N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 156-c: Farm products; official standards

§ 156-c. Farm products; official standards. The commissioner is

hereby authorized and empowered, after investigation and public hearing,

to establish and promulgate official definitions and standards for

grading or classifying, packing and labeling farm products, or any of

them, packed or repacked within the state; and to change such official

standards from time to time. The commissioner, in establishing such

official standards, shall, among other things, take into account so far

as applicable the factors of maturity, condition, soundness, color,

shape, size and freedom from defects. Such official standards shall not

be lower in their requirements than the minimum requirements of the

official standards for corresponding grades or classifications, as

promulgated from time to time by the secretary of agriculture of the

United States, commonly known as U. S. grades. The use of such official

standards when established shall be optional, but if and when used in

relation to any farm products they must be in conformance with such

standards.