1. (1) Desirable market appearance means the beans are generally free from any readily visible defect or imperfection or defects which more than slightly detract from the appearance of the bean.
2. (2) Similar varietal characteristic means that the beans are of the same color and general type. For example, wax and green may not be mixed.
3. (3) Reasonable size means pods are not spindly or excessively short for variety and have not been prematurely picked.
4. (4) Fairly uniform size means pods shall not vary more than two inches in length.
5. (5) Well formed means the pods have normal typical shape for variety.
6. (6) Fairly bright means not dull.
7. (7) Clean means practically free from dirt or staining and practically no loose dirt or other foreign matter is present in container.
8. (8) Fresh means pods are not wilted and have normal succulence.
9. (9) Fairly young and tender means walls are not distinctly woody or fiberous.
10. (10) Firm means pods are not wilted or flabby.

11. (11) Damage means any defect or combination of defects which materially detracts from the appearance, edible or marketing quality of the snap bean. Pods having spots due to blight or Anthracnose, and similar spots caused by other diseases, shall be considered as damage. The following specific defect shall be considered damaged. Broken beans when:

    1. (i) there is one break present in the thick portion of the bean or one break at each end in the thin portion of the bean;
    2. (ii) any break that is materially affected by dirt or discoloration;
    3. (iii) any break that is ragged and materially detracts from the appearance; or
    4. (iv) unless otherwise specified, the remaining portion of the bean is less than 3 ½ inches in length.

12. (12) Serious damage means any defect or combination of defects which seriously detracts from the appearance, edible or marketing quality of the snap bean. The following specific defect shall be considered seriously damaged. Broken beans when:

    1. (i) there is a break on each end in the thick portion of the bean;
    2. (ii) any break is seriously affected by dirt or discoloration;
    3. (iii) any break is ragged and seriously detracts from the appearance or exposes a seed; or

    4. (iv) unless otherwise specified, the remaining portion of the bean is less than three inches in length.

       (c) Tolerances.

       In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances shall apply:

13. (1) For defects. Thirteen percent for beans in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of the grade, including not more than 10 percent damage by grade defects other than damage by broken beans, including not more than five percent shall be allowed for defects causing serious damage, including therein, not more than one percent for beans affected by soft rot.

14. (2) For size. Ten percent for beans that are not fairly uniform size based on individual samples.

    (d) Application of tolerances.

15. (1) For a tolerance of 10 percent or more individual packages may contain not more than 1 ½ times the tolerances specified; provided, that the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance specified for the grade.

16. (2) For a tolerance of less than 10 percent, individual packages may contain not more than double the tolerance specified: provided that the average for the entire lot is within the tolerance specified.

    (e) Packing.

    Snap beans to be packed in new standard ½ bushel or bushel baskets or hampers or 1 ¹/₉ bushel cartons or crates subject to approval by the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Container approval shall be based upon the ability of the container to maintain the quality standards and integrity of the product.

    (f) Markings.

    All containers offered for sale under the Seal of Quality program shall be marked as to common name, declaration or net contents, name and address of grower, packer or shipper and labeled with the official seal designation.

(a) General.

New York State Seal of Quality beans shall be beans that have similar varietal characteristics which possess a desirable market appearance, are of reasonable size, and fairly uniform size, well formed, fairly bright, clean, fresh, fairly young and tender, firm, and which are free from soft rot, and free from damage caused by leaves, leaf stems, other foreign matter, also free from damage from hail, disease, insects, mechanical or other means.

(b) Definitions.