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Author: DANGLER
PubID: ANR-0829 		Title: CONTAINERS & WEIGHTS OF COMMERCIAL FRUITS, NUTS & Pages: 4     Balance: 734
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ANR-829 CONTAINERS AND WEIGHTS OF COMMERCIAL FRUITS, NUTS, AND VEGETABLES

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

For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.

Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer.

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