HAR §4-41-38. Standards for Hawaii-grown celery

(a) As used in this section: "Clean" means the stalk is practically free from dirt or other foreign material. "Compact" means the branches are fairly close together on the stalk. "Damage" means any of the following specific defects, or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the celery: (1) Blight, when midribs of three or more branches are affected, or there are more than five small spots on midribs of two or more branches, or the tops of three or more branches are slightly spotted, or the tops of two branches are moderately spotted; (2) Doubles, when stalks are not separated and appearance is materially affected, or stalks are separated and either of the stalks is badly curved, or the heart branches are not well protected; (3) Growth cracks, when more than two branches §4-41- 41-55 are affected by cracks which are more than one-half inch long; (4) Pithy branches, when there is more than one branch with a distinct open texture in the central portion of the midrib; (5) Seedstem, when any identifiable seedstem is present; or (6) Worms, when present, or worm injury occurs on heart branches or on midribs of more than two branches or aggregate an area more than two- thirds square inch on a midrib. "Fairly compact" means the branches are reasonably close together. "Fairly good heart formation" means the inner heart branches are of reasonable number, length, and stockiness. "Fairly well blanched" means the midrib portion of the branches are generally of a light greenish to creamy white color. "Fairly well developed" means the combined width and thickness of each outer branch, as measured at a point half-way of the midrib length, shall be at least seven-eighths inch for varieties with blocky midribs and at least one inch for varieties with flat midribs. "Good heart formation" means the stalk has a reasonable number of stocky inner heart branches that are not longer than one-half the overall length of the stalk. "Midrib length" means the distance between the first node and the point of attachment of the branch to the root. "Serious damage" means any of the following specific defects, or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the celery: (1) Blight, when midribs of more than four branches are affected, or there are more than ten small spots on midribs of more than two branches, or the tops of more than five branches are slightly spotted, or tops of more than three branches are moderately spotted, or tops of more than two branches are badly spotted; (2) Doubles, when heart branches are exposed; (3) Growth cracks, when more than four branches §4-41- 41-56 are affected by cracks that are more than one-half inch long; (4) Pithy branches, when more than two branches are pithy; or (5) Worms, when worms are present, or worm injury occurs on heart branches or on midribs of more than three branches or aggregate an area more than one square inch on a midrib. "Similar varietal characteristics" means the stalks are of the same color and character of growth. "Stalk" means an individual plant. "Stalk length" means the distance from where the main root is cut off to a point that represents the average length of the longest branches and leaves. "Thickness" means the greatest thickness at any point and is measured from the inner to the outer part of the midrib. "Well developed" means the combined width and thickness of each outer branch, as measured at a point half-way of the midrib length, shall total at least one and one-eighth inches for varieties with blocky midribs and one and one-fourth inches for varieties with flat midribs. "Well trimmed" means the coarse and damaged outer branches and all fibrous roots have been removed, and the remaining portion of the tap root has been neatly cut off and does not extend more than one inch beyond the point of attachment of the outer branches. "Width" means the overall width of the midrib and is measured from side to side. (b) Hawaii Fancy (Hawaii Grade AA) celery consists of Hawaii-grown celery stalks of similar varietal characteristics which are well developed, with good heart formation, clean, well trimmed, compact, and fairly well blanched if not of pascal type; and which are free from blackheart, decay, brown stem, and doubles and from damage caused by seedstem, wilting, blight, worms, freezing, suckers, growth cracks, hollow crown, pithy branches, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. Midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall average not less than seven and one-half inches. (c) Hawaii No. 1 (Hawaii Grade A) celery consists of Hawaii-grown celery stalks of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly well developed, with fairly good heart formation, clean, well trimmed, fairly compact, and fairly well blanched if not of pascal type; and which are free from blackheart and decay and from damage caused by seedstem, wilting, §4-41- 41-57 blight, worms, freezing, suckers, growth cracks, hollow crown, pithy branches, disease, insects, brown stem, doubles, or mechanical or other means. Midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall average not less than six inches. (d) Hawaii No. 2 (Hawaii Grade B) celery consists of Hawaii-grown celery stalks of similar varietal characteristics which are fairly well developed, clean, well trimmed, and fairly well blanched if not of the pascal type; and which are free from blackheart and decay, from damage caused by seedstem, and from serious damage caused by wilting, blight, worms, freezing, suckers, growth cracks, hollow crown, pithy branches, disease, insects, brown stem, doubles, or mechanical or other means. Midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall average not less than five inches. (e) For wholesale quantities only, most branches at the upper end of the stalk shall extend to within one and one-half inches of one side of the container when the butt is touching the opposite side of the container. (f) In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading, sizing, and handling, the following tolerances, based on count, are provided: (1) For defects, not more than a total of ten per cent of the stalks in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the grade specified, provided not more than one-fifth of this amount, or two per cent, shall be allowed for stalks affected by decay; and (2) For off-size, not more than five per cent of the stalks in any lot may fail to meet the midrib length requirement and not more than five per cent may fail to meet the stalk length requirement. [Eff 5/29/81; am and comp 8/18/83; am and comp 3/24/86] (Auth: HRS §147-4) (Imp: HRS §147-4)