What are the standards in classifying the quality of cherries?

Sweet Cherries

     1. U.S. Grades No.1 consists of sweet cherries which meet the following requirements:

          a. Basic requirements are similar varietal characteristics; mature; fairly well colored; well-formed; clean;

          b. Free from decay; insect larvae or holes caused by them; soft, overripe, or shriveled; undeveloped doubles; and sunscald;

          c. Free from damage by any other cause; and

          d. Size. Unless otherwise specified, the minimum diameter of each cherry shall be not less than a three-fourths inch. The maximum diameter of the cherries in any lot may be specified in accordance with the facts.

     2. U.S. Commercial consists of sweet cherries that meet the requirements for the U.S. No. 1 grade except for minimum diameter and except for increased tolerances.

          a. Size. Unless otherwise specified, the diameter of each cherry shall be not less than a five-eighths inch. The maximum diameter of the cherries in any lot may be specified in accordance with the facts.

Sour Cherries

     1. U.S. No. 1 consists of sour cherries which are fairly well colored, free from decay, worms, pulled pits, attached stems, and free from damage caused by bird pecks, hail marks, limb rubs, wind whips, and other scars, sunscald, shriveling, foreign material, disease, insects, mechanical or other means.

          a. Size. Unless otherwise specified, each cherry shall have a diameter of not less than 5/8 inch; and

          b. Tolerances. To allow for variations incident to proper handling, not more than a total of 7 percent, by weight, of any lot of cherries may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, but not more than five-sevenths of this amount, or 5 percent, may fail to meet the grade requirements other than for attached stems and no part of this tolerance shall be allowed for cherries which are affected by worms.

     2. U.S. No. 2 consists of sour cherries that meet all of the requirements of the U.S. No. 1 grade, except that a total tolerance of 12 percent, by weight, of any lot of cherries shall be permitted for grade defects, but not more than five-sixths of this amount, or 10 percent, may fail to meet the grade requirements other than for attached stems, and not part of this tolerance shall be allowed for cherries which are affected by worms.

Source: 

USDA Grades of sweet cherries; USDA Grades of red sour cherries for manufacture