1. (a) At the widest circumference of the avocado, remove a core from the entire width of the avocado. Discard the seed portion, and remove the seed coat and skin to the depth of the edible portion from the remaining core pieces. Cut each core piece in half. The core sample shall be removed with a coring device having an inside diameter of ⅝ inch, plus or minus ¹/₁₆ inch.
2. (b) Repeat the above for the number of sample fruit required by Section 1408.6.
3. (c) The cored pieces shall be immediately placed in a sealed plastic bag if there is a delay in completing the procedures below.
4. (d) Weigh a clean petri dish and record the weight (P).
5. (e) Place all cored pieces on the preweighed petri dish; reweigh the petri dish with the sample and record the weight (F).
6. (f) Place the petri dish with the sample in a 1,000 watt microwave oven and dry the sample at 50% power for 40 minutes, adjusting the power down as necessary to avoid charring the tissue. Remove the sample from the microwave oven and note the weight. Place the sample back in microwave oven for 5 minutes. Remove the sample again and compare weight. If weight is the same, record it as dry weight. Whenever there is a weight difference, repeat this step until there is no weight loss. After the sample reaches a constant weight, record the weight (D).

7. (g) Calculate the percent of dry matter using the following example:

   ((D-P)/(F-P)) x 100 = ____________________% dry matter

   All weighings required by this section shall be recorded to the nearest 0.01 gram.

Dry matter of avocados shall be determined by weighing the fresh weight and dry weight of a sample of avocados. The testing procedures and method of calculating the percent of dry matter shall be as follows:

Note: Authority cited: Sections 407, 42681, 42684, and 44988, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 42941 and 44971, Food and Agricultural Code.

History

1. New section filed 7-7-55; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 55, No. 10).

2. Renumbering from 1397.1 filed 3-16-56; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 56, No. 5).

3. Amendment filed 7-6-64; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 64, No. 15).

4. Renumbering from Section 1397.5 filed 1-21-75; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 75, No. 4).

5. Amendment filed 5-27-83; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 83, No. 22).

6. Amendment filed 9-7-89; operative 9-8-89 pursuant to Government Code section 11346.2(d) (Register 89, No. 37).

7. Amendment filed 8-8-90; operative 9-7-90 (Register 90, No. 39).

8. Amendment of section and Note filed 8-29-2002; operative 9-28-2002 (Register 2002, No. 35).