21 U.S.C. § 20 — Apples in interstate commerce; standard grades

This section sets the standard grades for apples packed in barrels. It applies when those barrels are shipped, or offered for shipment, in interstate or foreign commerce. It also applies when the apples are sold, or offered for sale, in the District of Columbia or in the Territories of the United States. To earn the "Standard grade," apples must all be one variety. They must be well-grown, hand-picked specimens with good color for that variety, and a normal shape. They must be practically free of insect damage, fungus damage, bruises, and other defects — except for defects that necessarily happen during packing. Apples that fall short of this description can still count as standard grade, as long as no more than 10 percent of them fall below these specifications. The full grade name also states the minimum size, based on the apples' width (transverse diameter): - "Standard grade minimum size two and one-half inches," if the smallest apples are at least two and a half inches wide. - "Standard grade minimum size two and one-fourth inches," if the smallest apples are at least two and a quarter inches wide. - "Standard grade minimum size two inches," if the smallest apples are at least two inches wide.