(b) U.S. Fancy consists of apples of one variety which are mature but not overripe, carefully hand-picked, clean, fairly well formed; free from decay, internal browning, internal breakdown, bitter pit, Jonathan spot, scald, freezing injury, visible water core, and broken skins, and bruises except those which are incident to proper handling and packing. The apples are also free from damage caused by russeting, sunburn, or sprayburn, limb rubs, hail, drought spots, scars, stem or calyx cracks, disease, insects, invisible water core after January 31 of the year following the year of production, or damage by other means. Each apple of this grade has the amount of color specified for the variety. (See color requirements and tolerances.)

1. (1) U.S. No. 1 Early consists of apples which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade except as to color and maturity, and meet a minimum size requirement. Apples of this grade have no color requirements, need not be mature, and are not less than two inches in diameter. This grade is provided for varieties such as Duchess, Gravenstein, Red June, Twenty Ounce, Wealthy, Williams, Yellow Transparent, and Lodi, or other varieties which are normally marketed during the summer months. (See tolerances.)
2. (2) U.S. No. 1 Hail consists of apples which meet the requirements of U.S. No. 1 grade except that hail marks where the skin has not been broken, and well healed hail marks where the skin has been broken, are permitted, provided the apples are fairly well formed. (See color requirements and tolerances.)

(c) U.S. No. 1.

The requirements of this grade are the same as for U.S. Fancy except for color, russeting, and invisible water core. In this grade less color is required for all varieties with the exception of the yellow and green varieties other than Golden Delicious. Apples of this grade are free from excessive damage caused by russeting which means that apples meet the russeting requirements for U.S. Fancy as defined under the definitions of “damage by russeting”, except the aggregate area of an apple which may be covered by smooth net-like russeting shall not exceed 25 per cent; and the aggregate area of an apple which may be covered by smooth solid russeting shall not exceed 10 per cent; provided, that in the case of the Yellow Newton or similar varieties the aggregate area of an apple which may be covered with smooth solid russeting shall not exceed 20 per cent. Each apple of this grade has the amount of color specified for the variety. There is no requirement in this grade pertaining to invisible water core. (See color requirements and tolerances.)

(d) U.S. Utility consists of apples of one variety which are mature but not overripe, carefully hand-picked, not seriously deformed; free from decay, internal browning, internal breakdown, scald, and freezing injury. The apples are also free from serious damage caused by dirt or other foreign matter, broken skins, bruises, russeting, sunburn, or sprayburn, limb rubs, hail, drought spots, scars, stem or calyx cracks, visible water core, disease, insects, or other means. (See tolerances.)

1. (1) Combinations of the above grades may be used as follows:

   1. (i) Combination U.S. Extra Fancy and U.S. Fancy.
   2. (ii) Combination U.S. Fancy and U.S. NO. 1.
   3. (iii) Combination U.S. No. 1 and U.S. Utility.
2. (2) Combinations other than these are not permitted in connection with the U.S. apple grades. When combination grades are packed, at least 50 per cent of the apples in any lot shall meet the requirements of the higher grade in the combination. (See tolerances.)

(e) Combination of grades.