Effective pursuant to § 989.58, raisins meeting the varietal standards hereinafter set forth shall be considered as standard raisins and those failing to meet such standards shall be considered as off-grade raisins. Where the raisins in any lot consist of two or more varietal types commingled within their containers, the lot shall be considered as a mixed lot and as standard raisins if they meet for each defect the most restrictive requirements for the varietal types of raisins comprising the lot. In the event layered Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or Cluster Seedless raisins are commingled within their containers with loose Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or loose Cluster Seedless raisins respectively, the entire lot shall be considered as loose Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or Natural (sun-dried) Seedless raisins. The raisins shall be considered as standard raisins if the lot as a whole meets the minimum standards for loose Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) or Natural (sun-dried) Seedless raisins: Provided, That with respect to the requirements peculiar to a varietal type such as possessing characteristic color, flavor, or odor, the raisins shall be considered as meeting such requirements if they have been properly prepared as raisins. In each category, only those raisins which have been properly dried and cured in original natural condition, are free from active infestation, and are in such condition that they are capable of being received, stored, and packed without undue deterioration or spoilage, shall be considered as storable raisins.

(a) Natural (sun-dried) Seedless, Monukka and Other Seedless raisins. Natural condition Natural (sun-dried) Seedless, Monukka and Other Seedless raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements: (1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury; (2) shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins; (3) shall contain not more than 5 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes), and shall also contain at least 50 percent well-matured or reasonably well-matured raisins; (4) shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method, except that there shall be no maximum moisture content for Cluster Seedless raisins; and (5) shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the order and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee, and that with respect to Cluster Seedless raisins, in addition to the above requirements the raisins shall be fairly free from shattered (or loose end) berries, and be uniformly cured; shall contain 30 percent or more “2 Crown” or larger size berries; and shall be of such quality and condition that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will, except for moisture content, meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(b) Dipped Seedless, Oleate and Related Seedless, and Other Seedless-Sulfured raisins. Natural condition Dipped Seedless, and Other Seedless-Sulfured raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) Shall have a normal characteristic flavor and odor of properly prepared raisins;

(3) Shall contain not more than 5 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes), and for the 1985-86 and subsequent crop years also contain at least 50 percent well-matured or reasonably well-matured raisins;

(4) Shall not exceed 14 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method,

(5) Shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the order and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(c) Golden Seedless. Natural condition Golden Seedless raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements: (1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury; (2) shall have a normal characteristic flavor and odor of properly prepared raisins; (3) shall contain not more than 5 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes), and for the 1985-86 and subsequent crop years also contain at least 50 percent well-matured or reasonably well-matured raisins; (4) shall not exceed 14 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method, (5) shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the order and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee; and (6) shall possess a color varying from yellowish green to dark amber or dark greenish amber with not more than 15 percent, by weight, of all the raisins being definitely dark berries. Definitely dark berries means raisins which are definitely darker than dark amber and characteristic of “naturally” raisined grapes.

(d) Muscats (including other raisins with seeds). Natural condition Muscat raisins (including other raisins with seeds) shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugar, mechanical injury, sunburn or other similar injury;

(2) Shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins and shall contain not more than 12 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes);

(3) Shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method, except that water dipped, vine sprayed or similarly treated Muscats (including other raisins with seeds) shall not exceed 14 percent moisture, and that there shall be no maximum moisture content for layered Muscats (including other raisins with seeds);

(4) The raisins shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the marketing agreement and order, and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee, and that with respect to layered Muscats (including other raisins with seeds), in addition to the above requirements the raisins shall be fairly free from shattered (or loose end) berries; uniformly cured; 30 percent or more “3 Crown” or larger size; of such quality and condition that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will, except for moisture content, meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(e) Sultana Raisins. Natural condition Sultana raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements:

(1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury;

(2) Shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins and shall contain not more than 12 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes);

(3) Shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method; and

(4) The raisins shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the marketing agreement and order, and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

(f) Zante Currant Raisins. Natural condition Zante Currant raisins shall have been prepared from sound, wholesome, matured grapes properly dried and cured, and shall meet the following additional requirements; (1) Shall be fairly free from damage by sugaring, mechanical injury, sunburn, or other similar injury; (2) shall have a normal characteristic color, flavor, and odor of properly prepared raisins and shall contain not more than 12 percent, by weight, of substandard raisins (raisins that show development less than that characteristic of raisins prepared from fairly well-matured grapes); (3) shall not exceed 16 percent moisture as determined by the dried fruit moisture tester method; and (4) the raisins shall be of such quality and condition as can be expected to withstand storage as provided in the marketing agreement and order, and that when processed in accordance with good commercial practice will meet the minimum standards for processed raisins established by the Committee.

Effective pursuant to § 989.59, the minimum grade standards for packed raisins shall be as follows:

(a) Natural (sun-dried) Seedless, Dipped Seedless, and Other Seedless-Sulfured raisins. Packed Natural (sun-dried) Seedless, Dipped Seedless, and Other Seedless-Sulfured raisins shall meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C as defined in the effective United States Standards for Grades of Processed Raisins (§§ 52.1841 through 52.1858 of this title): Provided, That at least 70.0 percent, by weight, of the raisins shall be well-matured or reasonably well-matured. With respect to select-sized and mixed-sized raisin lots, the raisins shall at least meet the U.S. Grade B tolerances for pieces of stem, and underdeveloped and substandard raisins, and small sized raisins shall meet the U.S. Grade C tolerances for those factors.

(b) Golden Seedless Raisins. Packed Golden Seedless raisins shall at least meet the requirements prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section, and the color requirements for “colored” as defined in said standards.

(c) Monukka and Other Seedless Raisins. Packed Monukka and Other Seedless raisins shall at least meet the requirements prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section, except that the tolerance for moisture shall be 19 percent rather than 18 percent.

(d) Muscat (including other raisins with seeds) Raisins. Packed Muscat (including other raisins with seeds) raisins shall at least meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C of the said standards. Layer Muscat (including other raisins with seeds) raisins shall at least meet U.S. Grade B as defined for “Layer or Cluster Raisins With Seeds” in said standards, except for the provisions therein relating to moisture content.

(e) Sultana Raisins. Packed Sultana raisins shall at least meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C as defined in said standards.

(f) Zante Currant Raisins. Packed Zante Currant raisins shall at least meet the requirements of U.S. Grade B as defined in said standards.

(g) Cluster Seedless Raisins—(1) Description. Raisins referred to as Cluster Seedless raisins means the raisins have not been detached from the main bunch. Cluster Seedless raisins shall at least meet the requirements of Marketing Order Grade B prescribed in this paragraph. The processed raisins are prepared from clean, sound, dried grapes; are stored or cleaned, or both, and are washed with water to assure a wholesome product.

(2) Grades. (i) Marketing Order Grade A is a quality of Cluster Seedless raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; have a good typical color; have a good characteristic flavor; are uniformly cured and show development characteristics of raisins prepared from well-matured grapes; contain not more than 23 percent, by weight, of moisture; that not less than 30 percent, by weight, of the raisins, exclusive of stems and branches, are “2 Crown” size or larger and meet the additional requirements as outlined in the table in paragraph (2)(iv) of this paragraph.

(ii) Marketing Order Grade B is the quality of the Cluster Seedless raisins that have similar varietal characteristics; have a reasonably good typical color; have a good characteristic flavor; are uniformly cured and show characteristics of raisins prepared from reasonably well-matured grapes; contain not more than 23 percent, by weight, of moisture; that not less than 30 percent, by weight, of raisins, exclusive of stems and branches, are “2 Crown” size or larger and meet the additional requirements as outlined in the table in paragraph (2)(iv) of this paragraph.

(iii) Substandard is the quality of Cluster Seedless raisins that fail to meet the requirements of Marketing Order Grade B.

(iv) Allowances for defects in Cluster Seedless raisins:

(h) A handler may grind raisins which do not meet the minimum grade standards prescribed in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this section because of mechanical damage or sugaring, into a raisin paste.