WAC 16-445-025   What does "damage" and "serious damage" mean?  The following table explains the differences between "damage" and "serious damage" as the terms apply to Italian prunes:


"Damage" means: "Serious damage" means:
(1) Any injury or defect that materially affects the prune's appearance, or its edible or shipping quality. (1) Any injury or defect that seriously affects the prune's appearance, or its edible or shipping quality.
Note: Internal growth cracks, cavities or gum spots are not considered damage.  
(2) Any one of the following defects or any combination of defects, the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, is "damage": (2) Any one of the following defects, or any combination of defects, the seriousness of which exceeds the maximum allowed for any one defect, is "serious damage":
(a) Broken skins that are unhealed. (a) Broken skins that are unhealed and more than one-eighth inch in diameter or depth.
Note: Note:
Broken skins caused by pulled stems where the skin is not torn beyond the stem basin are not damage. Broken skins caused by pulled stems where the skin is not torn beyond the stem basin are not serious damage.
Broken skins that have healed are considered scars. Broken skins that have healed are considered scars.
(b) Heat injury that is extensive or not light in color. (b) Heat injury that causes any softening or dark discoloration of the flesh.
  Note:
  Heat injury may cause internal or external discoloration, and may or may not be serious.
  Heat injury should not be confused with sunscald, which causes softening or collapse of the tissue, and which is always classed as serious damage.
(c) External growth cracks, when: (c) External growth cracks that are:
There are more than one on a prune; or Not well healed; or
One is deep; or More than 3/16 inch in depth; or
One is not well healed; or More than 1/2 inch in length.
One is more than 1/4 inch in length.  
(d) Sunburn that has: (d) Sunburn that causes:
Materially changed the normal color of a prune; or Decided flattening of a prune; or
Caused the skin to blister or crack. Blistering, cracking, or noticeable brownish discoloration of the skin.
(e) Split pit that: (e) Split pit that:
Causes a readily apparent crack at the stem end; or Causes a crack at the stem end more than 3/16 inch in length, including any part that may be covered by the stem; or
Affects a prune's shape so it is not well-formed. Affects the shape to the extent that the fruit is badly misshapen.
(f) Hail marks, or other similar depressions or scars that: (f) Hail marks that:
Are not shallow or superficial; or Are more than 3/16 inch deep; or
Total more than 3/8 inch in diameter; or Total more than 1/2 inch in diameter.
Break the skin.    
(g) Drought spots or external gum spots that are more than 1/4 inch in diameter. (g) Drought spots or external gum spots that total more than 1/2 inch in diameter.
(h) Russeting that is: (h) Russeting that is:
Not excessively rough but totals more than 1/10 of a prune's surface; or Not excessively rough but totals more than 1/3 of a prune's surface; or
Excessively rough and totals more than 1/4 inch in diameter. Excessively rough and totals more than 1/2 inch in diameter.
(i) Scars: (i) Scars that are:
Dark, rough or depressed scars totaling more than 1/4 inch in diameter. Very dark or excessively rough and total more than 1/2 inch in diameter; or
Fairly smooth, superficial scars that total more than 1/2 inch in diameter. An example is fairly light discoloration such as that caused by handling or packing or by prunes rubbing against each other while on the tree. More than 3/16 inches deep.
Thorn and limb scratches that are not well healed, or that total more than 1/2 inch in length.  




[Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.17 and 34.05 RCW. 05-10-093, § 16-445-025, filed 5/4/05, effective 6/4/05.]