This document was part of the public consultation on the Proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables. Each phase of the consultation will focus on a group of fresh fruit or vegetables and will be open for a 60-day period.
The consultation for Phase 2 ran from December 10, 2021 to February 11, 2022.
Grades and Requirements for Apricots
Application
20. The grades and requirements set out in sections 21 to 24 apply to apricots of varieties grown from Prunus armeniaca.
Grades and Grade Names
21. The grades and grade names for apricots are Canada No. 1, and Canada Domestic.
Requirements for All Grades
22. In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the general tolerances set out in section 25, apricots of all grades must
- (a) be properly packaged;
- (b) be of one variety and fairly well formed;
- (c) be sound;
- (d) be free from skin breaks or tears at the stem if
- (i) more than the outer layer is affected, or
- (ii) the damage extends outside of the stem bowl;
- (e) be free from skin checks that are not well healed;
- (f) be free from insect damage that exceeds 3 mm (⅛ inch) in depth or affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 6 mm (¼ inch) in diameter;
- (g) be free from insects and insect larvae;
- (h) be free from skin punctures; and
- (i) be free from a combination of two or more defects referred to in paragraphs (d) to (f) that individually do not exceed their respective tolerances but that in combination exceed the greatest area tolerance set out in any of those paragraphs.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
23. (1) In this section, "of good size", with respect to apricots in a lot, means that not less than 90%, by count, of the apricots are of a size characteristic of the variety when mature and variation in size is not sufficient to materially affect the general appearance of the lot.
(2) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 22, apricots graded Canada No. 1 must
- (a) be clean;
- (b) be uniformly mature;
- (c) be of good size;
- (d) be free from bruises that individually exceed 10 mm (3/8 inch) in diameter;
- (e) be free from hail damage that
- (i) has broken the skin or noticeably depressed the affected areas, or
- (ii) affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 6 mm (¼ inch) in diameter;
- (f) be free from skin checks that exceed 3 mm (⅛ inch) in depth or affect an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 6 mm (¼ inch) in diameter;
- (g) be free from ink spot, limb rub, physiological spot, other skin discolouration, scab or sprayburn that affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 13 mm (½ inch) in diameter;
- (h) be free from coryneum blight that affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 6 mm (¼ inch) in diameter;
- (i) be free from insect damage that is not thoroughly dry;
- (j) be free from a combination of two or more defects referred to in paragraphs (d) to (i) that individually do not exceed their respective tolerances but that in combination exceed the greatest area tolerance set out in any of those paragraphs; and
- (k) be free from any other damage or defect or combination of damage and defects that affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the apricots.
Canada Domestic Grade Requirements
24. (1) In this section, "of fair size", with respect to apricots in a lot, means that not less than 65%, by count, of the apricots are of a size characteristic of the variety when mature and variation in size is not sufficient to seriously affect the general appearance of the lot.
(2) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 22, apricots graded Canada Domestic must
- (a) be fairly clean;
- (b) be mature;
- (c) be of fair size;
- (d) be free from bruises that individually exceed 13 mm (1/2 inch) in diameter;
- (e) be free from hail damage that
- (i) has broken the skin or noticeably depressed the affected areas, or
- (ii) affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 19 mm (¾ inch) in diameter;
- (f) be free from skin checks that affect an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 6 mm (¼ inch) in diameter;
- (g) be free from ink spot, limb rub, physiological spot, other skin discolouration, scab or sprayburn that affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 19 mm (¾ inch) in diameter;
- (h) be free from coryneum blight that affects an aggregate area per apricot exceeding 6 mm (¼ inch) in diameter;
- (i) be free from a combination of two or more defects referred to in paragraphs (d) to (h) that individually do not exceed their respective tolerances but that in combination exceed the greatest area tolerance set out in any of those paragraphs; and
- (j) be free from any other damage or defect or combination of damage and defects that seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the apricots.
General Tolerances
25. (1) In the grading of apricots, the requirements set out in sections 23 to 24, as applicable, are considered to be met when not more than 10%, by count, of the apricots in a lot have defects including
- (a) in the case of a lot of apricots inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging, not more than
- (i) 3% that are affected by decay, and
- (ii) 5% that have the same defect other than decay; and
- (b) in the case of a lot of apricots inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or repackaging, not more than 5% that have the same permanent defect.
(2) Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of apricots only when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.