Asparagus quality inspection app with AI for asparagus quality:

Asparagus Quality inspections during production

View App Specifications.

Receiving Information: Asparagus should be fresh and firm with compact tips. Spears should be straight and round, and snap easily when bent. Avoid asparagus with wilted appearance or spreading tips. Dull gray-green color; limp tips: indication of chill injury. Tough spears: sensitive to ethylene; spears may become tough if exposed to the gas. For best results store away from ethylene producing fruits. Decay; tough texture; loss of flavor: will deteriorate and lose flavor if stored at high temperatures. Dried cut ends: may become dry if exposed to low humidity. 

Daily Asparagus packhouse hygiene checklist

Storage/Handling: Temperature/humidity recommendation for short-term storage of 7 days or less: 32-36 degrees F / 0 - 2 degrees C. 90 - 98% relative humidity. To promote better shelf life stand asparagus cut-end down in 1-inch water.

Description:
Green Asparagus is the predominant type for fresh availability. Characterized by green stalks with some white at the base; green tips with some purple tinge. Asparagus has been in cultivation over 2,500 years, and in the United States since the 1870’s. The Greeks and Romans valued asparagus for medicinal purposes – treating bee stings, heart ailments and toothaches. Asparagus continues to grow after it is picked by using the water content of the stalk; that is the reason it is packed in pyramid boxes.

Asparagus Quality control & management

Grades of Asparagus
U.S. No. 1 consists of stalks of asparagus which are fresh, well trimmed, and fairly straight; which are free from decay and free from damage caused by spreading or broken tips, dirt, disease, insects, or other means.
a. Size. Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each stalk is not less than one-half inch.
b. Color. Unless otherwise specified, not less than two-thirds of the stalk length shall be the color of the lot.
c. Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified:
1) For defects. 10 percent for stalks in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of this grade other than for trimming, including therein not more than 5 percent for defects causing serious damage: Provided, That not more than one-fifth of this latter amount, or 1 percent, shall be allowed for stalks affected by decay. In addition, not more than 10 percent of the stalks in any lot may fail to meet the trimming requirement.

Asparagus Supplier quality inspection & management

For off-size. 10 percent for stalks in any lot which fail to meet the specified diameter or length requirements.
U.S. No. 2 consists of stalks of asparagus which are fresh, fairly well trimmed, and not badly misshapen; which are free from decay and free from serious damage caused by spreading or broken tips, dirt, disease, insects or other means.
a. Size. Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each stalk is not less than five-sixteenths inch.
b. Color. Unless otherwise specified, not less than one-half of the stalk length shall be the color of the lot.
c. Tolerances. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling, the following tolerances, by count, are provided as specified:
1) For defects. 10 percent for stalks in any lot which fail to meet the requirements of this grade other than for trimming, including therein not more than one-tenth of this tolerance, or 1 percent, shall be allowed for stalks affected by decay. In addition, not more than 10 percent of the stalks in any lot may fail to meet the trimming requirement.
2) For off-size. 10 percent for stalks in any lot which fail to meet the specified diameter or length requirements..