Celery Price

Celery Price Questions

What quality criteria must ribbed celery meet to be accepted as Class I?

Ribbed celery classified as Class I must be intact, clean, fresh in appearance, free from pests, frost damage, cavities, suckers, flower stems, abnormal moisture, foreign smell or taste, and have a clean cut at the base. The stalks must be unbroken, not stringy, crushed or split, and the leaves must be white to yellowish‑white or greenish‑white for at least half their length in blanched varieties. Uniformity in size is compulsory, with specific weight ranges for large, medium, and small categories.

How are size categories defined for ribbed celery in the UNECE standard?

The UNECE standard defines three size categories: “large” for ribbed celery over 800 g (approximately 200 g per unit), “medium” for celery between 500 g and 800 g (about 150 g per unit), and “small” for celery between 150 g and 500 g (around 100 g per unit). Uniformity within each size class is required for Class I.

What are the permissible tolerances for ribbed celery that does not fully meet Class I requirements?

A total tolerance of 10 % by number or weight of ribbed celery may not meet the full Class I criteria but can still be accepted as Class II, provided it meets the minimum quality requirements. Within this tolerance, no more than 1 % may consist of produce that satisfies neither Class I nor Class II specifications.