Grades and Requirements for Celery

Grades and Requirements for Celery
Application
131. The grades and requirements set out in sections 132 to 136 apply to
celery varieties grown from Apium graveolens var. dulce.
Grades and Grade Names
132. The grades and grade names for celery are Canada No. 1, Canada No.
1 Heart and Canada No. 2.
Requirements for All Grades
133. (1) In addition to meeting the requirements for each grade and
subject to the general tolerances set out in section 137, celery of all
grades must
• (a) be properly packaged;
• (b) have no stalks that plainly show the formation of any seed
stems; and
• (c) be free from heart rot and other decay.
(2) For the purposes of sections 134 to 136,
• (a) the length of a stalk of celery is the distance from the point
where the main root is cut off, to a point that represents the
average extremity of the outer whorl of branches;
• (b) the average midrib length is the average length of all the
branches in the outer whorl, measured from the point of
attachment at the base to the first node; and
• (c) the diameter of a stalk of celery is the diameter as measured
from a point that is 51 mm (2 inches) above the point where the
lowest branch is attached to the base.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
134. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 133, celery graded Canada No. 1 must
• (a) be fresh;
• (b) have stalks that have inner heart branches of a number, length
and stockiness characteristic of the variety when mature;
• (c) be trimmed so that any outside coarse or damaged branches are
removed and the portion of the main root that remains is not more
than 76 mm (3 inches) in length;
• (d) have stalks of a minimum length of 305 mm (12 inches), a
minimum average midrib length of 178 mm (7 inches) and a
minimum diameter of 63 mm (2 ½ inches), where there are more
than 24 stalks per package, and a minimum diameter of 76 mm (3
inches), where there are 24 or fewer stalks per package;
• (e) if prepackaged, have stalks that do not vary by more than 38 mm
(1 ½ inches) in diameter or by more than 51 mm (2 inches) in length;
• (f) be free from insect or mollusk damage that affects
o (i) the inner branches, or
o (ii) an aggregate area exceeding 645 mm2 (1 square inch) per
stalk on the outer branches;
• (g) be free from pithiness affecting more than two branches of any
one stalk; and
• (h) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of
damage and defects that materially affects the appearance, edibility
or shipping quality of the celery.
Canada No. 1 Heart Grade Requirements
135. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 133, celery graded Canada No. 1 Heart must meet the
requirements of Canada No. 1 grade with the exception of those for
uniformity of size, minimum diameter and minimum stalk length set out
in paragraphs 134(d) and (e).
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
136. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 133, celery graded Canada No. 2 must
• (a) have stalks of a minimum diameter of 63 mm (2 ½ inches); and
• (b) be free from any damage, defect or combination of damage and
defects that seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping
quality of the celery.
General Tolerances
137. (1) In the grading of celery, the requirements set out in sections 134
to 136, as applicable, are considered to be met if
• (a) not more than 10%, by count, of the stalks of celery in a lot
inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging, have defects
including not more than
o (i) 2% that are affected by decay, and
o (ii) 5% that have the same defect other than decay;
• (b) not more than 10%, by count, of the stalks of celery in a lot
inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or
repackaging have defects, including not more than 5% that have the
same permanent defect; and
• (c) in either of the cases referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), not
more than
o (i) 5%, by count, of the stalks of celery in the lot, have less
than the minimum diameter or are shorter than the minimum
length, and
o (ii) 10% of the packages in the lot have more than 5% more
stalks or 5% fewer stalks than the number labelled on the
packages, or contain stalks that exceed the maximum
diameter or length variation.
(2) Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of celery only when
the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.