Section 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.