PECAN GRADING 324 SH 16 South Goldthwaite TX 76864 PH 325 938 5460 or 800 527 1825 FAX 325 938 5490 Online www.pecans.com
1. DRAWING SAMPLES To take a sample of a load of pecans, a minimum of 1/10th of 1% by weight should be drawn equally throughout the load. If pecans are packed in bags, it is recommended that samples be taken from at least one out of every four bags. The ideal way is to dump the bags and take a sample from different areas of different bags (top, middle, bo om). If a probe is used, the sample should be drawn from different areas of different bags. 2. SAMPLE TO BE CRACKED The drawn sample should be thoroughly mixed and a minimum of three one pound samples should be very carefully cracked either by hand or through mechanical crackers. The three one pound samples should be separated by hand. The percentage of edible meat yield from the cracked samples will be the hand test for that sample, and an average of the three will be the hand test of the load. However, if extreme variance occurs, three addi onal one pound samples should be cracked. An average of the six pounds will then be used to determine the yield. 3. BREAKDOWN OF HAND TEST It is suggested that at me of sale, the guaranteed hand test (which is the edible meat yield) be broken down to show the percentage of #1 kernels, the percentage of #2 kernels and the percentage of #3 kernels. For example, if the total hand test was 40%, it would be broken down as 35% #1 kernels, #2 kernels and 3% #3 kernels or whatever percentages were actually produced in each category. A descrip on of the three classifica ons of kernels is as follows: #1 Kernel bright colored, full bodied, solid #2 Kernel light weight, bright in color #3 Kernel amber colored, either full bodied or light weight
A er the process is completed, it would be helpful if the rejected 100 material (wafers, insect damaged pecans, embryo rot, pecans with adhering fuzzy material, etc.) be weighed and the percentage of these rejected meats reported in addi on to the edible meat yield. Using the above example, a hand test could be reported as being 40%; consis ng of 35% #1 kernels, 2% #2 kernels, 3% #3 kernels and with a rejected meat yield of 4%. The percentage of rejected pecan meats would have nothing to do with the percentage of edible meat yield (hand test), but it would help describe the load to the buyer. A. WAFERS Poorly developed, shriveled kernels (commonly known as wafers) will be discarded. These will not count in the edible meat yield. B. INSECT DAMAGE a. Insect S ngs: One s ng on a kernel no larger than a pencil point will be kept unless the s ng has turned the en re kernel bi er. If over one half of 1% of the en re sample has pencil point s ngs, excess above 1/2 of 1% will be discarded. b. Black Blotches: En re kernel will be rejected if blotch is larger than a pencil lead. C. EMBRYO ROT If there is evidence of green, grey, brown or black discolora on where the kernel is joined together (commonly called the eye of the nut), the en re kernel will be rejected. If discolora on shows on the back of the center ridge of the kernel, it will be discarded.
D. ADHERING FUZZY MATERIAL Kernels with adhering fuzzy material of contras ng color that covers 40% or more of the kernel will be discarded. 4. BUYING WEIGHTS Shipper s weight at point of origin will be accepted. Variance of ~ of 1% tolerance will be accepted. 5. BAG WEIGHTS Present policy requires regular super backs/bulk bags will be used wherein the seller will deduct the weight of the bag. Bags must be for pecans only. 6. TRUCK WEIGHTS A truck load will consist of 40,000 to 44,000 pounds, unless otherwise specified. 7. MOISTURE It should be understood that moisture shall not exceed 6% (recommenda on to adjust excess moisture on the basis of 1.2% of weight of each 1% of moisture over 6%). 8. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Should truck load be received and price and quality cannot be nego ated, freight will be shared on a 50/50 basis. Truck load must be kept intact so it can be returned. Unless otherwise specified, we assume a truck load to be No. 1 nuts.
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2016 Southern Nut n Tree Publications Printed in USA