The United States Department of Agriculture establishes grade standards and provides inspection services for many fresh fruits and vegetables. Grading is not required by federal regulations unless the commodity is controlled by a marketing order. At this time, no fresh fruit or vegetable grown in Indiana is governed by a marketing order.

Even though not mandated by the government, produce buyers often require sellers to grade produce according to USDA standards. The grade standards are available free on-line at www.ams.usda.gov, or copies of standards may be requested from:

Alexia Hurdakis – USDA, AMS, F&V Programs
Fresh Products Branch Equipment and Forms Depot
831 Mitten Road, Room 203
Burlingame, CA 94010

Phone: (650) 552-9073

For commodities covered on this web site, links to the standards are provided below. (Acrobat Reader software is required to view the documents.)

Vegetables Beans Beans for Processing Cabbage Cabbage for Processing Cucumbers Cucumbers, Greenhouse Muskmelon Peppers, Bell Pumpkins Sweet Corn Sweet Corn for Processing Tomatoes Tomatoes, Greenhouse Tomatoes for Processing Watermelon Zucchini

Fruits Apples Apples for Processing Blueberries Blueberries for Processing Grapes, Table Grapes, Bunch Grapes, Juice Grapes for Processing and Freezing (American, bunch) Grapes for Processing and Freezing Strawberries Strawberries for Processing