Similar varietal characteristics means that the potatoes in any lot have the same general shape, color, and character of skin and color of flesh.
Fairly well shaped means that the potato is not materially pointed, dumbbell-shaped, or otherwise deformed. 2
2 USDA Visual Aid, POT-L 1 Jan 81. This publication may be examined in the Fruit and Vegetable Division, Fresh Products Branch, AMS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Building, Washington, DC 20250, or any field office of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Service. Copies of this visual aid may be purchased from the John Henry Company, P.O. Box 17099, Lansing, MI 48901 or United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, N. Washington at Madison, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Moderately firm means that the potato is not seriously shriveled or flabbly. 2
Not seriously misshapen means that the potato is not seriously deformed and causing more than 10% waste when determining the non-peelable area directly due to shape.
Soft rot or wet breakdown means any soft, mushy or leaky condition of the tissue such as Leak, slimy soft rot, wet type Fusarium Tuber Rot, or wet breakdown following freezing injury or heat injury.
Loose sprouts, dirt and foreign material means unattached sprouts or sprouts that become detached during the grading of the sample, stems, vines, adhering dirt, loose dirt, stones, trash and other extraneous material.
Damage means any defect listed in § 51.3416, or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which cannot be removed without a loss of more than 5 percent of the total weight of the potato.
Serious Damage means any defect listed in § 51.3416, or an equally objectionable variation of any of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which cannot be removed without a loss of more than 10 percent of the total weight of the potato.
External Defects are defects which can be detected externally. Cutting may be required to determine the extent of the injury.
Internal Defects are defects which cannot be detected without cutting the potato.