Do you know the difference between what is scored as Yellowing and what is scored as Blanching?
- Yellowing (#1) is due to age, and is scored as a defect when the yellow color is plainly visible. In other words, whenever you see any amount of yellow color, the lime is scored against the (5%) tolerance for serious damage.
- Blanching (#2) is due to the lime not coloring up properly during the growing process. Whenever there is more than 25% of the surface not having a good green color, the lime is scored against the (10%) tolerance for color. There is also a (10%) tolerance for other defects.
4 Comments on “Limes-Yellowing/Blanching”
Thanks for clearing this up. I love your pictures! I assume inspecting Limes in well-lit conditions is a must.
If I asked for a Condition Only inspection, the percentage of blanching would not be reported. Blanching is a quality defect, while yellowing is a condition defect. Yellowing is really hard to see in our warehouse, with our lighting conditions.
the photos above do not distinguish which photo is blanching and which is yellowing
You can request a condition only inspection and also request that the blanching be reported as well. This seems to be the new normal for the U.S.D.A as a unwritten rule to get around doing the juice test. I hope to see a article soon on the juice content for limes which is part of grade. 42% juice content is the requirement for US#1 limes. I would also be nice to hear some input from PACA on the subject.