type crater rot), doubles, and from damage caused by crater rot, brown stem, wilting, cutworms, freezing, suckers, growth cracks, hollow crown, pithy branches, seedstems, rust, cracked stem, other diseases, insects, or mechanical or other means.
(a) The average midrib length of the outer whorl of branches on stalks in this grade shall be not less than 5 inches. (See Sec. Sec. 51.599 and 51.600.)
(b) Incident to proper grading and handling other than for average midrib length of branches, not more than 5 percent, by count, of the stalks in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the grade including not more than 1 percent for stalks affected by moist type decay. In addition, not more than 3 percent, by count, of the stalks in any lot may fail to meet the requirements as to average midrib length of the stalks.