PERMANENT RULES
Date of Adoption: May 22, 2000.
Purpose: To (1) establish a grade and standards for fresh red raspberries that are destined for freezing, puree, juice stock and other processing uses; (2) establish standards for red raspberry puree stock and juice stock red raspberries; (3) establish container marketing requirements for red raspberries; and (4) specify how red raspberries may be used, processed and sold. Red raspberries destined for fresh market are exempt from this rule.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 15.17 and 69.04 RCW.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-11-112 on May 19, 2000.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Deleted definition "damage"; WAC 16-143-030 after the word washed, added "or cleaned as necessary,"; WAC 16-143-030(3) added "seriously" before damaged; and WAC 16-143-030(5) deleted "of the ten percent" after the words two percent. These changes will benefit those affected.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
May 22, 2000
James M. Jesernig
Director
OTS-3981.2
RED RASPBERRY GRADES AND STANDARDS
The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) Establish a grade and standards for fresh red raspberries that are destined for freezing, puree, juice stock and other processing uses;
(2) Establish standards for red raspberry puree stock and juice stock red raspberries;
(3) Establish container marking requirements for red raspberries; and
(4) Specify how red raspberries may be used, processed and sold.
Red raspberries destined for fresh market are exempt from this rule.
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The following definitions apply to this chapter:
(1) "Containers" includes pails, trays, barrels, drums, tanks, transport vessels, or other bulk containers used to store or contain red raspberries intended for further processing.
(2) "Graded" means red raspberries that have been visually inspected and determined to meet the standards set forth in WAC 16-143-030.
(3) "Juice stock red raspberries" means any red raspberries destined for the production of red raspberry juice, red raspberry juice concentrate, or any other product listed in WAC 16-143-080. Washington No. 1 processing grade red raspberries as defined in this chapter or unclassified red raspberries may be used for juice stock.
(4) "Pasteurized" means the product has been subjected to heat or other approved treatment sufficient to kill harmful microorganisms.
(5) "Serious damage" means any defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously detract from the appearance, or the edible or marketing quality of the red raspberry. Red raspberries which are badly deformed, leaky, moldy, decayed, or from which the core has not been removed shall be considered seriously damaged.
(6) "Ultra-filtration" means filtering to a very high level sufficient to remove foreign material including microorganisms and mold from the product.
(7) "Washington No. 1 processing grade red raspberries" are defined in WAC 16-143-030.
(8) "Well-colored" means that the whole surface of the red raspberry shows a color characteristic of a mature red raspberry.
(9) "Well-developed" means that the red raspberry is not misshapen because of anthracnose injury, frost injury, lack of pollination, insect injury, or other causes.
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To qualify for the Washington No. 1 processing grade, red raspberries must be washed, or cleaned as necessary, sorted and graded at a licensed food processing facility and must meet the following standards:
(1) The red raspberries must be well-colored and well-developed;
(2) The red raspberries must be free from cores, mold, decay, dirt, leaves, or other foreign material;
(3) The red raspberries must not be seriously damaged by shriveling, moisture, disease, or insects;
(4) The red raspberries must not have more than eight of twenty-five fields with mold hyphae as determined by the Howard Mold Count or equivalent analysis.
(5) Not more than ten percent by volume of the red raspberries in any lot may fail to meet the requirements for Washington No. 1 processing grade because of serious damage by any cause, and not more than two percent may be affected by mold or decay. Individual samples may contain not more than one and one-half times this tolerance, even if the average of all the samples from the lot are within this specified tolerance.
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Red raspberries that:
(1) Fail to meet the Washington No. 1 processing grade standards; or
(2) Are not graded; or
(3) Are in unmarked containers, are considered "unclassified." The term "unclassified" means no grade has been applied to the lot.
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Marking requirements for red raspberry containers are:
(1) Washington No. 1 processing grade red raspberry containers may be marked with the name and address of the grower, packer, shipper, and must be prominently marked with the grade "Washington No. 1 Processing Grade Red Raspberries."
(2) Any combination of Washington No. 1 processing grade red raspberries and unclassified red raspberries must be in containers prominently marked "juice stock red raspberries."
(3) Unclassified red raspberries must be in containers that are prominently marked "juice stock red raspberries."
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Washington No. 1 processing grade red raspberries may be used or sold for straight pack, individually quick frozen (IQF), puree stock, puree concentrate, juice, juice concentrate, or for any other type of use.
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Red raspberry puree stock must be red raspberries that meet Washington No. 1 processing grade standards and have been graded and cleaned, washed, and sorted in a licensed food processing facility to remove harmful or foreign material.
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Product designated or marked as "juice stock red raspberries" must be used and sold only for processing into wine, ultra-filtered, or pasteurized juice products or juice concentrate filtered sufficiently to remove foreign material including mold from the product, or for distilling.
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Red raspberries designated or marked as "juice stock red raspberries" may not be sold or used to produce puree, puree concentrate or any red raspberry products other than those designated in WAC 16-143-080.
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Any red raspberries or red raspberry products that are adulterated under RCW 69.04.210, including through the deliberate addition of moldy product, or any red raspberries or red raspberry products containing unacceptable levels of filth or mold, may not be sold or processed for any purpose.
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Guidelines for the safe production of red raspberries and other agricultural products may be found in the Food and Drug Administration's Good Agricultural Practices Guidelines. This document can be obtained on request from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Program, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560.
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