2 replies to this topic

[kajumom]

I am not sure if this is the correct location to ask this but I looked all over and decided on this...
We have recently added IQF to our processing plant (oh boy). I have the USDA grading requirements for all our other products (I am always amazed they have not changed since 1940's.) I cannot find anywhere the grading specs for IQF fruit. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Charles.C]

I am not sure if this is the correct location to ask this but I looked all over and decided on this...
We have recently added IQF to our processing plant (oh boy). I have the USDA grading requirements for all our other products (I am always amazed they have not changed since 1940's.) I cannot find anywhere the grading specs for IQF fruit. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Dear kajumom,

It might help to specify the fruit and what kind of specs you are seeking, weight / size / clumps / micro etc etc

Rgds / Charles.C

[Antores]

Kajumom,

The USDA specs are still valid, even some are as old as 1940, they have made some revisions and if you pulled them from internet that should be good. Although I work with fresh fruits, what I will recommend you to use the USDA information just as a template or starting point to make your own specifications, since USDA may lack some requirements such as temperature, package weight, storage conditions, microbiological limits and other attributes such as sugar content (Brix).

More than looking to what USDA requires for grading, I’ll recommend you to look for what your customers want or require. For instance, I didn’t see any Brix requirement for frozen melons, but can guarantee you that must customer will want a sweet melon with >10 but not less than 9 Brix.

By the way, you should have final product specifications for your IQF product, but also RAW product specifications for your suppliers. You may use the USDA standards for fresh fruits and vegetables for that as a guide. You cannot have a good quality frozen melon if you didn’t have a good fresh one to start with right?