ANR-829, Reprinted Feb 1997. Current contact: Joseph Kemble, Extension Horticulturist, Assistant Professor, Auburn University

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Containers and Weights of Commercial Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables

The purpose of this circular is to provide producers and sellers of produce with information concerning the containers and weights acceptable in Alabama and in the marketplace in general. The official weights mandated by the state of Alabama pertain to the sale of the commodity in Alabama in the specified container. For example, in a farmers' market in Alabama, a bushel of fresh apples must weigh 50 pounds or the container is not a bushel of apples.

In the marketplace, however, apples may be sold in several containers (Table 1). At the present time, apples are sold in cartons or boxes as a loose pack, tray pack, or cell packs. In most of these containers, the count is very important. Obviously, if an apple or two were missing from a tray, the absence would be noted at some point in the distribution of the product. As a result of the count requirement, the weight requirement is of secondary importance. Frequently, the weight of a container of fruit, vegetables, or nuts becomes important only when someone obviously receives a container that appears to be less than full, or, with apples and plums, when fruit are missing. This generalization may not be true during times of market shortages when buyers will be happy to obtain less-than-perfect produce in smaller quantities than would be expected when supplies are normal. There are also crops for which container weight, but not number, is important. Sweet potatoes, for example, must be graded, but they are sold by weight, not number.

The container or weight of apples and other horticultural commodities (Table 2) may change at any time, depending upon the desires of the industry. Because containers other than the ones indicated in this circular may be acceptable in the marketplace, and the container weight may change, producers must communicate with the broker or whoever is purchasing a shipment of fruit, nuts, or vegetables regarding acceptable containers and weights. For several crops, official or suggested containers and weights are not mandated by Alabama law or established in the marketplace. Communication among all parties involved in the purchase of these commodities is essential for moving produce successfully from the farm to the consumer.

Table 1. Containers (Carton Or Box) And Weights Of Fresh Apples And Peaches Acceptable To The Produce Industry.

Apples		Peaches
Container	Weight	Container	Weight
Loose pack	38-42 lb.	1/2 Bushel	25 lb.
Tray pack	40-45 lb.	3/4 Bushel	38 lb.
Cell pack	37-43 lb.	Carton/lug, 2 layer	20-22 lb.

Table 2. Containers And Weights Of Produce Sold In Alabama Farmers' Markets And In National Markets.

	Alabama(a)			Industry(b)
Fruit	Container	Weight		Container		Weight
Apples, fresh	Bushel	50 lb.		See Table 1
Apples, dried	Bushel	24 lb.		Individual bag		1 to 5 lb.
Blackberries	Bushel	48 lb.		12 1-pint flat		10-12 lb.
Blackberries, dried	Bushel	28 lb.		--c		--c
Gooseberries	Bushel	48 lb.		12 1-pint flat		10 lb.
Grapes, with stems	Bushel	48 lb.		Wooden lug		22 lb.
Grapes, without stems	Bushel	60 lb.		Carton		22 lb.
Peaches, mature	Bushel	50 lb.		See Table 1
Peaches, dried, unpeeled	Bushel	33 lb.		Individual bags		1 to 5 lb.
Peaches, dried, peeled	Bushel	38 lb.		Individual bags		1 to 5 lb.
Pears, matured	Bushel	50 lb.		Carton		36 lb.
				4/5 Bushel box		46 lb.
Pears, dried	Bushel	26 lb.		Individual bags		1 to 5 lb.
Plums	Bushel	64 lb.		1/2 Bushel		28 lb.
				Carton		18 lb.
				Carton/lug, 2-layer.
Quinces, matured	Bushel	48 lb.		Carton		36 lb.
Raspberries	Bushel	48 lb.		12-1/2 pint flat		5 lb.
Strawberries	Bushel	48 lb.		12 1-pint flat		10 lb.
Nuts
Chestnuts	Bushel	50 lb.		--c		--c
Pecans	--c	--c		--c		-c
Walnuts	Bushel	50 lb.		--c		--c
Vegetables
Beans, dried	Bushel	60 lb.		--c		--c
Beans, snap or pole	Bushel	30 lb.		Bushel		30 lb.
Butter beans, in pod	Bushel	30 lb.		Bushel		30 lb.
Beets	Bushel	50 lb.		--c		--c
Broccoli	--c	--c		By stalk number		--c
Cabbage	--c	--c		1-1/2 Bushel		50 lb.
				sack		50 lb.
Cantaloupes	--c	--c		By count		--c
Corn, sweet, in ear,	Bushel	75 lb.		Bushel		60 ears
with shucks				Wire-bound crate		4-1/2 doz. ears
Cucumbers	Bushel	48 lb.		1-1/9 Bushel		Fill the container
Eggplant	--c	--c		1-1/9 Bushel		Fruit number, box weighing 28-32 lb.
Greens: Collards, Kale, Mustard, Spinach, or Turnips	Bushel	30 lb.		Bundle		--c
Horseradish	Bushel	50 lb.		--c		--c
Okra	Bushel	30 lb.		1/2 Bushel		15 lb.
Onions, top buttons	Bushel	28 lb.		--c		--c
Onions, button sets	Bushel	32 lb.		--c		--c
Parsnips	Bushel	45 lb.		--c		--c
Peas, southern, dry	Bushel	60 lb.		--c		--c
Peas, English or southern, green	Bushel	25 lb.		Bushel		25 lb.
Pepper, bell	--c	--c		1-1/9 Bushel		30 lb.
Potatoes, Irish	Bushel	60 lb.		By weight		--c
Potatoes, sweet	Bushel	55 lb.		Box		50 or 40 lb.
Popcorn, shelled	Bushel	56 lb.		--c		--c
Popcorn, unshelled	Bushel	70 lb.		--c		--c
Rutabaga	Bushel	50 lb.		--c		--c
Squash, yellow	--c	--c		3/4 Bushel		30 lb.
Squash, zucchini	--c	--c		1/2 Bushel		20 lb.
Tomatoes, cherry	--c	--c		12 1-Pint flats		10 lb.
Tomatoes, picked pink, red, or green	Bushel	56 lb.		Box		25 lb.
Tomatoes, Roma	--c	--c		Box		20 or 25 lb.
Turnips	Bushel	55 lb.		--c		--c
a Official weights for containers sold in Alabama, where specified. b For many crops, there is more than one acceptable container currently used in the marketplace. c Requirements are not mandated by the state of Alabama or there is no industry standard.

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find the number.