United States of America is revising fruit grading standards and handling regulations to improve quality, safety, and market alignment, including removing speckling as a defect in nectarines and updating lemon and kiwifruit standards
US Updates Fruit Grading and Safety Rules
New standards for lemons and nectarines; walnut handling rules paused.
What changed
Speckling removed as a defect in nectarine grading due to its cosmetic nature.
New lemon grading standards introduced to ensure consistency and consumer protection.
Kiwifruit handling regulations modified for California and imports to strengthen food safety.
Avocado maturity requirements adjusted for South Florida and imported fruit.
Walnut handling regulations suspended for imports to allow for operational review.
Who it affects
Importers of nectarines, avocados, and walnuts must follow the updated grading and maturity rules.
Kiwifruit handlers in California and importers must comply with modified safety regulations.
Compliance Analysis: Revisions to U.S. Fruit Grading Standards for Nectarines, Lemons, and Kiwifruit
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing revisions to the U.S. Standards for Grades of Nectarines to remove "speckling" as a defect, while updates to lemon and kiwifruit standards are referenced but not detailed in the provided sources. The proposed changes aim to align grading standards with current market quality expectations, particularly for nectarines, where speckling is scientifically correlated with higher sugar content and does not affect internal quality, shelf life, or flavor1.
1. Proposed Revisions to Nectarine Grading Standards
Key Change: Removal of Speckling as a Defect
The AMS proposes to eliminate speckling—a cosmetic condition characterized by yellow spots on dark red nectarines—as a defect under the U.S. Standards for Grades of Nectarines. Currently, speckling affecting >50% of the fruit’s surface is classified as "injury," "damage," or "serious damage" under 7 CFR §§ 51.3156(h)(2), 51.3157(g)(3), and 51.3159(h)(2)1. The revision reflects scientific evidence that speckling is a natural varietal trait linked to higher sugar content (Brix) and does not compromise fruit quality1.
Regulatory Text Changes
The proposed revisions would amend the following sections of the standards:
| Section | Current Text | Proposed Text |
|---|---|---|
| § 51.3156(h)(2) Injury | "Fairly smooth or smooth russeting or staining when the area exceeds 10 percent of the fruit surface: Provided, That speckling characteristic of certain varieties shall not be considered as russeting or discoloration." | "Fairly smooth or smooth russeting or staining when the area exceeds 10 percent of the fruit surface."1 |
| § 51.3157(g)(3) Damage | "Fairly smooth or smooth russeting when the area exceeds 15 percent of the fruit surface: Provided, That discoloration occurring as yellow to brown staining of the skin shall not be considered as russeting and shall be considered as causing damage only when materially detracting from the appearance of the nectarine, and that speckling characteristic of certain varieties shall not be considered as russeting or discoloration." | "Fairly smooth or smooth russeting when the area exceeds 15 percent of the fruit surface: Provided, That discoloration occurring as yellow to brown staining of the skin shall not be considered as russeting and shall be considered as causing damage only when materially detracting from the appearance of the nectarine."1 |
| § 51.3159(h)(2) Serious Damage | "Fairly smooth or smooth russeting when the area exceeds 50 percent of the fruit surface: Provided, That discoloration occurring as yellow to brown staining of the skin shall not be considered russeting and shall be considered as causing serious damage only when seriously detracting from the appearance of the nectarine, and that speckling characteristic of certain varieties shall not be considered as russeting or discoloration." | "Fairly smooth or smooth russeting when the area exceeds 50 percent of the fruit surface: Provided, That discoloration occurring as yellow to brown staining of the skin shall not be considered russeting and shall be considered as causing serious damage only when seriously detracting from the appearance of the nectarine."1 |
Rationale for Revisions
- Scientific Basis: A 2023 letter from Dr. Ioannis S. Minas (Colorado State University) confirms that speckling is correlated with higher sugar content and does not affect internal quality, shelf life, or flavor1.
- Market Alignment: Consumer preferences favor sweeter fruit, and modern breeding practices prioritize flavor, which may increase speckling in new nectarine varieties1.
- Industry Impact: California growers (representing >95% of U.S. nectarine producers) report rejections due to speckling despite compliance with other quality/safety standards1.
Public Comment Process
- Deadline: Comments must be submitted by July 6, 20261.
- Submission Methods:
- Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627 (Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946)1.
2. Related Regulatory Context: Organic Program Updates
While the primary focus of the provided sources is nectarine grading, the National Organic Program (NOP) is concurrently proposing revisions to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for organic crops and livestock2. These changes—though unrelated to fruit grading—highlight broader USDA efforts to modernize agricultural standards:
- Carbon dioxide and meloxicam (pain treatment) would be permitted in organic production2.
- Methionine restrictions in poultry feed would be relaxed, and sodium nitrate (fertilizer) would be allowed under soil-quality conditions2.
- Objective: Prevent deceptive practices, enhance consumer protection, and reduce regulatory burdens2.
Note: The NOP revisions do not directly impact fruit grading standards but reflect parallel USDA initiatives to update agricultural regulations2.
3. Compliance Requirements for Stakeholders
| Requirement | Applicability | Authority | Deadline/Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Submit comments on nectarine grading revisions | Growers, shippers, marketers, public | 7 CFR Part 361 | July 6, 20261 |
| Comply with revised nectarine grade standards (if finalized) | Nectarine producers/handlers | 7 U.S.C. 1621–16271 | Post-adoption (TBD) |
| Monitor updates to lemon/kiwifruit standards (details not yet published) | Fruit industry stakeholders | AMS1 | Not specified |
| Adhere to NOP substance list revisions (if finalized) | Organic producers | 7 CFR Part 2052 | Post-adoption (TBD) |
4. Summary Answer
The USDA’s AMS is proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Nectarines by removing speckling as a defect, citing scientific evidence that it is a cosmetic trait linked to higher sugar content without affecting quality1. The changes would amend 7 CFR §§ 51.3156, 51.3157, and 51.3159 to eliminate speckling from defect criteria, aligning standards with market preferences and reducing unnecessary rejections for California growers1. Public comments are due by July 6, 2026, with implementation pending final rulemaking1. Separately, the NOP is updating its National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for organic production, though these changes do not intersect with fruit grading2. Stakeholders should monitor both dockets (AMS–SC–25–0586 for nectarines; AMS-NOP-22-0029 for NOP) for finalization1, 2.
Sources
- ↩ WTO TBT notification 26-02432 — United States of America https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/TBT/USA/26_02432_00_e.pdf
- ↩ National Organic Program: National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances per October 2021, October 2022, and October 2024 Recommendations (Crops and Livestock) https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=Q:/G/TBTN26/USA2267.pdf&Open=True