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Weights and Processed Yields of Fruit and Vegetables in Retail Containers
This information prepared by former Extension horticulturists S.C. Myers and Paul Colditz.
Released by Darbie Granberry and Terry Kelley, Extension horticulturists.

Retail or direct marketing at farmer's markets, roadside markets, stands and pick-your-own farms is an important and growing method of marketing fresh fruits and vegetables in Georgia. However, many of the containers used in the wholesale trade are not practical for direct marketing to consumers who desire fruits and vegetables in small quantities. The retail marketer has the option of selling his product in small volume containers or by count when scales are unavailable.

Containers available for retail marketing come in a wide range of sizes and materials. Some of the more common retail containers are presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Common Retail Containers

Common Name Material Common size(s)
Baskets wood 1/4, 1/2 and peck; 1/2 and 1 bushel
Boxes, Cartons and Hampers corrugated paper, often waved, or wood from 1/2 peck to 1 bushel
Bags paper and polyethylene, often with handles 1/4 peck to 1/2 bushel
Kraft paper bags Grocery bag - 2/3 bushel
No. 20 bag - 8 quarts
No. 10 bag - 7 quarts
No. 8 bag - 4 quarts
No. 2 bag - 1 quart
Trays corrugated paper 6 to 8 quarts (10 to 15 pounds)
Fruit and Vegetable Baskets corrugated paper with handles 2 to 8 quarts
Fruit Tills or Cups pulp, cardboard, plastic, corrugated paper or wood 1/2 pint to 4 quarts

Under specific fruit and vegetable crops, retail containers are compared with the more common containers (bushels, lugs, etc.) that are used in the wholesale trade (tables 2 and 3). In addition, weights and approximate yields for canning and freezing of fruits and vegetables in some of the common retail containers are presented for use in retail marketing. Because processed yields can vary so much based on size of produce and processing method, consider the indicated yields to be approximate values.

Table 2. Weights and Approximate Processed Yields for Fruits

Product Retail Volume Net Weight (lbs) Processed yield
Apples bushel (bu) 42 to 48

1 bushel = 15 to 18 qt. canned applesauce

1 bushel = 30 to 36 qt. frozen applesauce

1 bushel = 10 to 12 qt. juice

1 peck (32 med. apples) = 4 qt. canned

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb. fresh = 1 pt. frozen

2 to 3 lb. fresh = 1 qt. canned

1 cup pared, sliced = 1/4 lb.

1/2 bushel bag

24
peck

10 to 14

Blackberries 6-qt. tray 10 to 12

1 1/2 to 3 lb. = 1 qt. canned
gallon

5 to 6
quart

1 1/4 to 1 1/2

Blueberries 6-qt. tray 9 to 12 2 1/4 to 3 lb. = 1 qt. canned

1 pt. fresh = 1 pt. frozen

1 cup = 1/3 lb.

1 cup = 1/3 lb.

gallon

6 to 8
quart 1 1/2 to 2
pint 3/4 to 1
Cherries lug 15 to 16

2 to 2 1/2 lb. = 1 qt. canned, unpitted

1 pt. = 1 pt. frozen, unpitted

1 cup = 1/3 lb.

quart

1 1/2 to 1 3/4
pint

1 1/4 to 1 1/2

Grapes
(with stems)

bushel

44 to 50

1 bu = 16 qt. of juice

1 cup (whole, stemmed) = 1/3 lb.

lug 24 to 28
2-qt. basket 2 1/2 to 3
Peaches

bushel 48 to 52 1 bu = 18 to 24 qt. canned

2 to 2 1/2 lb. = 1 qt. canned

1 to 1 1/2 lb. = 1 pt. frozen

1 cup = 2/5 lb.

1/2 bushel bag 24
lug 19 to 22
peck 12 to 14
Pears bushel 48 to 50 1 bu = 20 to 25 qt. canned

2 to 2 1/3 lb. = 1 qt. canned

1 to 1 1/2 lb. = 1 pt. frozen

1 cup pared, sliced = 2/5 lb.

lug

21 to 24
peck 12 to 14
Plums bushel 50 to 56

1 bu = 24 to 30 qt. canned

2 to 2 1/2 lb. = 1 qt. canned

1 cup halves = 1/3 lb.

peck

13 to 15

Raspberries 6 - qt. tray 8 to 10 1 cup = 1/3 lb.

3 - qt. tray

 4
quart 1 1/4 to 1 1/2
pint 3/4
Strawberries quart

1 1/4 to 1 1/2

1 lb. = 1 pt. frozen

4-qt. basket

 6

6-qt. basket

 10 to 12

8-qt. basket

 12 to 15

8-qt. flat

 12

24-qt. crate

36

Table 3. Weights and Approximate Processed Yields for Vegetables

Product Retail Volume Net Weight* (lbs) Processed Yield Comments
Asparagus bushel (bu) 24 1 to 1 1/2 lb. = 1 pt. frozen

3 to 4 lb. = 1 qt. canned

often sold in bunches weighing 1 1/2 to 2 lb. each
pyramid crate 32
Beans, Lima bushel 30

1 bu = 12 to 16 pt. frozen

3 to 5 lb. = 1 qt. canned

 
peck

8 to 9

Beans, Snap bushel 28 to 30

1 bu = 30 to 45 pt. frozen

1 1/2 to 2 1/2 lb. = 1 qt. canned

1 bu = about 15-16 qt. canned

 
peck

8

Beets bushel, topped 52 1 bu = 35 to 42 pt. frozen

2 to 3 1/2 lb. = 1 qt. canned

often sold in 2 lb. bunches with leaves
Broccoli bushel 23 to 25 1 bu = 10 to 12 qt. canned

1 lb. = 1 pt. frozen

usually sold by the head or bunch weighing 1 to 1 1/2 lb.
Brussels Sprouts carton, loose pack 25

1 qt. = 1 1/2 pt. frozen  
quart

1 1/2

Cabbage flat crate 53 to 60

3 lb. = 1 qt. canned sauerkraut

1 lb. = 2 cups cooked

1 lb. = 4 cups shredded

often sold by the head, varying in size with variety and tightness of head, usually 2 to 6 lb.
carton

53

Carrots

bushel, topped 50 1 bu = 32 to 40 pt. frozen

2 to 3 lb. = 1 qt. canned

often sold in 1 lb. bunch with tops
carton packed 2 dozen bunches of 1 lb. Each 23 to 27
Cauliflower carton of 12 to 16 trimmed 18 to 24 2 med. heads = 3 pt. frozen, or 1 1/2 qt. canned usually sold as 1 to 1 1/2 lb. heads
Collards Sold by doz. bunches, 3 plants per bunch from N. Ga., 5-7 plants S. Ga. from direct seeded crop   3/4 - 1 lb. = 1 pt. markets desire bunches to weigh 4 lb.
Corn, Sweet bushel

35

60 ears = 14 to 17 pt. frozen

1 doz. ears = 1 to 1 1/2 qt. canned

usually sold by doz. which weigh 6 to 8 lb. in husk

wirebound crates

42 to 50

Cucumbers bushel 48 to 50

1 bu = 24 qt. of dill pickles sometimes sold by count
peck

12 to 13

Eggplants bushel 33 to 35   sometimes sold by count
Greens bushel 18 to 20 1 to 1 1/2 lb. = 1 pt. frozen mustard, spinach, and turnip often sold in 1 to 1 1/2 lb. Bunches or bag
Kale bushel 18 1 bu = 6 to 9 qt. canned, 12 to 18 pt. frozen also sold in 1 to 1 1/2 lb. bunches
Muskmelons bushel 48   usually sold by count; vary widely in size by variety, 3 to 6 lb. Each
Okra tall bushel hamper

26 to 30

1 bu = 17 qt. canned

34 to 40 pt. frozen

 

12 qt. basket

15 to 18

Onions dry, sack 50

 

 
bunch, green - 48 bunches

15 to 18

Peas, English
green (unshelled)

bushel

28 to 30

1 bu = 12 to 15 pt. frozen

3 to 6 lb. = 1 qt. canned

 
peck 7 to 8
Peas, Southern bushel hamper 25 3 1/2 - 4 = 1 qt.  
Peas, Edible Pod peck 8 to 10  

 

 
quart

1 to 1 1/2

Peppers, Green Hot bushel 25 to 30 2/3

2/3 lb. = pt. frozen Green (often sold by count) large peppers, 80-85 per bu; small peppers, 110 per bu
cartons

16 to 25

Potatoes, Irish
(mature)

sack

100

1 bu = 20 qt. canned		  
bushel 60
peck 15
Potatoes (new) No. 10 bag 10  

 
Pumpkins

 

pie pumpkins each

5 to 15

3 to 4 lb. = 1 qt. canned		 sold by count
Jack o'lantern each 15 to 40
Radishes carton of 30 6 oz. film bags

12		   also sold in bunches of 1/2 to 3/4 lb.
Rhubarb bunch 2 to 2 1/2 1 lb. cooked = 3/4 cup  
Rutabaga bushel basket 56 1 lb. = 2 2/3 cups diced usually sold by count
peck 15
Squash, Summer bushel 40 to 44 1 bu = 32 to 40 pt. frozen

2 to 4 lb. = 1 qt. canned

zucchini, crookneck, Patty Pan, etc.
8 qt. basket 10
Squash, Winter

small each		 1 to 4 3 lb. = 2 pt. frozen

2 1/2 to 3 lb. = 1 qt. canned

usually sold by count and may be graded by size such as Acorn, Butternut, Buttercup
intermediate each 6 to 12 such as Delicious, Golden Hubbard, Banana
large each 15 to 40 such as Blue Hubbard, Jumbo Banana
Sweet Potatoes bushel (cured) 50 2/3 lb. = 1 pt. frozen

2 to 3 lb. = 1 qt. canned

 
peck

12 to 13

Tomatoes bushel 53

2 1/2 to 3 1/2 lb. = 1 qt. canned

1 bu = 15 to 20 qt. canned

 

paperboard box

25
8 qt. or peck basket

12 to 15

Turnips
(without tops)

mesh bag or bushel

50 to 56

1 lb. = 2 2/3 cups diced		 wash - tie 6-8 turnips per bunch - roots to be 2-3" in diameter
peck 12 to 15
turnips bunched with tops. Sold by dozen in paperboard box. 18 dozen
Watermelons paperboard box 4 melons usually sold by count  

*Net weight per container may vary slightly due to variation in product size. Net weight should not be less than the least stated weight listed.

Volumes and Conversions

Bushel

8 gallons (dry)

32 quarts (dry)

64 pints (dry)

4 pecks

2,150 cubic inches
Peck

1/4 bushel

8 quarts (dry)

538 cubic inches
Lug shallow containers, usually wood, that come in any size
Gallon

4 quarts

231 cubic inches
Quart

32 fluid ounces

58 cubic inches
Kilo (or kilogram) 2.205 pounds
Liter 1.057 quarts (liquid)

Acknowledgments and Selected References

The authors wish to acknowledge the following sources and references, certain tables from which were adapted for use in this publication.

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization Committed to a Diverse Work Force

Circular 780, Reprinted July 1999

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Gale A. Buchanan, Dean and Director
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