18 DECEMBER NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 4253

Departmental Notices

Agriculture

New Zealand Grown Fruit and Vegetables Regulations 1975

Standard Grade, and Types of Packages to be Used, for the Export of Buttercup Squash Notice (Ag. 12/2/14; No. 1078)

This notice revokes the Standard Grade, and Types of Packages to be Used, for the Export of Buttercup Squash Notice (Ag. 12/1/14; No. 1033) published in the New Zealand Gazette, 27 March 1997, Issue No. 29 at page 699.

Pursuant to regulations 13 and 16 of the New Zealand Grown Fruit and Vegetables Regulations 1975*, the Director General of Agriculture, hereby gives notice that the standard grade, and types of packages to be used, for the export of buttercup squash shall be as set out in this notice.

Notice

1. Title—(1) This notice may be cited as the Standard Grade, and Types of Packages to be Used, for the Export of Buttercup Squash Notice 1997.

(2) This notice shall come into force on the day after the date of its notification in the New Zealand Gazette.

2. Interpretation—Unless the context otherwise requires, or a definition in Schedule One or Schedule Four otherwise indicates, terms and expressions used in this notice shall have the same meaning as in the New Zealand Grown Fruit and Vegetables Regulations 1975*.

2.1 Application of notice—This notice determines the standard grade, and types of packages to be used, for the export of Buttercup Squash from New Zealand.

2.2 Contents of Notice and Name of Standard Grade—The standard grade is set out in Schedule One, Two and Three. The name assigned to this standard grade shall be Grade 1. The types of packages to be used are set out in Schedule Four.

2.3 Definition of Produce—This notice applies to the fruit of the vegetable Cucurbita maxima, known as buttercup squash, to be supplied fresh to the customer.

2.4 Provisions Concerning Quality—The provisions of this standard define the quality requirements for buttercup squash at the dispatching stage, after preparation and packaging.

Refer Schedules:

One—Definition of Terms in Schedule One and Provisions Concerning Fruit Quality

Two—Provisions Concerning Sizing, Tolerance and Presentation

Three—Allowances for Defects

2.5 Provisions Concerning the Types of Packages to be Used—Refer Schedule Four

2.6 General Information—Refer Schedule Five

Schedule One

3. Definition of Terms in Schedule One

3.1 “Clean” means free from soil, practically free of any other visible foreign matter.

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

(a) The cut surface of the stalk to be dry and calloused.

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

3.3 “Field Spot” means small shallow marks on the surface of the fruit that are dry and calloused.

3.4 “Firm” is where white cotyledon formation is evident.

3.5 “Mature” means that the fruit has reached a minimum maturity at harvest, as indicated by more than 50 percent of the seeds displaying kernel formation that is Firm, and one of the following indicators:

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

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

(c) a full orange colour in the flesh.

3.6 “Skin Rub” means any skin abrasion which has not penetrated the flesh.

3.7 “Sound” means free from any decay, rots, overmaturity, breakdown, freezing injury, damage and similar defects, which may cause rapid loss of condition or rapid decay.

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

3.9 “Sunburn” means injury from exposure to the sun, expressed as concentrated, bleached, scorched patches on the skin surface, resulting in discoloured and/or damaged flesh.

3.10 “Trimmed” means the stalk is cut cleanly, and: either

(a) is less than 20 mm long; or

(b) does not protrude more than 10 mm above the shoulders of the fruit.

4.0 Provisions Concerning Fruit Quality

The fruit shall be:

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

4.2 Intact, whole;

4.3 Sound;

4.4 Clean;

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 high consistency; ie 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;

4.13 Packed in such a way as to ensure that they are suitably protected from fungi and all other foreign material.