Common retail units, their equivalent weights, and 
approximate yields for canning and freezing must be 
tabulated for use by retail marketers. Because it is often 
inconvenient to package produce for direct sale to consumers 
who often want product in smaller quantities, the marketer 
has the option of pricing his produce either in small-volume 
containers or by selling by count when scales are 
unavailable or cannot be certified. The fresh fruits and 
vegetables listed here grown in Illinois and sold at 
roadside stands, farmers'markets, and pick-your-own stands. 

Retail containers are perhaps the most familiar, as they are 
produced in common sizes for retail selling, as compared 
with bushels, lugs, and other containers used in the 
wholesale trade. Wooden baskets are usually round and come 
in sizes of 1/4 peck, 1/2 peck, 1 peck, 1/2 bushel and 1 
bushel. Boxes, shipping cartons and hampers are usually 
made of corrugated paper, often waxed, ranging in size from 
1/2 peck to 1 bushel. Bags are usually of paper and 
polyethylene, with carrying handles and range in size from 
1/4 peck to 1/2 bushel. Kraft bags are used for packaging 
small amounts. Their estimated equivalent volumes are about 
equal to common sizes of paper bags:such as a grocery bag - 
2/3 bushel, a No. 20 bag - 1 peck (8 quarts), a No. 10 bag 
- 1-3/4 gallons (7 quarts), and a No. 8 bag - 1 gallon (4 
quarts). 

Shallow corrugated paper trays are used on pick-your-own 
berry farms and hold about 6 to 8 quarts (10 to 15 pounds). 
Fruit and vegetable baskets are also often made of 
corrugated with carrying handles and range in size from 2 to 
8 quarts. Fruit tills or cups are small containers made of 
a variety of materials, such as: pulp, cardboard, corrugated 
paper, plastic, or wood. Their shape varies with kind of 
container, and quart berry cups are familiar in most 
markets. 

Some definitions and conversions of measurement helpful in 
fruit and vegetable production are as follows: 

Bushel - 2,150 cubic inches, 32 quarts (dry), 64 pts. (dry) 

Peck - 1/4 bushel, 8 dry quarts, 538 cubic inches 

Lug - Shallow containers, usually wood, that vary in size 
for different crops. Used in wholesale markets 

Gallon - 4 quarts, 231 cubic inches. A liquid measure. 

Quart- 58 cubic inches 

Kilo (gram) - 2,205 lbs. 

Liter - 1,057 qts. 


Following is a table of common retail fruits and vegetables, 
including their retail units, their net weight and their 
yield. 


FRUITS 
---------------------------------------------------------- 

APPLES 
(usually sold in volume containers of various sizes) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 42 to 48 1 peck (32 medium apples) 
yields 4qt. canned 
1/2 bushel bag 24 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 lb. fresh=1 pt. 
frozen 
peck 10 to 14 1 bushel=15 to 18 qt. canned 
applesauce 
=30 to 36 pt. frozen 
applesauce 
=16 to 20 qt. canned, or 
10 to 12 qt. of 
juice 
1 cup pared, sliced=1/4 
lb. 

APRICOTS 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 50 1 bushel yields 48 to 54 pt. 
frozen 
lug 24 1 lug yields 28 to 33 pt. frozen 
peck 12 to 14 2/3 to 4/5 lb.=1 pt. frozen 
1 cup halves, pitted=1/3 lb. 

BLACKBERRIES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

6-qt. t 10 to 12 
gallon 5 to 6 1 cup=1/4 lb. 
quart 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 1-1/2 to 3 lb.=1 qt. canned 

BLUEBERRIES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

6-qt. tray 10 to 12 1 cup=1/3 lb. 
gallon 5 to 6 2-1/4 to 3 lb.=1 qt. canned 
quart 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 1 pt. fresh=1 qt. frozen 
pint 3/4 to 2 

CHERRIES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

lug 15 to 16 2 to 2-1/2 lb.=1 qt. canned, 
unpitted 
quart 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 1 pt.=1pt. frozen, unpitted 
pint 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 1 cup=1/3 lb. 

GOOSEBERRIES 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

quart 1-3/4 to 2 

GRAPES 
(with stems) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 44 to 50 1 bushel yields 16 qt. of juice 
lug 24 to 28 1 cup (whole, stemmed)=1/3 lb. 
2-qt. basket 2-1/2 to 3 

PEACHES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 48 to 52 1 bushel yields 16 qt. canned 
1/2-bushel 24 2 to 2-1/2 1b.=1 qt. canned 
lug 19 to 22 1 to 1-1/2 lb.=1 pt. frozen 
peck 12 to 14 1 cup=2/5 lb. 

PEARS 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 48 to 50 1 bushel yields 20 to 25 qt. 
canned 
lug 21 to 24 1 to 1-1/2 lb.=1 pt. frozen 
peck 12 to 14 2 to 2-1/2 lb.=1 qt. canned 
1 cup pared, sliced=2/5 lb. 

PLUMS 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 50 to 56 1 bushel yields 24 to 30 qt. 
canned 
peck 13 to 15 2 to 2-1/2 lb.-1 qt. canned 
1 cup halves=1/3 lb. 

RASPBERRIES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

6-qt tray 8 to 10 1 cup=1/3 lb. 
3-qt tray 
quart 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 
pint 3/4 

STRAWBERRIES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

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 
4-qt crate 36 


VEGETABLES 

ASPARAGUS 
(often sold in bunches weighing 1-1/2 to 2 lb. each) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 45 1 to 1-1/2 lb. yield 1 pt. 
frozen 
pyramid crate 32 3 to 4 lb. yield 1 qt. canned 

BEANS, Lima 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 32 1 bu. yields 12 to 16 pt. 
frozen 
peck 8 3 to 5 lb.= qt. canned 

BEANS, Snap 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 28 to 30 1 bu. yields 30 to 45 pt. 
frozen 
peck 8 to 9 3 to 5 lb.=qt. canned 

BEETS 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 
(often sold in 2 lb. bunches with leaves) 

bushel, topped 50 to 56 1 bu. yields 10 to 12 qt. 
frozen 
2 to 3-1/2 lb.=1 qt. canned 

BROCCOLI 
(usually sold by the haed or bunch weighing 1 to 1-1/2 lb.) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 23 to 25 1 bu. yields 10 to 12 qt. 
canned 
1 lb.=1 pt. frozen 

BRUSSELS SPROUTS 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

quart 1-1/2 1 qt. yields 1-1/2 pt. frozen 

CABBAGE 
(often sold by the head, varying in size with variety and 
tightness of head, usually 2 to 6 lb.) 
Retail Unit Yield 

crate or mesh bag 50 3 lb.=1 qt. canned sauerkraut 
freezer slaw=1 lb.=2 cups 
cooked, or 1 lb.=4 cups 
shredded 

CARROTS 
(often sold in 1 lb. bunch with tops) 
Retail Unit Yield 

bushel, topped 50 1 bu. yields 32 to 40 pt. 
frozen 
2 to 3 lb.=1 qt. canned 

CAULIFLOWER 
(usually sold as 1 to 1-1/2 lb. heads) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

carton of 12 to 
16 trimmed 18 to 24 2 med. heads=3 pt. frozen, or 
1-1/2 qt. canned 

CORN 
Sweet (usually sold by 1 dozen count, which weigh 6 to 8 
lb. in husk) 
Retail Unit Yield 

5 doz. bag or 
wire-bound crate 35 to 40 60 ears yield 14 to 17 pt. 
frozen 
1 doz. ears yield 1 to 1-1/2 pt 
canned 

CUCUMBERS 
(sometimes sold by count) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 48 to 50 1 bu. yields 24 qt of dill 
pickles 
peck 12 to 13 

EGGPLANT 
(usually sold by count, 1 to 1-1/2 lb. each) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 33 to 35 2 average=1 qt. canned, or 2 
pt frozen 

KALE 
(also sold in 1 to 1-1/2 bunches) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 18 1 bu. yields 6 to 9 qt canned, 
12 to 18 pt. frozen 

GREENS 
(Mustard, Spinach, and Turnip often sold in 1 to 1-1/2 
lb. bunches or bags) 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

bushel 48 

OKRA 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 26 1 bu. yields 17 qt. canned, 
34 to 40 pt. frozen 

ONIONS 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

bunch, green 
48 bunches 15 to 18 

ONIONS 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

dry, sack 50 

PEAS (Green, unshelled) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 28 to 30 1 bu. yields 12 to 15 pt frozen 
peck 7 to 8 3 to 6 lb.=1 qt canned 

PEAS, Edible pod peck 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

quart 1 to 1-1/2 

PEPPERS, Green 
(often sold by count) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 25 to 30 2/3 lb.=1 pt. frozen 
large peppers, 80-85 per bu.; 
small peppers, 110 per bu. 

POTATOES 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

new No. 10 bag 10 

PUMPKINS 
(usually sold by count) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

pie pumpkins 5 to 15 2 to 3 lb.=1 qt. canned (as 
cubes) 
jack o'lantern 15 to 40 

RADISHES 
(usually sold in bunches of 1/2 to 3/4 lb.) 

RHUBARB 
Retail Unit Net Weight 

bunch 2 to 2-1/2 1 lb. cooked=3/4 cup 

SQUASH 
summer (zucchini, crookneck, Patty Pan, etc.) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 40 to 44 1 bu. yields 32 to 40 pt frozen 
8 qt. basket 10 2 to 4 lb=1 qt. canned 

SQUASH 
winter (usually sold by count and may be graded by size) 
Net Weight 
3 lb.=2 pt. frozen 
2-1/2 to 3 lb.=1 qt canned 
Small (such as Acorn, Butternut, Buttercup) 
Net Weight 1 to 4 
Intermediate (such as Delicious, Golden Hubbard, Banana) 
Net Weight 6 to 12 
Large (such as Blue Hubbard, Jumbo Banana) 
Net Weight 15 to 40 

SWEET POTATO 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 50 2/3 lb.=1 pt. frozen 
peck 12 to 13 2 to 3 lb.=1 qt. canned 

TOMATOES 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

bushel 50 to 60 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 lb.=1 qt. 
canned 
8 quarts or 1 bu. yields 15 to 20 qt. 
peck basket 12 to 15 canned 

TURNIPS & 
RUTABAGA 
(without tops) 
Retail Unit Net Weight Yield 

mesh bags or 
bushel 50 to 56 1 lb.=2-2/3 cups diced 
peck 12 to 15 

