CHAPTER 97. CONTAINER STANDARDS
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS Sec.
97.1. Definitions.
CLIMAX BASKETS
97.11. Standards for climax baskets.
97.12. Tolerances.
BASKETS AND OTHER CONTAINERS
97.21. Standards for baskets and other containers for small fruits, berries andvegetables.
97.22. Tolerances.
HAMPERS AND ROUND STAVE BASKETS
97.31. Standards for hampers and round stave baskets for fruits and vegetables.
97.32. Tolerances.
SPLINT BASKETS
97.41. Standards for splint baskets for fruit and vegetables.
97.42. Tolerances.
GENERAL
97.51. Use of covers.
97.52. Exceptions.Authority The provisions of this Chapter 97 issued under act of April 4, 1929 (P. L. 144) (3 P. S. § § 21—33); and section 1704 of The Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P. S. § 444), unless otherwise noted.
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
§ 97.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Climax basket—A basket for grapes and other fruits and vegetables which is approximately rectangular in shape, with handle, and having slanting sides composed of one or more pieces of material bound at the top by bands of heavier material, and having a solid bottom or having sides and bottom formed from one continuous piece of material.
Hamper—A container, usually round, but which may be elliptical or polygonal, larger at top than at bottom, and of greater depth than width; having slatted or solid sides and solid or fabricated bottom, or having sides and bottom formed of one continuous piece of material.
Round stave basket—A round container, larger at top than at bottom, and of greater width than depth, having slatted sides and solid or fabricated bottom, or having sides and bottom formed from one continuous piece of material.
Splint basket—A basket commonly known to the trade as a market basket, approximately rectangular in shape, usually with handle or handles, the sides and bottom of which are formed of solid or fabricated material, usually bound at the top by bands of heavier material.
Standard basket or other container for small fruits, berries and vegetables— A small, open or partly open container generally known as a berry box or till basket, commonly made in the following sizes: 1/2-pint, pint, quart, 2-quart, 3-quart, and 4-quart; the larger sizes sometimes used with handles; used as a display or retail sales package or as a sub-container with a crate or other carrier, but not usually in itself a primary shipping container; or any other baskets for the above commodities made in multiples of the dry 1 quart.
CLIMAX BASKETS
§ 97.11. Standards for climax baskets.
(a) The standard 2-quart climax basket shall be of the following dimensions: Length of bottom piece, 9 1/2 inches; width of bottom piece, 3 1/2 inches; thickness of bottom piece, 3/8 inch; height of basket, 3 7/8 inches outside measurement; top of basket, length 11 inches and width 5 inches, outside measurement. Basket shall have a cover 5 by 11 inches, when a cover is used.
(b) The standard 4-quart climax basket shall be of the following dimensions: Length of bottom piece, 12 inches; width of bottom piece, 4 1/2 inches; thickness of bottom piece, 3/8 inch; height of basket, 4 11/16 inches, outside measurement; top of basket, length 14 inches, width 6 1/4 inches, outside measurement. Basket shall have a cover 6 1/4 inches by 14 inches, when the cover is used.
(c) The standard 12-quart climax basket shall be of the following dimensions: Length of bottom piece, 16 inches; width of bottom piece, 6 1/2 inches; thickness of bottom piece, 7/16 inch; height of basket, 7 1/16 inches, outside measurement; top of basket, length 19 inches, width 9 inches, outside measurement. Basket shall have cover 9 inches by 19 inches, when cover is used.
(d) The standards for climax baskets for mushrooms shall be those designated in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section, except that a one-pound climax basket of the following dimensions shall be standard for mushrooms when plainly stamped or marked on the side of the basket with the words ‘‘For mushrooms only’’: Length of bottom piece, 7 1/4 inches; width of bottom piece, 3 3/16 inches; thickness of bottom piece, 3/8 inch; height of basket, 3 5/8 inches; top of basket, length, 9 3/8 inches, width 4 3/8 inches outside measurements. Basket shall have a cover 4 3/8 inches by 9 3/8 inches, when cover is used.
(e) The required marking or stamping of one-pound baskets ‘‘For mushrooms only’’ shall be not less than 2 1/2 inches in over-all length, and composed of letters not less than 3/8 inch in height.
Cross References This section cited in 7 Pa. Code § 97.12(c) (relating to tolerances).
§ 97.12. Tolerances.
(a) For the purpose of allowing for variations in the capacity of containers incidental to manufacture, the excess or deficiency in the capacity of any container over or under the standard capacity prescribed for such container by these standards may be as much as, but not more than, the tolerance for excess and deficiency shown in Table 1, except for the following:
(1) Where departures from the standard capacity occur in any lot of containers, the proportion over and under the standard capacity shall be approximately equal.
(2) No lot shall be considered satisfactory in which the containers are within the deficiency tolejance but all are under the standard capacity prescribed for such containers.
TABLE 1. SCHEDULE OF CAPACITY TOLERANCES ALLOWED
UNDER § 97.11.
Tolerances (in cubic inches) Standard Capacity excess deficiency 2 Quarts 5 2.5 4 Quarts 10 5 12 Quarts 23 12
(b) If a container has a capacity to which a standard is applicable, but which is not specified in the column headed ‘‘Standard capacity’’ in Table 1, the excess or the deficiency allowed shall be that permitted for the next smaller capacity specified in the table.
(c) The excess or deficiency in any dimension specified in Table 2 in the column designated ‘‘Basket dimensions’’ over or under the measurement prescribed for such dimensions in § 97.11 (relating to standards for climax baskets) may be as much as, but not more than, the amount specified opposite such dimension in the column designated ‘‘Excess or Deficiency,’’ as the case may be.
TABLE 2. SCHEDULE OF DIMENSION TOLERANCES FOR
CLIMAX BASKETS
Tolerances (in inches) Basket Dimensions (outside
measurements)excess deficiency Combined length and width of top: 2-quart and 1-pound mushrooms 1/2 1/4 4-quart 5/8 3/4 12-quart 3/4 1/2 Height, all sizes 1/8 1/8 Width of bottom, all sizes 1/8 1/8 Length of bottom, all sizes 1/8 1/8 Thickness of bottom, all sizes 1/32 1/32 Length of cover, all sizes 1/8 1/8 Width of cover, all sizes 1/8 1/8
BASKETS AND OTHER CONTAINERS
§ 97.21. Standards for baskets and other containers for small fruits,berries and vegetables.
(a) The dry half-pint shall contain 16.8 cubic inches.
(b) The dry pint shall contain 33.6 cubic inches.
(c) The dry quart shall contain 67.2 cubic inches.
§ 97.22. Tolerances.
(a) For the purpose of allowing for variations in the capacity of containers incidental to manufacture, the excess of deficiency in the capacity of any container over or under the standard capacity prescribed for such container by these standards may be as much as, but not more, than the tolerance for excess and deficiency shown in Table 3, except for the following:
(1) Where departures from the standard capacity occur in any lot of containers, the proportion over and under the standard capacity shall be approximately equal.
(2) No lot shall be considered satisfactory in which the containers are within the deficiency tolerance but all under the standard capacity prescribed for such containers.
TABLE 3. SCHEDULE OF CAPACITY TOLERANCES ALLOWED
UNDER § 97.21.
Tolerances (in cubic inches) Standard Capacity excess deficiency 1/2 pint 1 .75 1 pint 2 1.5 1 quart 3 2 2 quarts 5 2.5 3 quarts 7.5 3.75 4 quarts 10 5 12 quarts 23 12
(b) If a container has a capacity to which a standard is applicable, but which is not specified in the column headed ‘‘Standard capacity’’ in Table 3, the excess or the deficiency allowed shall be that permitted for the next smaller capacity specified in the table.
HAMPERS AND ROUND STAVE BASKETS
§ 97.31. Standards for hampers and round stave baskets for fruits and vegetables.
(a) The standard 1/8-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 268.8 cubic inches.
(b) The standard 1/4-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 537.6 cubic inches.
(c) The standard 3/8-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 606.4 cubic inches.
(d) The standard 1/2-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 1075.21 cubic inches.
(e) The standard 5/8-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 1344 cubic inches.
(f) The standard 3/4-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 1612.8 cubic inches.
(g) The standard one-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 2150.42 cubic inches.
(h) The standard 1 1/4-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 2688 cubic inches.
(i) The standard 1 1/2-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 3225.63 cubic inches.
(j) The standard 2-bushel hamper or round stave basket shall contain 4300.84 cubic inches.
§ 97.32. Tolerances.
(a) For the purpose of allowing for variations in the capacity of containers incidental to manufacture, the excess or deficiency in the capacity of any container over or under the standard capacity prescribed for such container by these standards may be as much as, but not more than, the tolerance for excess and deficiency shown in Table 4, except for the following:
(1) Where departures from the standard capacity occur in any lot of containers, the proportion over and under the standard capacity shall be approximately equal.
(2) No lot shall be considered satisfactory in which containers are within the deficiency tolerance but all under the standard capacity prescribed for such containers.
TABLE 4. SCHEDULE OF CAPACITY TOLERANCES ALLOWED
UNDER § 97.31.
Tolerances (in cubic inches) Standard Capacity excess deficiency 1/8 bushel (4 quarts) 10 5 1/4 bushel (8 quarts) 16 8 3/8 bushel (12 quarts) 23 12 1/2 bushel (16 quarts) 30 15 5/8 bushel (20 quarts) 36 18 3/4 bushel (24 quarts) 40 20 1 bushel (32 quarts) 50 25 1 1/4 bushels (40 quarts) 58 29 1 1/2 bushels (48 quarts) 65 33
(b) If a container has a capacity to which a standard is applicable, but which is not specified in the column headed ‘‘Standard capacity’’ in Table 4, the excess or the deficiency allowed shall be that permitted for the next smaller capacity in the table.
SPLINT BASKETS
§ 97.41. Standards for splint baskets for fruit and vegetables.
(a) The 4-quart splint basket shall contain 268.8 cubic inches.
(b) The 8-quart splint basket shall contain 537.6 cubic inches.
(c) The 12-quart splint basket shall contain 806.4 cubic inches.
(d) The 16-quart splint basket shall contain 1075.21 cubic inches.
(e) The 24-quart splint basket shall contain 1612.8 cubic inches.
(f) The 32-quart splint basket shall contain 2150.42 cubic inches.
§ 97.42. Tolerances.
(a) For the purpose of allowing for variations in the capacity of containers incidental to manufacture, the excess or deficiency in the capacity of a container over or under the standard capacity prescribed for the container by these standards may be as much as, but not more than, the tolerance for excess and deficiency shown in Table 5, except for the following:
(1) Where departures from the standard capacity occur in a lot of containers, the proportion over and under the standard capacity shall be approximately equal.
(2) No lot may be considered satisfactory in which the containers are within the deficiency tolerance but under the standard capacity prescribed for the containers.
TABLE 5. SCHEDULE OF CAPACITY TOLERANCES ALLOWED
UNDER § 97.41.
Tolerances (in cubic inches) Standard Capacity excess deficiency 1/8 bushel (4 quarts) 10 5 1/4 bushel (8 quarts) 16 8 3/8 bushel (12 quarts) 23 12 1/2 bushel (16 quarts) 30 15 5/8 bushel (20 quarts) 36 18 3/4 bushel (24 quarts) 40 20 1 bushel (32 quarts) 50 25 1 1/4 bushels (40 quarts) 58 29 1 1/2 bushels (48 quarts) 65 33
(b) If a container has a capacity to which a standard is applicable, but which is not specified in the column headed ‘‘Standard capacity’’ in Table 5, the excess or the deficiency allowed shall be that permitted for the next smaller capacity specified in the table.
GENERAL
§ 97.51. Use of covers.
If a cover is used on a container described in this chapter, it shall be securely fastened or attached in such a manner as not to reduce the capacity of the container below the minimum required for the container.
§ 97.52. Exceptions.
Nothing in this chapter prohibits the manufacture for sale or shipment, offer for sale or shipment of a container, or parts thereof, to a foreign country; nor may this chapter prevent the manufacture or use of banana hampers of the shape and character now in commercial use as shipping containers for bananas.
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