(a) Heads of lettuce shall be fairly uniform in size, and fairly tightly to tightly packed, but not excessively tightly packed, in uniform layers in the container according to the approved and recognized methods; except that in standard fiberboard containers, a “bridge” of six heads may be placed between the layers in a 2 ½-dozen pack.

1. (i) Fairly uniform in size means that not more than 10 percent, by count, of heads in any container may vary appreciably in size from the standard size head for the count pack.
2. (ii) The standard size head for a two-dozen pack is that size head, having four wrapper leaves, which will pack tightly, but not excessively tightly, three rows with four heads of uniform size in each row in a layer in a standard fiberboard container. Heads having lesser or greater numbers of wrapper leaves which can be packed as specified herein are considered equivalent in size to a standard size head with four wrapper leaves.
3. (2) Excessively tightly packed means that heads are packed so tightly as to cause distortion, or crushing of the heads or breaking of the midribs.

(1)