7 CFR § 51.1904 - Maturity classification.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t7/s51.1904"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "7 CFR § 51.1904 - Maturity classification."
title_number: 7
title_name: "Agriculture"
section_number: "51.1904"
section_name: "Maturity classification."
chapter_name: "AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE (STANDARDS, INSPECTIONS, MARKETING PRACTICES), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ACT OF 1946 AND THE EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT"
part_number: "51"
part_name: "FRESH FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND OTHER PRODUCTS (INSPECTION, CERTIFICATION, AND STANDARDS)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "7 U.S.C. 1621-1627."
cfr_part: "51"
---


# 51.1904 Maturity classification.

Tomatoes which are characteristically red when ripe, but are not overripe or soft, may be classified for maturity as follows:

(a) Turning, when at least some part of the surface of the tomato, but less than one-half of the surface in the aggregate, is covered with pink color.

(b) Pink, when the tomato shows from one-half to three-fourths of the surface in the aggregate covered with pink or red color.

(c) Hard ripe, when the tomato shows three-fourths or more of the surface in the aggregate covered with pink or red color.

(d) Firm ripe, when the tomato shows three-fourths or more of the surface in the aggregate covered with red color characteristic of reasonably well ripened tomatoes.

(e) Incident to proper maturity determination, not more than a total of 10 percent, by count, of the tomatoes in any lot may fail to meet the maturity specified: *Provided,* That not more than 5 percent shall be allowed for tomatoes which are immature or are overripe or soft.