Grades and Requirements for Onions

Grades and Requirements for Onions
Application
161. (1) The grades and requirements set out in sections 162 to 166 apply to onion varieties grown
from Allium cepa, green onions and onions with tops being excluded.
(2) In sections 164, 165 and 167, “ovoid specimen” means an onion the length of which is more than
one and a half times the diameter. (spécimen ovoïde)
(3) The grades and requirements referred to in subsection (1) do not apply to cippoline onions.
Grades and Grade Names
162. The grades and grade names for onions are Canada No. 1, Canada No. 1 Pickling and Canada No.
2.
Requirements for All Grades
163. (1) In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the general tolerances set out
in sections 167 and 168, onions of all grades must
• (a) be properly packaged;
• (b) have similar varietal characteristics; and
• (c) be free from thick necks, seed stems and decay.
(2) Despite paragraph (1)(b), onions in packages not exceeding a capacity of 1.36 kg (3 lb) may be of
different varieties.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
164. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 163, onions graded
Canada No. 1 must
• (a) meet the following requirements in respect of firmness, namely,
o (i) before September 16 in the year in which they were harvested, yield only slightly
to moderate pressure, and
o (ii) after September 15 in the year in which they were harvested, be firm;
• (b) meet the following requirements in respect of curing, namely,
o (i) before September 16 in the year in which they were harvested, be cured so that
the neck is moderately dry, and
o (ii) after September 15 in the year in which they were harvested, be cured so that the
neck is well dried;
• (c) meet the following requirements in respect of diameter, namely,
o (i) have a minimum diameter of 44 mm (1 ¾ inches) and a maximum diameter of 76
mm (3 inches),
o (ii) have a minimum diameter of 44 mm (1 ¾ inches), and
▪ (A) meet the diameter size range labelled on the package or on a label
attached to the package,
▪ (B) be packaged in transparent packaging, or
▪ (C) be in a bulk display in a retail store;
o (iii) have a minimum diameter of 63 mm (2 ½ inches) or greater and be prepackaged
in a package on which is labelled, or indicated on a label attached to the package, the
size designation “63 mm and up” or “2 ½ inches and up”, or the greater minimum
size designation that may be applicable,
o (iv) have a minimum diameter of 32 mm (1 ¼ inches) and a maximum diameter of 51
mm (2 inches) and be prepackaged in a package on which is labelled, or which is
indicated on a label attached to the package, the size designation “Small”,
o (v) have a minimum diameter of 76 mm (3 inches) and be prepackaged in a package
on which is labelled, or is indicated on a label attached to the package, the size
designation “Jumbo”,
o (vi) have a minimum diameter of 13 mm (½ inch) and a maximum diameter of 25 mm
(1 inch) and be prepackaged in 284 g (10 ounce) containers on which is labelled, or
indicated on a label attached to the package, the size designation “13 mm to 25 mm”
or “½ inch to 1 inch”, or
o (vii) have a minimum diameter of 13 mm (½ inch) and a maximum diameter of 38
mm (1 ½ inches) and be prepackaged in 284 g (10 ounce) containers on which is
labelled, or indicated on a label attached to the package, the size designation “13
mm to 38 mm” or “½ inch to 1 ½ inches”;
• (d) be free from ovoid specimens;
• (e) be not of a shape that clearly indicates more than one centre of growth;
• (f) be free from root growth and sprouts;
• (g) be free from peeling that results in more than 25%, by weight, of the onions in a lot
having more than 15% of their flesh exposed;
• (h) be free from staining that results in more than 10%, by weight, of the onions in a lot
having more than 25% of the surface area stained; and
• (i) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that
materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the onions.
Canada No. 1 Pickling Grade Requirements
165. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 163, onions graded
Canada No. 1 Pickling must
• (a) yield only slightly to moderate pressure;
• (b) be cured so that the neck of each onion is moderately dried;
• (c) meet the following requirements in respect of diameter:
o (i) have a minimum diameter of 13 mm (½ inch) and a maximum diameter of 25 mm
(1 inch), or
o (ii) have a minimum diameter of 13 mm (½ inch) and a maximum diameter of 38 mm
(1 ½ inches) and be prepackaged in a package on which is labelled the size
designation “13 mm to 38 mm” or “½ inch to 1 ½ inches”;
• (d) be free from ovoid specimens;
• (e) be not of a shape that clearly indicates more than one centre of growth;
• (f) be free from root growth and sprouts; and
• (g) be free from any other damage or defect or combination of damage and defects that
materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the onions.
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
166. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 163, onions graded
Canada No. 2 must
• (a) respond only slightly to moderate pressure;
• (b) be cured so that the neck of each onion is moderately dried;
• (c) have a minimum diameter of 44 mm (1 ¾ inches);
• (d) not have outer skins broken so as to expose two or more centres of growth; and
• (e) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that
seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the onions.
General Tolerances
167. In the grading of onions, the requirements set out in sections 163 to 166, as applicable, are
considered to be met in the case of a lot of onions if not more than
• (a) 5%, by weight, of the onions in the lot have less than the minimum diameter;
• (b) 5%, by weight, of the onions in the lot exceed the maximum diameter;
• (c) 15%, by weight, of the onions in the lot in the case of onions graded Canada No. 1, having
the size designation “Small” and grown from sets, exceed the maximum diameter during the
months of July and August;
• (d) 10%, by weight, of the onions in the lot in the case of onions graded Canada No. 1 Pickling
are ovoid specimens; and
• (e) in the case of a lot of onions inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging, 5%, by
weight, of the onions in the lot have defects other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) to
(d), including not more than 2% that are affected by decay; and
• (f) in the case of a lot of onions inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or
repackaging, 5%, by weight, of the onions in the lot have permanent defects other than
those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d).
168. Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of onions only when the lot is inspected at the
time of shipping or repacking.