Peppers

GENERAL:  Frozen sweet peppers are prepared from fresh, clean , sound, firm pods of  the common commercial varieties of sweet peppers.  The product is blanched, cut and Individually Quick Frozen in accordance with good manufacturing practices and customer needs.

SIZES:
Dice:   1/4",  3/8",  1/2"
Strips:   3/8", 1/2"  (Random length or 1-1/2").

Color: Frozen peppers that possess good color.  Good color means a good characteristic bright color for the type (Red or Green).  Off color allowance is 10%.

Texture: The product is tender and free from signs of disintegration or fiber.

Size: A predominance of size being prepared with some commercial varience to be expected (maximum 15 % off size pieces).

Foreign Material:
NONE.

Seeds:
Maximum (10) seeds per 1 lb. test sample.

Clusters: Frozen units are free flowing, less than 10% by weight are in clumps.

Defects:
MAXIMUM OF 5% TOTAL DEFECTS BY WEIGHT.
Includes mechanical damage, biological breakdown (pathological or insect damage), silt, stem, and core material. Maximum 2% defects that seriously affect appearance.

Enzymes: 
Negative peroxidase and catalase tests.

Herbicides &
Pesticides:
Meets F.D.A. and U.S.D.A. tolerances, information can be supplied upon request.

PEPPERS

MICROBIOLOGICAL:

Aerobic Plate Count:  
100,000 cfu/g

Coliform:                           
100 cfu/g

E. Coli:                              
Negative

Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Yeast, Mold, and Staphylococcus aureus testing, available upon request.

Product and material shall be of good quality and shall be prepared in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP's) under strict sanitary conditions to minimize the possibility of contamination during manufacture.  Product shall conform to all applicable provisions of the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Packing Containers:  
Net weight shall be determined according to purchaser's request.

Container Sizes:  
45-50 lb. corrugated cardboard cases and 1100-1300 lb. corrugated cardboard tote bins.  Cases and bins are lined with blue poly liners and taped closed along seam flap.

Container Codes:   Packages are coded with the following:    Product identification and size, Day Code (incorporates date, product description, pallet number) net and gross weights, and lot number.

Shelf Life: 1 Year.