§ 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.