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CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
2^nd Floor Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St Michael
Barbados
T: 246.622.7670 | F: 246.622.7678
Website: http://www.crosq.org

© CROSQ 2010 – All rights reserved
Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission.

CARICOM REGIONAL STANDARD
Specification for grades of fresh agricultural produce
Part 10: Tomatoes

CRS 24: Part 10: 2010

CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
2^nd Floor, Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Barbados
T: 246.622.7670 | F: 246.622.7678
Website: http://www.crosq.org

© CROSQ 2010 – All rights reserved. No part of this publication is to be reproduced without the prior written consent of CROSQ.

ISBN 978-976-8234-12-4
ICS 67.080

Committee representation

This CARICOM Regional Standard was prepared under the supervision of the Regional Technical Committee for Agricultural Commodities (RTC 19), (hosted by the CARICOM Member State, Dominica), which at the time comprised the following members:

Contents

Foreword

This CARICOM Regional Standard was developed in an effort to:

1. avoid misunderstanding and confusion among those involved in the marketing chain;
2. provide an objective basis for relating price with quality;
3. encourage better selection, packaging and presentation of produce as a means of obtaining greater income overall; and
4. assist exporters and their countries in meeting export market requirements and thereby enhancing their reputation and market position

This standard was approved by the Twenty-ninth Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on 8-9 February 2010.

In the development of this standard, assistance was derived from the following:

1. Commission Regulation (EC) No 2257/94 of 16 September 1994 laying down quality standards for Tomatoes (Text with EEA relevance);
2. Draft CODEX Standard for Tomatoes (Alinorm 07/30/35);
3. Ministry of Agriculture and Land, Jamaica 2008, Draft Specification for Grades of Fresh Tomatoes;
4. United States standard for grades of fresh tomatoes.

NOTE During the development of this standard, the CARICOM Regional Code of Practice for Food Hygiene was still under development.

1 Scope

This standard specifies the quality requirements of tomatoes of varieties (cultivars) grown from Lycopersicum esculentum Mill., which are to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation and packaging.

The standard does not apply to tomatoes for industrial processing.

Tomatoes covered under this standard may be classified into four commercial types:

1. “round”;
2. “ribbed”;
3. “oblong” or “elongated”; and
4. “cherry” tomatoes (including “cocktail” tomatoes).

2 Normative references

The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

CODEX Alimentarius Commission, Principles for the Establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 27- 1997)

3 Terms and definitions

For the purpose of this standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply.

3.1
blemish

any physical injury affecting the surface of the fruit, such as scars, healed cracks and discoloured spots, which detracts from its natural appearance, but will not significantly affect its shelf life

3.2
calyx

part of the fruit having leaf-like form, at the stem end of the fruit, opposite to the blossom end

3.3
cat faces

circular, concentric cracks that develop around the stem of the fruit, often exposing the locules

3.4
clean (visual)

free from adhering soil, insects, chemical deposits and other foreign matter

3.5
damage

any defect or combination of defects of physical or physiological (external or internal) causes which detracts from the edible or marketing quality

3.6
disease

any defect or combination of defects caused by micro-organisms

3.7
firm

not soft, overripe or shrivelled

3.8
fresh

fruit maintains its reaped appearance and is not shriveled or showing signs of dehydration and calyx should be green in colour

3.9
good quality

reasonably firm, well-shaped and characteristic of the variety as regards appearance and development

3.10
mature

stage of development that has been reached which will ensure a proper completion of the ripening process and that the contents of two or more seed cavities have developed a jelly-like consistency and the seeds are well developed

3.11
similar varietal characteristics

fruits in any lot having the same general shape, colour characteristic of skin and flesh.

3.12
soft

tomato yields readily to slight pressure.

3.13
sound

produce not affected by rotting or deterioration which makes it unfit for consumption

3.14
superior quality

with firm flesh and having characteristics of the variety with respect to shape, appearance and development

3.15
truss

cluster of vine-ripened tomatoes still attached to the stem

3.16
well-shaped

95 % of the fruit having the shape characteristic of the variety

4 Requirements

4.1 Quality

4.1.1 Minimum requirements

3.1.1.1

In all classes referred to in 4.1.3, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, tomatoes shall be:

1. firm;
2. sound;
3. clean;
4. fresh;
5. free from pests and diseases;
6. free from damage caused by pests;
7. free of abnormal external moisture, excluding condensation following removal from cold storage;
8. free of any foreign smell and or taste;
9. mature; and
10. similar in varietal characteristics.

4.1.1.2

Trusses of tomatoes shall have stalks that are fresh, healthy, clean and free from all leaves.

4.1.1.3

The development and condition of the tomatoes shall be such as to enable them to:

1. withstand transport and handling; and
2. arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.

4.1.2 Maturity

4.1.2.1

The tomatoes shall be sufficiently developed and display satisfactory ripeness.

4.1.2.2

The development and state of maturity of the tomatoes shall be such as to enable them to continue their ripening process and to reach the appropriate degree of ripeness.

4.1.3 Classification

Tomatoes shall be classified as Class I, Class II or Class III.

4.1.3.1 Class I

Tomatoes in this class shall:

1. be of superior quality;
2. have good uniformity in terms of fruit colour and size; and

   NOTE The calyx should be green in colour.

3. be free from cat faces, blemishes, cuts or broken skin, 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.

4.1.3.2 Class II

Tomatoes in this class shall:

1. be of good quality;
2. be free of blemishes, cuts or broken skin, and cat faces; and
3. possess good uniformity in terms of fruit colour and size.

   NOTE 1 The calyx should be green in colour.

   NOTE 2 Slight wilting of the calyx is acceptable.

4.1.3.3 Class III

This class includes tomatoes which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I and Class II, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified in 4.1.1 above. Tomatoes shall be reasonably firm with no visible unhealed cracks.

NOTE 1 The calyx of the tomatoes should be green.

NOTE 2 Moderate wilting of the calyx is acceptable.

NOTE 3 The following defects are allowed, provided the tomatoes retain their essential characteristics with respect to the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

1. defects in shape, development and colouring;
2. skin defects or bruises; and
3. healed cracks not more than 3 cm in length for “round”, “ribbed” or “oblong” tomatoes.

4.2 Sizing

The size of tomatoes shall be determined by the maximum diameter of the equatorial section.

4.2.1 Minimum

For all three classes of tomatoes, the minimum sizes allowable shall be:

1. 35 mm for “round” and “ribbed” tomatoes; 5
2. 30 mm for “oblong” tomatoes; and
3. 15 mm for “cherry” tomatoes.

4.2.2 Sizing scale

4.2.2.1

Tomatoes shall be graded according to the sizing scale as identified in Table 1.

3.2.2.2

Class I and Class II tomatoes shall comply with the sizing scale.

3.2.2.3

This sizing scale shall not apply to trusses of tomatoes.

4.3 Tolerances

Each package of produce not satisfying the requirements of quality and size for the class indicated as outlined in 4.1 and 4.2 shall be allowed tolerances as stated in 4.3.1 and 4.3.2.

4.3.1 Quality tolerances

4.3.1.1 Class I

4.3.1.1.2

Not more than 5 % by number or weight of tomatoes shall fail to meet the specifications of this class but meet those of Class II.

4.3.1.1.2

There shall be zero tolerance for damage at the dispatching stage.

4.3.1.2 Class II

4.3.1.2.1

Not more than 10 % by number or weight of tomato shall fail to meet the specifications of this class but meet those of Class III. In the case of trusses of tomatoes, 5 % by number or weight of tomatoes detached from the stalk.

4.3.1.2.2

There shall be zero tolerance for damage at the dispatching stage.

4.3.1.3 Class III

4.3.1.3.1

10 % by number or weight of tomatoes satisfying neither the requirements of Class III nor the minimum requirements, with the exception of produce affected by rotting, marked bruising or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption. In the case of trusses of tomatoes, 10 % by number or weight of tomatoes detached from the stalk.

4.3.1.3.2

Damage shall not exceed 5 % at the dispatching stage.

4.3.2 Size tolerances

All classes shall be allowed a tolerance of 10 % by number or weight of tomatoes conforming to the size immediately above or below that specified, with a minimum of 33 mm for “round” and “ribbed” tomatoes, and 28 mm for “oblong” tomatoes.

5 Colour Classification

The terms as identified in Table 2 shall be used when specified in connection with class, in describing the colour as an indication of the stage of ripeness of any lot of mature tomatoes of a red flesh variety.

6 Presentation

Tomatoes for retail shall be presented as:

1. individual tomatoes, with calyx and short stalk; or
2. trusses of tomatoes i.e. in entire inflorescences or parts of inflorescences, where each inflorescence or part of each inflorescence shall comprise at least the following number of tomatoes:
   1. 3 if not pre-packaged (2 if pre-packaged); or
   2. in the case of trusses of ‘cherry’ tomatoes, 6 if not pre-packaged (4 if pre-packaged).

6.1 Packaging

6.1.1

Tomatoes shall be packed so as to adequately protect the produce from damage.

6.1.2

Tomatoes should be packed in corrugated boxes with or without dividers. The materials used inside the package shall be new, clean and of a quality such as to avoid damage to the produce.

NOTE The use of materials, particularly paper or stamps, bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue.

6.1.3

Packages shall be free of all foreign matter.

6.2 Uniformity

6.2.1

The contents of each package shall be uniformly displayed and contain only tomatoes of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality and size.

6.2.2

The length of “oblong” tomatoes and the ripeness and colouring of tomatoes in Class I and Class II shall be uniform, as reasonably practicable.

6.2.3

The visible contents of the package shall be representative of the entire contents.

7 Labelling

Each package of tomatoes shall bear the following particulars, in letters grouped on the same side, visibly, legibly and indelibly marked in the official language(s) of the country in which the produce is to be sold:

1. name and address of exporter, dispatcher and or packer;

   NOTE Identification code is optional.

2. the words “tomatoes” or “trusses of tomatoes” and the commercial type if the contents are not visible from the outside. These details shall always be provided for “cherry” (or “cocktail”) tomatoes whether in trusses or not;

   NOTE Name of the variety is optional.

3. country of origin;

   NOTE The district where grown, or national, regional or local place name is optional.

4. class;
5. size, expressed as minimum and maximum diameters (if sized), or the word ‘un-sized’ where appropriate;
6. net weight of package; and
7. storage conditions if required (such as by a competent regulatory authority or end user).

   NOTE 1 Package units of produce pre-packaged 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.

   NOTE 2 The use of red or orange colours for marking should be avoided since they are used in the labelling of dangerous goods.

8 Contaminants

8.1 Heavy metals and pesticide residues

8.1.1

All pesticides used pre/post harvest shall be registered and approved for use in accordance with the requirements of the national regulations of the exporting and importing countries.

8.1.2

Tomatoes shall comply with those maximum levels for heavy metals as well as maximum pesticide residue limits established by the CODEX Alimentarius Commission for this commodity.

9 Hygiene and sanitation

9.1

It is recommended that the produce covered by the provisions of this standard be prepared and handled in conjunction with the appropriate clauses of the latest edition of the CARICOM Regional Code of Practice for Food Hygiene or other international Codes of Practice which are relevant to this commodity.

9.2

The produce should comply with any microbiological criteria established in accordance with the principles for the establishment and Application of Microbiological Criteria for Foods (CAC/GL 21-1997).

9.3

The produce shall comply with Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) requirements of the importing and exporting countries.

CARICOM REGIONAL ORGANISATION FOR STANDARDS AND QUALITY

The CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) was created as an Inter-Governmental Organisation by the signing of an agreement among fourteen Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CROSQ is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality. It is the successor to the Caribbean Common Market Standards Council (CCMSC), and supports the CARICOM mandate in the expansion of intra-regional and extra-regional trade in goods and services.

CROSQ is mandated to represent the interest of the region in international and hemispheric standards work, to promote the harmonization of metrology systems and standards, and to increase the pace of development of regional standards for the sustainable production of goods and services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the enhancement of social and economic development.

CROSQ VISION:

The premier CARICOM organisation for the development and promotion of an Internationally Recognised Regional Quality Infrastructure; and for international and regional harmonized CARICOM Metrology, Standards, Inspection, Testing and Quality Infrastructure

CROSQ MISSION:

The promotion and development of standards and standards related activities to facilitate international competitiveness and the sustainable production of goods and services within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) for the enhancement of social and economic development