7 CFR § 52.1003 - Grades of dates.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t7/s52.1003"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "7 CFR § 52.1003 - Grades of dates."
title_number: 7
title_name: "Agriculture"
section_number: "52.1003"
section_name: "Grades of dates."
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: "52"
part_name: "PROCESSED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, PROCESSED PRODUCTS THEREOF, AND CERTAIN OTHER PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "7 U.S.C. 1621-1627."
cfr_part: "52"
---


# 52.1003 Grades of dates.

(a) *U.S. Grade A* or *U.S. Fancy* is the quality of whole or pitted dates that are of one variety, that possess a good color, that are practically uniform in size, that are practically free from defects, that possess a good character, and that score not less than 90 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(b) *U.S. Grade B* or *U.S. Choice* is the quality of whole or pitted dates other than whole dry dates for processing that are of one variety, that possess a reasonably good color, that are reasonably uniform in size, that are reasonably free from defects, that possess a reasonably good character, and that score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(c) *U.S. Grade B (Dry)* or *U.S. Choice (Dry)* is the quality of whole dry dates for processing that are of one variety, that possess a reasonably good color, that are reasonably uniform in size, that are reasonably free from defects, that possess a reasonably good character, and that score not less than 80 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(d) *U.S. Grade C* or *U.S. Stand- ard* is the quality of whole or pitted dates other than whole dry dates for processing that are of one variety or of date pieces or macerated dates that possess a fairly good color, that are fairly uniform in size except for date pieces or macerated dates, that are fairly free from defects, that possess a fairly good character, and that score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(e) *U.S. Grade C (Dry)* or *U.S. Standard (Dry)* is the quality of whole dry dates for processing that are of one variety, that possess a fairly good color, that are fairly uniform in size, that are fairly free from defects, that possess a fairly good character, and that score not less than 70 points when scored in accordance with the scoring system outlined in this subpart.

(f) *Substandard* is the quality of dates that fail to meet the requirements of U.S. Grade C or U.S. Stand- ard or U.S. Grade C (Dry) or U.S. Standard (Dry), whichever is applicable.