The Florida Senate

601.16  Grapefruit maturity standards; fresh and processed.--

(1)(a)  Seedless grapefruit for fresh use, except as provided herein, shall not be deemed mature until:

1.  Each fruit, after having been severed from the tree, shows a break in color, with yellow color predominating on not less than 25 percent of the fruit's surface in the aggregate;

2.  The total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice is not less than 7.5 percent;

3.  The ratio of the total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid meets the requirements of s. 601.17; and

4.  The juice content of each fruit is not less than the minimum requirements for the respective fruit size as set forth in s. 601.18

(b)  Except for the period January 1 through July 31, seedless grapefruit meeting minimum color break, ratio, and juice content requirements of paragraph (a) shall be deemed mature when the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice is not less than 7 percent.

(c)  Except for the period April 15 through July 31, seedless grapefruit meeting minimum color break, soluble solids, and juice content requirements of paragraph (a) shall be deemed mature when the ratio of soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid is not less than six to one.

(d)  Except the commission may, by rule, during the period November 1 through July 31, lower by not more than 0.5 percent the minimum total soluble solids requirement established by this section for pink and red seedless grapefruit. Any such rule shall automatically expire on July 31 next following its adoption.

(2)(a)  Seeded grapefruit for fresh use, except as provided herein, shall not be deemed mature until:

1.  Each fruit, after having been severed from the tree, shows a break in color, with yellow color predominating on not less than 25 percent of the fruit's surface in the aggregate;

2.  The total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice is not less than 8 percent;

3.  The ratio of the total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid meets the requirements of s. 601.17; and

4.  The juice content of each fruit is not less than the minimum requirements for the respective fruit size as set forth in s. 601.18

(b)  Except for the period January 1 through July 31, seeded grapefruit meeting minimum color break, ratio, and juice content requirements of paragraph (a) shall be deemed mature when the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice is not less than 7.5 percent.

(c)  Except for the period April 15 through July 31, seeded grapefruit meeting minimum color break, soluble solids, and juice content requirements of paragraph (a) shall be deemed mature when the ratio of soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid is not less than six to one.

(3)  Grapefruit for processing into juices and juice products shall be deemed mature as follows:

(a)  For the period August 1 through November 30, maturity requirements for juice content, acid, and color break shall be the same as established herein for grapefruit for fresh use. After November 30, there shall be no minimum requirement for juice content, acid, or color break.

(b)  For the period August 1 through November 30, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice from seedy grapefruit shall be not less than 8 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than eight to one.

(c)  For the period August 1 through November 30, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice from seedless grapefruit shall be not less than 7.5 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than eight to one.

(d)  For the period December 1 through December 31, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice from seedy and seedless grapefruit shall be not less than 7 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than eight to one.

(e)  For the period January 1 through January 31, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice from seedy and seedless grapefruit shall be not less than 6.5 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than eight to one.

(f)  For the period February 1 through April 14, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice from seedy and seedless grapefruit shall be not less than 6.5 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than six and one-half to one.

(g)  For the period April 15 through July 31, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice from seedy and seedless grapefruit shall be not less than 6.5 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than six to one.

(h)  All grapefruit subject to inspection at a registered packinghouse, eliminated from final packing, and legally diverted from the packinghouse for processing into juice and juice products shall be deemed mature as provided in paragraphs (a)-(g), except that, for the period August 1 through January 31, the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than seven and one-half to one. For the period August 1 through January 31, such fruit failing to meet maturity standards as provided may be used in the production of products as provided in s. 601.9906(2).

(i)  Any grapefruit which is subject to inspection at a registered citrus processing plant for processing into grapefruit sections and salads, eliminated from processing into grapefruit sections and salads, and diverted for processing into juice and juice products shall be deemed mature as provided in subsection (4).

(4)  Grapefruit for processing into grapefruit sections and salads shall be deemed mature as follows:

(a)  For the period August 1 through November 30, maturity requirements shall be the same as established herein for grapefruit for fresh use.

(b)  After November 30, there shall be no minimum requirements for juice content, acid, or color break.

(c)  For the period December 1 through December 31, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice shall be not less than 7 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall meet the requirements of s. 601.17

(d)  For the period January 1 through April 14, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice shall be not less than 6.5 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than six and one-half to one.

(e)  For the period April 15 through July 31, the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice shall be not less than 6.5 percent, and the minimum ratio of total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid shall be not less than six to one.

(5)  The commission may, by rule, for the period April 15 through July 31, adjust any minimum total soluble solids requirement for grapefruit for processing purposes established by this section. Any such rule shall automatically expire on July 31 following its adoption.

History.--s. 16, ch. 25149, 1949; s. 12, ch. 26492, 1951; s. 1, ch. 28090, 1953; s. 1, ch. 59-13; s. 1, ch. 61-50; s. 22, ch. 71-186; s. 1, ch. 78-61; s. 1, ch. 85-50; s. 4, ch. 87-226; s. 1, ch. 96-228.