HAR §4-41-59. Standards for Hawaii-grown romaine

(a) As used in this section: "Clean" means practically free from dirt, dust, spray residue, or other foreign material. "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 romaine: (1) Seedstems, when the length of the attached seedstem is more than one-fourth the overall plant length, or when any portion of the seedstem has been removed; or (2) Wormholes, when noticeably affecting the appearance of the plant. "Fresh" means the plant has normal succulence but the outermost leaves may be slightly wilted. "Serious damage" means any defect or combination of defects which seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the romaine. "Similar varietal characteristics" means the plants in any lot are of the same general type. "Well developed" means the romaine shows normal growth and shape. "Well trimmed" means the stem is trimmed off close to the point of attachment of the outer leaves. (b) Hawaii No. 1 (Hawaii Grade A) romaine consists of Hawaii-grown romaine of similar varietal characteristics which are fresh, clean, well developed, and well trimmed; and which are free from decay and from damage caused by seedstem, broken, bruised, or discolored leaves, tipburn, wilting, wormholes, §4-41- 41-128 freezing, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, not more than a total of ten per cent, by count, of the plants in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for romaine seriously damaged by any cause, including not more than one per cent affected by decay. [Eff 5/29/81; am and comp 8/18/83; am and comp 3/24/86] (Auth: HRS §147-4) (Imp: HRS §147-4) §4-41-60 Standards for Hawaii-grown Italian squash. (a) As used in this section: "Clean" means the squash is practically free from dirt, staining, or other foreign material. "Damage" means any of the following specific defects, or any 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 Italian squash: (1) Cuts or punctures, when materially penetrating the flesh; or (2) Discoloration or scars, when aggregating an area more than three-fourths inch in diameter, or when materially affecting appearance. "Diameter" means the greatest dimension measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis. "Fairly smooth" means although there may be noticeable ridges, such ridging or other roughness is not prominent. "Fairly uniform in size" means the squash in any container do not vary more than two inches in length nor more than one-half inch in diameter. "Fairly well formed" means the shape of the squash is characteristic of the variety, and the squash is not more than moderately curved or bulged and not tapered or constricted. "Fairly young and fairly tender" means the skin is fairly tender, the seeds are tender and undeveloped, and the seed cavity tissue is firm, moist, and free from fiber. "Firm" means the squash does not yield appreciably to moderate pressure and is not noticeably wilted. "Not badly misshapen" means the squash is not §4-41- 41-129 excessively curved or bulged, or more than moderately tapered or constricted. "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 Italian squash: (1) Bruise, when soft and aggregating an area more than three-fourths inch in diameter; (2) Cuts or punctures, when penetrating more than one-fourth inch or aggregating an area more than one-fourth inch in diameter; or (3) Discoloration or scars, when aggregating an area more than one and one-fourth inches in diameter, or when seriously affecting appearance. "Similar varietal characteristics" means the squash are alike in color and shape. "Smooth" means there are no ridges or rough areas on the squash. "Uniform in size" means the squash in any container do not vary more than one and one-fourth inches in length nor more than three-eighths inch in diameter. "Well formed" means the shape of the squash is characteristic of the variety, and the squash is no more than very slightly curved or bulged and is not tapered or constricted. "Well trimmed" means the stem is cut off smoothly at approximately right angles to the longitudinal axis of the squash and is not more than three-fourths inch long. "Young and tender" means the skin and flesh of the squash are very succulent, tender, and free from fiber. (b) Hawaii Fancy (Hawaii Grade AA) Italian squash consists of Hawaii-grown Italian squash of similar varietal characteristics which are clean, well formed, uniform in size, tender and young, smooth, firm, and well trimmed; and which are free from decay, breakdown, soft bruises, worms, wormholes, unhealed insect stings, and freezing injury and from damage caused by discoloration or scars, cuts or punctures, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, each squash shall be not more than one and five-eighths inches in diameter. In order to allow for variations incident to §4-41- 41-130 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 squash in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for squash seriously damaged by any cause, including not more than one per cent affected by decay or breakdown; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of ten per cent of the squash in any lot may vary from the size specified, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for squash exceeding the maximum diameter by more than one-eighth inch, including not more than one per cent exceeding the maximum diameter by more than one-fourth inch. (c) Hawaii No. 1 (Hawaii Grade A) Italian squash consists of Hawaii-grown Italian squash of similar varietal characteristics which are clean, fairly well formed, fairly uniform in size, fairly young and fairly tender, fairly smooth, firm, and well trimmed; and which are free from decay, breakdown, soft bruises, worms, wormholes, unhealed insect stings, and freezing injury and from damage caused by discoloration or scars, cuts or punctures, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, each squash shall be not more than two inches in diameter. 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 squash in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for squash seriously damaged by any cause, including not more than one per cent affected by decay or breakdown; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of ten per cent of the squash in any lot may vary from the size specified, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for squash exceeding the maximum diameter by more than one-eighth inch, including not more than one per cent exceeding the maximum diameter by more than one-fourth inch. §4-41- 41-131 (d) Hawaii No. 2 (Hawaii Grade B) Italian squash consists of Hawaii-grown Italian squash of similar varietal characteristics which are clean, not badly misshapen, fairly young and fairly tender, firm, and well trimmed; and which are free from decay, breakdown, unhealed insect stings, and freezing injury and from serious damage caused by discoloration or scars, cuts or punctures, disease, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, each squash shall be not more than two and one-half inches in diameter. 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 squash in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-tenth of this amount, or one per cent, may be affected by decay or breakdown; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of ten per cent of the squash in any lot may vary from the size specified, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for squash exceeding the maximum diameter by more than one-eighth inch, including not more than one per cent exceeding the maximum diameter by more than one-fourth 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)