Sec. 162.10. Pascal celery standards

(a) General.

New York State Seal of Quality celery shall be stalks of celery of similar varietal characteristics which are well developed, well formed, clean, well trimmed, compact; free from blackheart, brown stem, soft rot and doubles. The celery is also free from damage caused by freezing, growth cracks, horizontal cracks, pithy branches, seedstems, suckers, wilting, blight, other diseases, insects or mechanical or other means.

(b) Definitions.

(1) Stalk means an individual plant.

(2) Similar varietal characteristics means that the stalks in any package have the same general appearance and character of growth.

(3) Well developed means that the branches are of good width and thickness in relation to the length of midribs and type of celery and that the heart branches are of reasonable number, length and stockiness.

(4) Well formed means that the branches are fairly straight and not more than slightly curved or twisted.

(5) Clean means that the stalk is practically free from dirt or other foreign material. Stalks shall be permitted to have a small amount of dirt on the inside of the branches or in the heart branches which cannot be removed by good commercial methods of washing.

(6) Well trimmed means that not more than two relatively thin, short or spindly, or coarse and fibrous outer branches remain; that the main root has been cut off so as not to extend more than 1 ½ inches below the point of attachment of the lowest outer branch; that secondary rootlets are not of such number or length as to materially affect the appearance of the stalk; and, that the appearance is not materially affected by the presence of discolored leaves or by excessive removal of leaves or portions of leaves.

(7) Compact means that the branches on the stalk are fairly closetogether throughout most of their length.

(8) Average midrib length means the average length of all the branches in the outer whorl measured from the point of attachment at the base to the first node.

(9) Branch means the leaf of a stalk and consists of the edible stem-like portion and the tops or leaf blades.

(10) Length of stalk means the distance from where the root is cut off to a point which represents the average length of the longest branches.

(11) Diameter means the greatest dimension of the stalk measured at a point two inches above the point of attachment of the lowest outer branch to the base.

(c) Size.

The average midrib length of the outer whorl of branches shall both be less than seven inches. Stalks shall be of such length as to extend from one side, end, or bottom of the container to within one inch of the corresponding opposite side, end, or top of the container. Such measurement shall not include the bulge, and shall be measured in whole inches of even number as 12 inches, 14 inches, etc., in accordance with the facts.

(d) Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances shall be permitted:

(1) For defects.

Ten percent, by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, including therein not more than ½ of this amount of five percent for stalks which are seriously including therein one percent for soft rot.

(2) For off-length stalks.

Five percent by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the minimum length required or specified.

(3) For off-length midribs.

Five percent by count, in any lot for stalks which fail to meet the requirements as to average midrib length.

(e) Application of tolerances.

The contents of individual packages in the lot, based on sample inspection, are subject to the following limitations: provided, that the averages for the entire lot are within the tolerances specified:

(1) For packages which contain 20 specimens or more and a tolerance of 10 percent or more is provided, individual packages in any lot may contain not more than one and one-half times the tolerance specified. For packages which contain 20 or more specimens and a tolerance of less than 10 percent is provided, individual packages in any lot may contain not more than double the tolerance specified except that at least one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package.

(2) For packages which contain less than 20 specimens, individual packages in any lot may contain not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at least one defective and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package; provided that for packages which contain six specimens or less, individual packages in any lot are not restricted as to the percentage of defects; and provided further, that not more than one specimen which is affected by decay or otherwise seriously damaged and one off-size specimen may be permitted in any package.

(f) Count.

The number of stalks of celery in the container may be specified by numerical count or in terms of dozens or half dozens.

(g) Defects.

(1) Growth cracks mean more than one branch is affected by growth cracks which are over ½ inch in length or when more than four branches have growth cracks.

(2) Horizontal cracks mean more than two branches have horizontal cracks which are over one-half inch in length, or when more than four branches have horizontal cracks.

(3) Pithy branches mean more than two are pithy in that portion of the midrib between a point one inch above the point of attachment to the base and the first node, or between a point one inch below the first node and the point of attachment to the base, or when pith occurs at both ends of the midrib and more than a total of one inch is affected.

(4) Seedstems mean the length of seedstem exceeds 1 ½ times the diameter or six inches in length.

(5) Brown stem, cracked stem and crater blotch means materially affecting more than one branch or when aggregate area exceeds one-half of a square inch on the branches.

(6) Discoloration means each of more than one branch or ¼ of the branches of the stalk, whichever is less, has more than three distinct hairlike lines more than two inches long occurring on the outer side of the branch or an aggregate area of more than ¼ by ¾ inch of blotch or solid type discoloration occurring on the inner side.

(7) Insects mean worms are present or when insect injury occurs on heart branches, or when insect injury affects midrib portion of more than one branch, or when injury on other portions slightly affects the appearance of the stalk.

(8) Mechanical injury means the root has been cut off too closely leaving the branches without support; when more than one branch is materially scuffed or bruised; when the branches have been broken above the first node to an extent which materially affects the appearance; or when more than one branch is broken below the first node except that all branches may be cut below the first node provided the stalk is of the length specified.

(h) Packing.

Celery must be packed in new wirebound crates or new waxed cartons or any other new standard containers subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Container approval shall be based upon the ability of the container to maintain the quality standards and integrity of the product.

(i) Markings.

Celery packaged and offered for sale under the Seal of Quality shall have affixed the official seal designation.