Grades and Requirements for Parsnips
Application
169. The grades and requirements set out in sections 170 to 173 apply to
parsnip varieties grown from Pastinaca sativa, parsnips with tops being
excluded.
Grades and Grade Names
170. The grades and grade names for parsnips are Canada No. 1 and
Canada No. 2.
Requirements for All Grades
171. In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the
general tolerances set out in sections 174 and 175, parsnips of all grades
must
• (a) be properly packaged;
• (b) have similar varietal characteristics;
• (c) be not trimmed into the crown;
• (d) be firm but not woody in texture; and
• (e) be free from decay.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
172. (1) In this section, “reasonably clean” means the parsnips are
• (a) practically free from caked dirt, mould or decayed matter, and
• (b) reasonably free from staining or clinging dirt. (raisonnablement
propres)
(2) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 171, parsnips graded Canada No. 1 must
• (a) be reasonably clean and fairly smooth;
• (b) be not turnip-shaped or so forked or misshapen as to materially
affect the appearance of the parsnips;
• (c) be free from secondary rootlets that materially affect the
appearance of the parsnips;
• (d) be trimmed so that the length of the tops of 75%, by weight, of
the parsnips in a lot do not exceed 13 mm (½ inch) and the length of
the tops of the other parsnips does not exceed 25 mm (1 inch);
• (e) meet the following requirements in respect of diameter, namely,
o (i) have a minimum diameter of 25 mm (1 inch) and a
maximum diameter of 76 mm (3 inches),
o (ii) have a minimum diameter of 25 mm (1 inch) and
▪ (A) conform to the diameter size range labelled on the
package or on a label attached to the package,
▪ (B) be packaged in a transparent package, or
▪ (C) be present in a bulk display in a retail store, or
o (iii) have a minimum diameter of 44 mm (1 ¾ 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 “44 mm and up” or “1 ¾ inches and up”, or the
greater minimum size designation that may be applicable;
• (f) if consumer prepackaged parsnips, not vary by more than 38 mm
(1 ½ inches) in diameter;
• (g) have a minimum length of 127 mm (5 inches); and
• (h) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of
damage and defect that
o (i) materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping
quality of the parsnips, or
o (ii) cannot be removed without a loss of more than 5% of the
weight of a parsnip.
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
173. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 171, parsnips graded Canada No. 2 must
• (a) be not so badly forked or misshapen that the appearance of the
parsnips is seriously affected;
• (b) be trimmed so that the tops do not exceed 25 mm (1 inch) in
length;
• (c) have a minimum diameter of 25 mm (1 inch) and a minimum
length of 102 mm (4 inches); and
• (d) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of
damage and defects that:
o (i) seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping
quality of the parsnips, or
o (ii) cannot be removed without a loss of more than 10% of the
weight of a parsnip.
General Tolerances
174. In the grading of parsnips, the requirements set out in sections 171
to 173, as applicable, are considered to be met in the case of a lot of
parsnips if not more than
• (a) 4%, by weight, of the parsnips in the lot have less than the
minimum diameter or are shorter than the minimum length;
• (b) 8%, by weight, of the parsnips in the lot exceed the maximum
diameter or the maximum length;
• (c) 10% of the packages in a lot of consumer prepackaged parsnips
graded Canada No. 1 contain parsnips that exceed the maximum
size variation set out in paragraph 172(2)(f);
• (d) in the case of a lot of parsnips inspected at the time of shipping
or repackaging, 6%, by weight, of the parsnips in the lot have
defects other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c),
including not more than 2% that are affected by decay; and
• (e) in the case of a lot of parsnips inspected at a time other than at
the time of shipping or repackaging, 6%, by weight, of the parsnips
in the lot have permanent defects other than those referred to in
paragraphs (a) to (c).
175. Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of parsnips only
when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.
