Lettuce

Marketing standard for lettuces, curled-leaved endives and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives.

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE

This standard applies to:

- lettuces of varieties (cultivars) grown from:

- Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata L. (head (cabbage) lettuces including crisphead and "Iceberg" type lettuces),

- Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia Lam. (cos or romaine lettuces),

- Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa L. (leaf lettuces),

- crosses of these varieties and

- curled-leaved endives of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cichorium endivia L. var. crispa Lam., and

- broad-leaved (Batavian) endives (escaroles) of varieties (cultivars) grown from Cichorium endivia L. var. latifolium Lam.

to be supplied fresh to the consumer.

This standard does not apply to produce for industrial processing, produce presented as individual leaves, lettuces with root ball or lettuces in pots.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for produce after preparation and packaging.

A. Minimum requirements

In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, the produce must be:

• intact
• sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded
• clean and trimmed, i.e. practically free from all earth or other growing medium and practically free of any visible foreign matter
• fresh in appearance
• practically free from pests
• practically free from damage caused by pests
• turgescent
• not running to seed
• free of abnormal external moisture
• free of any foreign smell and/or taste.

In the case of lettuce, a reddish discolouration, caused by low temperature during growth, is allowed, unless it seriously affects the appearance of the lettuce.

The roots must be cut close to the base of the outer leaves and the cut must be neat.

The produce must be of normal development. The development and condition of the produce must be such as to enable it:

• to withstand transportation and handling
• to arrive in a satisfactory condition at the place of destination.

B. Classification

The produce is classified in two classes, as defined below:

Class I

Produce in this class must be of good quality. It must be characteristic of the variety or commercial type, especially the colour.

The produce must also be:

- well formed

- firm, taking into account the cultivation methods and the type of produce

- free from damage or deterioration impairing edibility

- free from frost damage.

Head lettuces must have a single well-formed heart. However, in the case of head lettuces grown under protection, the heart may be small.

Cos lettuces must have a heart, which may be small.

The centre of curled-leaved endives and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives must be yellow in colour.

Class II

This class includes produce which do not qualify for inclusion in Class I, but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above.

The produce must be:

- reasonably well formed

- free from damage and deterioration which may seriously impair edibility.

The following defects may be allowed provided the produce retains its essential characteristics as regards the quality, the keeping quality and presentation:

- slight discolouration

- slight damage caused by pests.

Head lettuces must have a heart, which may be small. However, in the case of head lettuces grown under protection, absence of heart is permissible.

Cos lettuces may show no heart.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING

Size is determined by the weight of one unit.

A. Minimum weight

The minimum weight for Classes I and II is:

B. Uniformity

(a) Lettuces

In all classes, the difference between the lightest and heaviest units in each package must not exceed:

• 40 g when the lightest unit weighs less than 150 g per unit
• 100 g when the lightest unit weighs between 150 g and 300 g per unit
• 150 g when the lightest unit weighs between 300 g and 450 g per unit
• 300 g when the lightest unit weighs more than 450 g per unit.

(b) Curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives

In all classes, the difference between the lightest and heaviest units in each package must not exceed 300g.

IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES

Tolerances in respect of quality and size shall be allowed in each lot for produce not satisfying the requirements of the class indicated.

A. Quality tolerances

(i) Class I

A total tolerance of 10 %, by number of units, not satisfying the requirements of the class, but meeting those of Class II is allowed. Within this tolerance not more than 1 % in total may consist of produce neither satisfying the requirements of Class II quality nor the minimum requirements. Produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption is excluded.

(ii) Class II

A total tolerance of 10 %, by number of units, satisfying neither the requirements of the class nor the minimum requirements is allowed. Produce affected by rotting or any other deterioration rendering it unfit for consumption is excluded.

B. Size tolerances

For all classes: a total tolerance of 10 %, by number of units, not satisfying the requirements as regards sizing, but weighing no more than 10 % over or under the size in question, is allowed.

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION

A. Uniformity

The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only produce of the same origin, variety or commercial type, quality and size.

However, a mixture of produce of distinctly different colours, varieties and/or commercial types may be packed together in a sales unit [1], provided they are uniform in quality and, for each colour, variety and/or commercial type concerned, in origin.

The visible part of the contents of the package must be representative of the entire contents.

B. Packaging

The produce must be packed in such a way as to protect it properly. It must be reasonably packed having regard to the size and type of packaging, without empty spaces or crushing.

The materials used inside the package must be clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials, particularly paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided the printing or labelling has been done with non-toxic ink or glue.

Packages must be free of all foreign matter.

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING

Each package [2] must bear the following particulars in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked, and visible from the outside:

A. Identification

Packer and/or dispatcher/shipper:

- name and physical address (e.g. street/city/region/postal code and, if different from the country of origin, the country)

or

- a code mark officially recognised by the national authority [3].

B. Nature of produce

• "Lettuces", "butterhead lettuces", "Batavia", "crisphead lettuces (Iceberg)", "Cos lettuces", "leaf lettuce" (or, for example and if appropriate, "Oak leaf", "lollo bionda", "lollo rossa"), "curled-leaved endives" or "broad-leaved (Batavian) endives", or other synonyms if the contents are not visible from the outside
• "Little Gem" where appropriate or other synonyms
• An indication "grown under protection", or other appropriate indication, where appropriate
• Name of the variety (optional)
• In the case of sales units containing a mixture of distinctly different colours, varieties and/or commercial types of produce, "Mixture of salads", or equivalent denomination. If the produce is not visible from the outside, the colours, varieties or commercial types of the sales unit must be indicated.

C. Origin of produce

• Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local place name.
• In the case of sales units containing a mixture of distinctly different colours, varieties and/or commercial types of produce of different origins, the indication of each country of origin shall appear next to the name of the colour, variety and/or commercial type concerned.

D. Commercial specifications

• Class
• Size, expressed by the minimum weight per unit, or number of units
• Net weight (optional).

E. Official control mark (optional)

Packages need not bear the particulars mentioned in the first subparagraph, when they contain sales packages, clearly visible from the outside, and all bearing these particulars. These packages shall be free from any indications such as could mislead. When these packages are palletised, the particulars shall be given on a notice placed in an obvious position on at least two sides of the pallet."