WAC 16-439-218   Serious damage defects.  (1) More than the following shall be considered serious damage:

     (a) Slight handling bruises and carton bruises that are incident to proper handling.

     (b) Sunburn or sprayburn, if there is only a slight change to the normal color of the fruit and no softening of the flesh or blistering or cracking of the skin.

     (c) Russeting that is characteristic of the variety.

     (d) Pebbling on Bartlett pears that does not seriously affect the culinary or edible value of the fruit.

     (e) Limb rubs that are light, not soft, and do not affect an aggregate area to exceed ten percent of the surface of the fruit.

     (f) Drought spots that affect an aggregate area not to exceed one-fourth inch in diameter.

     (2) In addition, a pear may show any one or a combination of the following as long as the aggregate area does not exceed the maximum area specified for each variety mentioned below:

     (a) Heavy or dark heavy limb rubs that are not soft and do not affect an aggregate area exceeding three-fourths of an inch in diameter.

     (b) Hail marks when they affect an aggregate area exceeding three-fourths inch in diameter.

     (c) Frost damage.

     (i) Frost rings on Bartlett pears that do not completely encircle the pear and when the surface is only slightly grooved.

     (ii) Frost damage on Bartlett pears such as occurs at the calyx end and does not materially detract from the appearance of the pear.

     (iii) On other varieties other than Bartlett, heavy russeting by frost that is not soft and affects an aggregate area not to exceed three-fourths inch in diameter.

     (d) Scab spot affecting an aggregate area not to exceed one-half inch in diameter.

     (e) Shallow healed depressions not seriously affecting the general appearance of the fruit and affecting an aggregate area not to exceed three-fourths of an inch in diameter.

     (f) Sooty blotch that affects an aggregate area of not more than fifty percent of the surface when the spots are thin and widely scattered, or not more than one and one-fourth inch in diameter when the blotch is moderate, or not more than three-fourths inch in diameter when the blotch is heavy.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.17 RCW, RCW 15.17.030, and chapter 34.05 RCW. 09-01-095, § 16-439-218, filed 12/16/08, effective 1/16/09.]