HAR §4-41-39. Standards for Hawaii-grown sweet corn

(a) As used in this section: "Clean" means the ears are practically free from dirt or other foreign material. "Damage" means any defect or combination of defects which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the corn. Any worm injury on clipped ears shall be scored as damage. Worm injury on unclipped ears, when extending more §4-41- 41-58 than one and one-half inches from the tip of the cob or affecting kernels on other parts of the cob, shall be considered as damage. "Fresh" means the husks are not wilted, dried, or turning yellow. "Plump and milky" means the kernels are well developed and the contents have a milky or creamy consistency, but are not overmature or shriveled. "Properly clipped" means the end or ends of the ear have been neatly cut off at approximate right angles to the longitudinal axis. "Similar varietal characteristics" means the units in any lot are of similar color and character of growth. Units of white and yellow corn shall not be mixed together. "Tender" means the kernels break under only a moderate pressure from the thumbnail. "Unit" means the whole or portion of a husked or unhusked corn on the cob. "Well filled" means the rows of kernels show fairly uniform development and the appearance of the ear is not materially affected by poorly developed rows; or when the ear has not been clipped, not more than one-fourth of the length of the cob may have poorly developed or missing kernels at the tip; or when the ear has been clipped, there shall be practically no poorly developed kernels at the tip of the cob. Missing or poorly developed kernels on other parts of a well filled ear shall not aggregate more than one square inch on a cob six inches in length, and a proportionately greater area shall be permitted on a longer cob and a proportionately lesser area on a shorter cob. "Well formed" means the ears are straight and not stunted. Nubbins shall not be considered well formed ears. "Well trimmed" means unhusked ears are practically free from loose husks and have shanks that are not more than three inches in length nor extending more than one-half inch beyond the point of attachment of the outside husk; and husked ears are practically free from husks and silk and have shanks that do not extend more than one-half inch beyond the base of the cob. (b) Hawaii Fancy (Hawaii Grade AA) sweet corn consists of Hawaii-grown sweet corn of similar varietal characteristics which are well trimmed, well formed, clean, and free from decay, insect injury, smut, discoloration, bruising, worms, or defects caused by mechanical or other means. Cobs shall be well filled §4-41- 41-59 with tender, plump, and milky kernels. Unhusked ears shall have fresh, green husks. Each clipped ear shall be properly clipped. Unless otherwise specified, each unit, whether clipped or unclipped, shall be not less than six inches in length. 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 units in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-fifth of this amount, or two per cent, shall be allowed for units affected by decay; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of five per cent of the units in any lot may vary from the specified size. (c) Hawaii No. 1 (Hawaii Grade A) sweet corn consists of Hawaii-grown sweet corn of similar varietal characteristics which are well trimmed, well formed, clean, and free from decay, insect injury, and smut and from damage caused by discoloration, bruising, or mechanical or other means. Cobs shall be well filled with tender, plump, and milky kernels. Unhusked ears shall have fresh, green husks. Each clipped ear shall be properly clipped. Unless otherwise specified, each unit, whether clipped or unclipped, shall be not less than five inches in length. 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 units in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-fifth of this amount, or two per cent, shall be allowed for units affected by decay; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of five per cent of the units in any lot may vary from the specified size. (d) Hawaii No. 2 (Hawaii Grade B) sweet corn consists of Hawaii-grown sweet corn of similar varietal characteristics which are well trimmed, well formed, clean, and free from decay, insect injury, and smut and from damage caused by discoloration, bruising, or mechanical or other means. Cobs shall be well filled with tender, plump, and milky kernels. Unhusked ears shall have fresh, green husks. Each clipped ear shall §4-41- 41-60 be properly clipped. Unless otherwise specified, each unit, whether clipped or unclipped, shall be not less than four inches in length. 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 fifteen per cent of the units in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than two per cent of the units may be affected by decay; and (2) For off-size, not more than five per cent of the units in any lot may vary from the specified size. (e) Units in any container or package shall not vary in length by more than one-half inch. [Eff 5/29/81; am and comp 8/18/83; am and comp 3/24/86] (Auth: HRS §147-4) (Imp: HRS §147-4)