(a) The following grade standards apply to all certified seed potatoes.
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(b) Blue Label Grade shall consist of potatoes which meet the requirements of the disease tolerances and grade standards previously listed for Certified Seed Potatoes. In addition, they shall be graded to conform to the U.S. No. 1 seed potatoes grade as defined under U.S. Standards for Grades of Seed Potatoes with the following exceptions:
(1) Not more than 1% of the potatoes shall be damaged by dry rot.
(2) Size shall be 1-1/2" to 12 oz. unless a smaller maximum is specified on the label or bulk certificate.
(3) Not more than 3% of the potatoes in any lot may be below the specified size and, in addition, not more than 8% may be above the specified size.
(4) Physiological internal pigmentation shall not be considered a grade factor.
(c) Yellow Label Grade shall consist of potatoes which meet the requirements of the disease tolerances and grade standards previously listed for Certified Seed Potatoes. This grade is intended to provide the buyer and seller an opportunity to establish certain mutually agreed upon specifications not allowed in the Blue Label Grade. The potatoes must be graded to conform to the U.S. No. 1 seed potatoes grade as defined under U.S. Standards for Grades of Seed Potatoes with the following exceptions:
(1) Soft rot shall not exceed 1%.
(2) Tuber size shall be specified on the label or bulk certificate. Tolerances for specified size limits: Not more than 3% of the potatoes in any lot may be below the stated minimum and, in addition, not more than 10% may be above the stated maximum.
(3) Tubers shall not be seriously damaged by external defects, or seriously misshapen unless otherwise specified, and shall meet the tolerances for a U.S. No. 2 Grade.
(4) Physiological internal pigmentation shall not be considered a grade factor.
(d) The application of grade and size tolerances shall be as outlined in the United States Standards for Potatoes, §51.3003.
Source Note: The provisions of this §10.50 adopted to be effective November 7, 2006, 31 TexReg 8983