23 DECEMBER
NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
4657

Curcubita maxima known as butternut squash, (kabocha), to be supplied fresh to the customer.

Note: Butternut squash for industrial processing is excluded from this grade providing the packages are marked accordingly.

2.4 Provisions concerning quality—The purpose for this standard is to define the quality requirements for butternut squash at the dispatching stage, after preparation and packaging.

Refer schedules:

One—Definition of terms and provisions concerning fruit quality;

Two—Provisions concerning sizing, tolerance and presentation; and

Three—Allowance for defects.

2.5 Provisions concerning packaging—Refer Schedule Four.

2.6 General Information and exemptions—Refer Schedule Five.

Schedule One

3. Definition of Terms:

3.1 “Colour” means typical of the variety.

3.2 “Cured” means that at the time of loading into the export sea container or vessel the fruit has been held for an adequate time period to allow:

(a) The cut surface of the stalk to dry;

(b) The remainder of the stalk to have commenced shrivelling to a firm texture with a brown withered surface.

(c) During the curing/holding process all product shall be stored to allow maximum ventilation, and have a minimum of 10 cm between rows of stacked bins.

3.3 An adequate time period is considered to be:

(a) In the case of dry/door off container shipment:

a minimum of 48 hours with strong recommendation for 72 hours from harvest to shipment.

(b) In the case of reefer vessel shipment:

a minimum of 96 hours with a strong recommendation for 192 hours from harvest to shipment.

3.4 “Mature” means that the fruit has reached a minimum maturity at harvest as indicated by:

(a) the development of prominent brown flecks on the stalk; and

(b) the development of a dull dark green colour to the skin, with the loss of a glossy sheen on the skin; and

(c) a full orange colour in the flesh; and

(d) more than 50% of seed display kernel formation that is firm.

3.5 “Sound” means free from any decay, rots, (including small shallow rots even if dry and calloused), breakdown freezing or chilling injury, damage and similar defects, and not of an age which may cause rapid loss of condition or rapid decay.

3.6 “Storage Defects” means decay, fungal rots, wilt or other injury as a result of storage.

3.7 “Sunburn” means injury from exposure to the sun which results in sunken white areas of damaged flesh.

3.8 “Trimmed” means the stalk is cut cleanly and is less than 20 mm long or does not protrude more than 10 mm above the shoulders of the fruit.

4. Provisions Concerning Fruit Quality

The fruit shall be:

4.1 Free from pests and diseases and meet any quarantine and other legal requirements of the importing country;

4.2 Intact, whole;

4.3 Sound—free from storage defects or any other defects which may impair their general appearance or keeping quality;

4.4 Clean—free from soil, practically free of any other visible foreign matter;

4.5 Free from abnormal external moisture;

4.6 Free from foreign smell or taste;

4.7 Mature;

4.8 Trimmed;

4.9 Cured;

4.10 Of good quality, with similar varietal characteristics including shape and colour and without distortion due to abnormal development;

4.11 Capable of withstanding handling, storage and transport, and arriving at the destination in a sound condition;

4.12 Free from sunburn and scald;

Note: Skin defects which are not liable to impair the keeping qualities are permitted within the limits specified in the Third Schedule to this notice.

Schedule Two

5. Provisions Concerning Sizing, Tolerance, and Presentation:

5.1 Provisions concerning sizing—Sizing is determined by weight at the time of packing. The minimum size for export in bulk packs is 1.2 kg and above which should be marked Grade 1.

Note: Fruit in the size range of 1 kg up to 1.2 kg only is permitted as a separate pack which shall be marked accordingly and checked for maturity prior to export.

5.2 Tolerance—Any one package shall not contain more than 5 percent of individual fruit whose weight is outside the branded size range.

5.3 Presentation

(a) Uniformity—For the purposes of grade the contents of each package shall be uniform; each package must contain only fruit of the same origin, variety, quality, degree of ripeness and size. The visible part of each package shall be representative of the entire contents.

(b) Packaging—The fruit shall be packed in clean new packages substantially free of fungi and all other foreign material and in such a way to ensure that they are suitably protected.

Packages shall be free of all foreign matter.

(c) Export Bin specifications—All wooden bins used to export butternut squash shall meet the specifications and dimensions, as set out in the Fourth Schedule to this notice.

Schedule Three

6. Allowances for Defects:

6.1 Soil bleaching (groundspot)—Shall not cover more than 15 percent of the surface area on individual fruit.

6.2 Discolouration (bronzing)—The result of exposure to the sun. Where the colour of the affected area is still predominantly green the fruit is acceptable. Where a brown or bronzed colour is dominant in the affected area the fruit is not acceptable.

6.3 Vine marks—The vine must not have substantially distorted the outline or shape of the fruit. A vine mark must be:

(a) No deeper than 20 mm from the normal surface of the fruit at the deepest point.

(b) No wider than 20 mm at the widest point.

(c) No longer than 100 mm.

6.4 Callousing—Surface callousing (ie non-raised areas) shall

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