Sec. 162.6. Cabbage standards

(a) General.

New York State Seal of Quality cabbage shall be heads of cabbage of one variety or similar varietal characteristics which are firm and not withered, puffy or burst, light green color, except red cabbage, well trimmed and which are free from soft rot, seedstems, worm injury and worms and free from damage caused by discoloration, freezing, disease, insects or mechanical or other means. Stems shall be cut so that they do not extend more than ½ inch beyond the point of attachment of the outermost leaves.

(b) Definitions.

(1) Similar varietal characteristics means that the cabbage in each container shall have the same general characteristics.

(2) Firm means that the heads are closely formed and substantial and yield somewhat to pressure.

(3) Not withered means the head as a whole has normal succulence, the wrapper leaves and outermost head leaves may be slightly wilted.

(4) Puffy means that the heads are very light in weight in comparison to size or have excessive air spaces in the central portion.

(5) Burst are those heads which are cracked open either at the base or the crown. Score as damage when affecting more that three head leaves and serious damage when affecting more than five head leaves. Those cracks affecting butts only shall be scored on an appearance basis equivalent to cracks occurring on the crown.

(6) Light green color when describing color refer to the outer leaves, regardless of whether they be head leaves or wrapped leaves (use light green color guide for lettuce).

(7) Well trimmed not more than four wrapper leaves present.

(8) Seedstems means those heads which have seed stalks showing or in which the formation of seed stalks have plainly begun.

(9) Wrapper leaves means those leaves which do not enfold the head fairly tightly more than two-thirds the distance from the base to the top.

(10) Damage means any injury or defect which materially affects the appearance or edible or shipping quality.

(11) Serious damage means any injury or defect which seriously affects the appearance or the edible or shipping quality.

(12) Black leaf spot or pepper spot shall be scored as damage when materially affecting more than two head leaves and scored as serious damage when materially affecting more than five head leaves.

(13) Bruising or mechanical damage shall be scored as damage when materially affecting more than two head leaves and scored as serious damage when affecting more than five head leaves or appearance is seriously affected.

(14) Insects (live or dead), score as damage when more than five insects are present on the compact portion of the head or when the wrapper leaves are naturally affected. Score as serious damage when more than 10 insects are present on the compact portion of the head or when wrapper leaves are badly infested.

(15) Thrips injury and tipburn, score as damage when present on more than three head leaves or when the aggregate area exceeds that of a 1″ × 2″ rectangle and score as serious damage when present on more than five head leaves or when aggregate area exceeds that of a 2″ × 2″ square.

(c) Size.

The size classification shall be designated as medium which shall be a two pound minimum and a five pound maximum per head. In order to allow for variation incident to proper sizing not more than five percent for undersize heads and not more than 10 percent for oversize. These tolerances are in addition to the tolerance for grade defects.

(d) Tolerances.

In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling not more than a total of 10 percent by weight of the heads in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, included therein, not more than five percent by weight of the heads shall be seriously damaged by any cause and included in this latter amount not more than two percent shall be allowed for soft decay.

(e) Application of tolerances.

When a tolerance is 10 percent or more, individual containers in any lot shall have not more than 1 ½ times the tolerance specified and when a tolerance is less than 10 percent, individual containers in any lot shall have not more than double the tolerance specified, except that at least one defective and one offsize cabbage may be permitted in a container.

(f) Packing.

All packages are subject to approval by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and shall be packed in new logo bearing cartons, with name and address of grower, shipper or packer, net weight and product. Package approval shall be based upon the ability of the package to maintain the quality standards and integrity of the product.

(g) Markings.

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