| Grading Guide: Sweet Corn |
| Illustrated Criteria for USDA Fancy Sweet Corn |
USDA Fancy Sweet Corn is:
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Of Similar Varietal Characteristics
For example, do not mix bicolor
and yellow ears.
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Well Trimmed |
Well developed
Three ears on right are not well developed.
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Fairly Well
Filled With Plump and Milky Kernels
Two ears on right are not well filled.
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Well-Covered
with Fresh Husks
Ear at top right is not well covered. Ear at lower right
does not have a fresh husk and is poorly trimmed.
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At least 6 inches long (cob) |
USDA Fancy Sweet Corn must not have any of these defects:
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Smut |
Worms or Worm Injury |
Insects or Insect Injury |
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Decay |
Clipped Ears |
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Photos below illustrate categories of injury specified
in USDA Fancy criteria. Check criteria for allowable limits.
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Rust |
Discoloration |
Bird Injury |
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Mechanical Injury |
Disease |
Other Injury |
This project made possible by financial assistance from Indiana's Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Value-Added Research Grant Program.
| Grading Guide: Sweet Corn |
| Definitions of Criteria for USDA Fancy Sweet Corn |
Characteristics of USDA Fancy Sweet Corn:
Similar Varietal Characteristics |
Well Trimmed |
Well Developed |
Fairly Well Filled |
- Similar kernel color
- Similar character of growth
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- Practically free from loose husks
- Shank less than 6 inches
- Shank does not extend more than 1 inch beyond point
of attachment of outside husk
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- Ears fairly straight
- Ears not stunted
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- Kernel rows show fairly uniform development
- Poorly developed rows do not materially affect appearance and quality
- Poorly developed or missing kernels at tip extend no more than 1/4
length of cob
- Poorly developed or missing kernels elsewhere on cob total no more
than 1 square inch on a 6-inch cob.
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Plump and Milky |
Well Covered |
Fresh Husks |
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- Kernels are well developed
- Kernel contents are milky, creamy, or clear jelly-like in consistency
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- Husk enclosing ear is tight and undisturbed
- If husk has been slightly opened, it has been replaced so appearance
is not more than slightly affected
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- Fairly good green color
- Not badly wilted
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USDA Fancy Sweet Corn does not have any:
Decay |
Worm or Insect
Injury |
- Decay occurs when bacteria
or fungi break down the sweet corn.
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- Visible evidence of insect or worm injury
- Insect or worm frass
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Sweet Corn with injury worse than described below does not meet USDA Fancy
criteria.
Measurements are based on a cob 6 to 10 inches long.
| Rust |
Discoloration |
Mechanical
or Bird Injury, Disease, Indented Kernels |
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Total area on husk is more than 1 square inch
- Rust extends deeper than 2 layers of husks
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- Total area on husk is more than 3 square inches
or
- Total area on husk is more than 25% of surface of all blades
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- More than 8 kernels affected
- Husks penetrated in more than 1 place
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This project made possible by financial assistance from Indiana's Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture, Value-Added Research Grant Program.