Grades and Requirements for Rutabagas
Application
182. The grade and the requirements set out in sections 183 and 184
apply to rutabaga varieties grown from Brassica napobrassica.
Grade and Grade Name
183. The grade and grade name for rutabagas is Canada No. 1.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
184. Subject to the general tolerances set out in sections 185 and 186,
rutabagas graded Canada No. 1 must
• (a) be properly packaged;
• (b) have similar varietal characteristics;
• (c) be firm;
• (d) be reasonably regular in contour;
• (e) have a length not more than one and a half times the diameter;
• (f) be trimmed so that
o (i) the necks do not exceed 19 mm (¾ inch) in length and all
leafy growth has been removed, and
o (ii) secondary roots, rootlets and any objectionable part of the
root have been removed;
• (g) be not trimmed
o (i) on the upper half of the root, or
o (ii) deeply into the flesh on the lower half of the root so as to
alter the general shape of the root or to materially affect the
appearance of a rutabaga;
• (h) if prepackaged, meet the following requirements in respect of
their diameter, namely,
o (i) the rutabagas must have a minimum and maximum
diameter as labelled on the package or on a label attached to
the package,
o (ii) the rutabagas must have a minimum diameter of 51 mm (2
inches) and a maximum diameter of 102 mm (4 inches), and
have the word “Small” labelled on the package or on a label
attached to the package,
o (iii) before September 1 in each crop year, if the minimum
diameter is 76 mm (3 inches) and the maximum diameter is
140 mm (5 ½ inches) and, after August 31, if the minimum
diameter is 89 mm (3 ½ inches) and the maximum diameter is
140 mm (5 ½ inches), the words “Small Medium” must be
labelled on the package or on a label attached to the package,
o (iv) if the minimum diameter is 102 mm (4 inches) and the
maximum diameter is 152 mm (6 inches), the word “Medium”
must labelled on the package or on a label attached to the
package, or
o (v) if the minimum diameter is 127 mm (5 inches) and the
maximum diameter is 178 mm (7 inches), the word “Large”
must be labelled on the package or on a label attached to the
package;
• (i) if prepackaged, not vary by more than 51 mm (2 inches) in
diameter, except in the case of “Small Medium” rutabagas packaged
before September 1 in each crop year;
• (j) be free from decay;
• (k) be free of insects and insect larvae;
• (l) be free from growth cracks that
o (i) are discoloured,
o (ii) materially affect the appearance of a rutabaga, or
o (iii) are greater in depth than
▪ (A) 3 mm (⅛ inch), in the case of rutabagas having a
diameter from 51 mm (2 inches) to 102 mm (4 inches),
▪ (B) 6 mm (¼ inch), in the case of rutabagas having a
diameter greater than 102 mm (4 inches) but not
greater than 152 mm (6 inches), or
▪ (C) 10 mm (⅜ inch), in the case of rutabagas having a
diameter greater than 152 mm (6 inches);
• (m) be free from any damage or defect, other than the defect
referred to in paragraph (l), that affects the appearance of the
upper half of a rutabaga;
• (n) be free from external damage that affects more than 25% of the
surface area of the lower half of a rutabaga; and
• (o) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of
damage and defects that
o (i) materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping
quality of the rutabagas, or
o (ii) cannot be removed without the loss of more than 5% of
the weight of a rutabaga.
General Tolerances
185. In the grading of rutabagas, the requirements set out in section 184
are considered to be met if up to
• (a) 10%, by count, of the rutabagas in the lot have less than the
minimum diameter and none of the rutabagas have a diameter that
is more than 13 mm (½ inch) less than the minimum diameter as set
out in paragraph 184(h);
• (b) 10%, by count, of the rutabagas in the lot exceed the maximum
diameter and none of the rutabagas exceed the maximum diameter
by more than 13 mm (½ inch) as set out in paragraph 184(h);
• (c) in the case of a lot of rutabagas inspected at the time of shipping
or repackaging, 10%, by weight, of the rutabagas in the lot have
defects other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b),
including not more than 5% that are affected by decay; and
• (d) in the case of a lot of rutabagas inspected at a time other than at
the time of shipping or repackaging, 10%, by weight, of the
rutabagas in the lot have permanent defects other than those
referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).
186. Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of rutabagas only
when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.
