1 UNECE Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

1 UNECE Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables and Dry and Dried Produce (Fruit) Asian seminar for on safe and high quality food New Delhi, 4 – 5 April 2002 Tom Heilandt Agricultural Standards Unit, UNECE Trade Division

2 Outline • Commercial quality • UNECE Standard Layout • Procedure for the development of UNECE Standards • Implementation of Standards • List of standards • Example: UNECE Standard for Mangoes • Example: UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels • Questions, discussion

3 External Cleanliness Color Freshness Shape Presentation Packing Internal COMMERCIAL QUALITY Taste Maturity

4 Evaluation of commercial quality • Subjective – Sensorial caracteristics (taste, smell, texture, color…) • Objective – Analytical or physical measurements

UNECE Standard Layout • • • Definition of produce Minimum requirements Maturity requirements Classification (Extra, class II) Sizing provisions Tolerances (quality, size) Presentation (uniformity, packaging) Marking Annexes: Definitions, Lists of varieties, Testing and Sampling procedures, Definitions 5

6 Working procedures for the UNECE meetings • All UN and UNECE member countries can participate with the same rights • International organisations give input and use the standards • International producer, retailer, import/export or consumer organisations are welcome to cooperate and give advice • Decisions are taken on a consensus basis

7 Organizational Structure Working Party on Standardisation of Perishable Produce and Quality Development Specialized Section on Standardization of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Dry and Dried Fruit Seed Potatoes Early and Ware Potatoes Meat

8 Process of elaborating a standard Specialized Section and Working Party agree to create/amend a standard Rapporteur prepares/amends text Working Party discusses text in general UN/ECE Standard UN/ECE Recommendation for a 2+1 year trial period Specialized Section discusses text in detail

9 Implementation of quality standards • Standardization of the commercial quality • Sorting and grading – Packing houses – Processing centres – Distribution centres • Quality control • Quality assurance • Certification

UNECE Standards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Annonas Apples and pears Apricots Artichokes Asparagus Aubergines Avocados Beans Bilberries and Blueberries Broccoli Brussels sprouts Headed Cabbages Carrots Cauliflowers Chinese Cabbages Cherries Citrus fruit Cucumbers Courgettes Cultivated mushrooms Edible sweet chestnuts Fennel Fresh figs Garlic Horse-radish Kiwifruit Leeks Lettuce and endives Mangoes Melons Onions Peaches and Nectarines Peas Pineapples (in preparation) Plums 10 Radishes Raspberries Ribbed celery Rhubarb Scorzonera Spinach Strawberries Sweet peppers Table grapes Tomatoes Watermelons Witloof chicory

11 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Published 1988 Last revised 1991 Definition of produce; purpose of the standard • This standard applies to mangoes of varieties (cultivars) grown from Mangifera indica L. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, mangoes for industrial processing being excluded. • The purpose of the standard is to define quality requirements for mangoes at the export control stage, after preparation and packaging.

12 UNECE Standard for Mangos Minimum requirements • intact, firm, fresh in appearance • sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded • clean, practically free from any visible foreign matter • practically free from pests and damage caused by pests • free from black stains or trails which extend under the skin, marked bruising, damage caused by low temperature, abnormal external moisture, any foreign smell and/or taste.

13 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Maturity • Mangoes must be sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness. • Mangoes must be carefully picked at the stage of physiological development so as to enable them: – to ensure a continuation of the ripening process until they reach the appropriate degree of ripeness corresponding to the varietal characteristics, – to withstand transport and handling, and – to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination. • In relation to the evolution of maturing, the colour may vary according to variety.

14 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Extra Class • superior quality • Shape and colouring must be characteristic of the variety. • free of defects, with the exception of very slight superficial defects provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package.

15 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Class I • good quality, characteristic of the variety. • slight defects may be allowed provided these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality and presentation in the package: – slight defects in shape – slight defects of the skin due to rubbing or sunburn, suberized stains due to resin exudation (elongated trails included) and healed bruises not exceeding 3, 4, 5 cm 2 for size groups A, B, C respectively. – scattered rusty lenticels – a yellowing of green varieties due to exposure to direct sunlight, not exceeding 40 per cent of the surface of the fruit, excluding necrotic stains.

16 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Class II • mangoes which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements • defects may be allowed provided the mangoes retain their essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation: – defects in shape – defects of skin due to rubbing or sunburn, suberized stains due to resin exudation (elongated trails included) and healed bruises not exceeding 5, 6, 7 cm 2 for size groups A, B, C respectively. – scattered rusty lenticels – a yellowing of green varieties due to exposure to direct sunlight, not exceeding 40 per cent of the surface of the fruit, excluding necrotic stains.

17 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Sizing Size is determined by the weight of the fruit. The minimum weight o mangoes must not be less than 200 g. Mangoes are sized according to the following size groups: Size code Weight in grammes A B C 200 ‑ 350 351 ‑ 550 551 ‑ 800 Maximum permissable difference between fruit within the package ingrammes 75 100 125

18 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Quality tolerances allowed in each package • "Extra Class" – 5 per cent by number or weight of mangoes not satisfying the requirements of the class but meeting those of Class I or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class. • Class I – 10 per cent by number or weight of mangoes not satisfying the requirements of the class but meeting those of Class II or, exceptionally, coming within the tolerances of that class. • Class II – 10 per cent by number or weight of mangoes satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of fruit affected by rotting, marked bruising or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption.

19 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Size tolerances allowed in each package For all classes: 10 per cent by number or weight of mangoes conforming to half of the permissible difference of the related size group above or below the range specified on the package, with a minimum of 180 g for those packed in the smallest size range and a maximum of 925 g for those in the largest size range.

20 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Uniformity • The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only mangoes of the same origin, variety, quality and size. • The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.

21 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Packaging • Mangoes must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce properly. • The materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce. • The use of materials and particularly paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has been done with non‑toxic ink or glue. • Packages must be free of all foreign matter.

22 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Marking • Each package must bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside. – Package units of produce prepacked for direct sale to the consumer shall not be subject to these marking provisions but shall conform to the national requirements. However, the markings referred to shall in any event be shown on the transport packaging containing such package units. • Identification – Packer – and/or – Dispatcher ) ) ) Name and address or officially issued or accepted code mark.

23 UNECE Standard for Mangoes Nature of the produce – "Mangoes" if the contents are not visible from the outside – Name of the variety. Origin of the produce – Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national, regional or local place name. Commercial specifications – – Class Size expressed as minimum and maximum weight Size code (optional) Number of fruit. Official control mark (optional)

UNECE standards for dry and dried produce (fruit) Apples, dried Apricots, dried Cashew kernels Dates, whole Figs, dried Grapes, dried Hazelnuts, inshell Hazelnut kernels Pears, dried Pine nuts, decorticated peeled Pistachio kernels, decorticated and decorticated peeled Pistachio kernels, unshelled Prunes, sweet Almonds, decorticated Sweet almonds, unshelled Walnut kernels Walnuts, inshell 24

25 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Rapporteur: India Published 1999 Definition of produce; purpose of the standard • This standard applies to cashew kernels obtained by heating, shelling and peeling the true fruits of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale Linneaus). It does not apply to cashew kernels for further processing. • Oil frying or roasting are not considered to be 'further processing' where cashew kernels are intended for direct consumption. • The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements of cashew kernels at the export control stage after preparation and packaging.

26 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Styles • Whole: whole kernels of characteristic shape. – The presence of a small hole at the proximal end of the kernel or a central split or crack is not considered a defect. – Kernels with no more than one eighth of the kernel broken off can also be considered as whole. • Brokens are kernels where one eighth or more of the original kernel is broken off. Designations of brokens as follows: – Butts: Kernels of not less than 3/8 th of a whole kernel which have been broken crosswise but the cotyledons are still naturally attached. – Splits: Kernels split lengthwise naturally. – Pieces: Kernels which have broken into more than two pieces.

27 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Minimum requirements • sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded, • sufficiently developed, • clean, practically free from any visible foreign matter, • free from insects or mites whatever their stage of development and visible damage by insects, mites or other parasites, • free from mould, of any rancidity, from adhering testa or shell liquid, of foreign smell and/or taste.

28 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Maturity requirements • The condition of the cashew kernels must be such as to enable them: – to withstand transport and handling; and – to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination. Moisture content • Cashew kernels shall have a moisture content of not greater than 5%.

29 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels "Extra" class • superior quality • characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type • their colour should be white, pale ivory, pale ash-grey or light yellow and should be uniform. • practically free from defects with the exception of very slight superficial defects provided that these do not affect the general appearance of the produce, the quality, the keeping quality or its presentation in the package.

30 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Class I • good quality • characteristic of the variety and/or commercial type. • their colour may be of light brown, light ivory, yellow, light ash-grey or deep ivory as a result of overheating.

31 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Class II • cashew kernels which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes, but which satisfy the minimum requirements • Immature and speckled kernels are permitted provided they do not affect the characteristic shape of the kernel. Their colour may be light or deep brown, amber, light or deep blue. • The kernels may be discoloured and black spotted.

32 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Sizing: Whole • Sizing is compulsory in "extra class", but optional for "class I" and "class II". • Designation of sizes of whole kernels are as follows: • Size Designation Number of kernels per Kg 150 180 210 240 280 320 400 450 500 265 -325 326 -395 395 -465 485 -530 575 -620 660 -706 707 -880 881 -990 990 -1100

33 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Sizing: Brokens • Large pieces – not passing through a sieve of aperture 4. 75 mm • Small pieces ("Medium Brazilian Pieces") – passing through a sieve of aperture 4. 75 mm but not passing through a sieve of aperture 2. 80 mm. • Very Small Pieces ("Small Brazilian Pieces") - sizing optional – passing through a sieve of aperture 2. 80 mm but not passing through a sieve of aperture 2. 36 mm. • "Baby bits" or "granules" – Plemules and fragments of kernels passing through a sieve of aperture 2. 80 mm but not passing through a sieve of aperture 1. 70 mm.

34 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Quality tolerances allowed in each package (per cent by weight of kernels: Permitted defects Extra Total tolerances 8 Superficial damage 1 Immature or shrivelled (deformed) 1 Coloured kernels of next lower grade (NLG)5 Speckled or spotted (black or brown) 0. 5 Presence of testa 1 Insect damage 0. 5 Mouldy, rancid or rotten 0. 0 Foreign matter 0. 05 Class I 11 2 Class II 14 5 2 5 7. 5 - 0. 5 1 0. 5 c 0. 05 5 1 1 0. 05

35 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Determination of rancidity for brokens • For brokens, rancidity is to be determined as free fatty acid and/or peroxide value. • The maximum tolerated for free fatty acid is 1% (expressed as oleic acid) and • for peroxide, the maximum tolerated is 5 meq/kg (milliequivalents of oxygen per kilogram), both on the basis of extracted oil

36 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Mineral Impurities • Acid insoluble ash must not exceed 1 g/kg Size tolerances allowed in each package – For "whole" kernels that have been size graded, the quantity of kernels of next lower size grade (NLSG) shall not exceed 5% by weight for "extra class", and 7. 5% by weight for "class I" and "class II" at the time of packing. – For all "whole" kernels, whether or not size graded, the quantity of brokens or pieces for "extra class", "class I" and "class II" shall not exceed 5% by weight at the time of packing. – For "butts" and "splits" the quantity of pieces present for "extra class", "class I" and "class II" shall not exceed 5% by weight at the time of packing.

37 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Packaging • Cashew kernels must be packed in such a way as to protect the produce properly, usually in hermitically sealed containers, either as rigid metal cans or flexible packs with barrier properties, under an inert gas or vacuum. • The use of materials, particularly paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or the labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue. • The use of lead solder is not permitted.

38 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Presentation • in small packages for direct sale to the consumer; • bulk packages e. g. 11. 34 kilogramme cans flexible packs etc.

39 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Marking Each package or case (for small retail packs) must bear thefollowing particulars in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked and visible from the outside: Identification – Packer ) – and/or ) – Dispatcher) Name and address or officially issued or accepted code mark Nature of Produce – "Cashew kernels", if the contents not visible from outside – Name of the variety and/or commercial type

40 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Origin of produce – Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown or national, regional or local place name Commercial specification – Class ("extra", class I or class II or alternative acceptable designations as described in Annex II) – Style ("whole", "butts", "splits" or "pieces") – Size designation (if sized) – Crop year (optional) – Net weight, or the number of package units, followed by the net weight in the case of packages containing such units. Official control mark (optional)

41 UNECE Standard for Cashew Kernels Annexes Annex I: Determination of the moisture content of cashews – Method 1 - laboratory reference method – Method 2 - rapid method Annex II: Optional designations of classes – white, scorched seconds, dessert Annex III: Definitions of defects

42 Information about meetings and standards • Next meeting on fresh produce: 23 -26 April 2002 – Main topics: Annonas, Apples, Pears, Avocados, Citrus Fruit, Kiwifruit, Peaches and Nectarines, Table Grapes, Pineapples, use of trademarks, produce coding • Next meeting on dry and dried produce: 21 -24 May 2002 – Main Topics: Almonds, Pistachios, determination of the moisture content

43 UN/ECE standards and meeting information on the internet • Http: //www. unece. org/trade/agr/welcome. htm