II. CLASSIFICATION 



Since the various tobacco products require leaf 

 of different characteristics, a standard system of 

 classification is necessary. This is used for 

 orderly marketing and distribution of the leaf from 

 farmers to manufacturers and dealers. The U.S. 

 Department of Agriculture (USDA) designatessix 

 major classes of tobaccos grown in the United 

 States. The first three classes are named on the 

 basis of the method used in curing; the last three, 

 which are all cigar leaf classes, on the basisof the 

 principal use for which they are produced. 



Tobaccos grown in the United States are listed 

 below, according to USDA classification. 



Each class is made up of two or more different 

 types. Within the flue-cured class, individual 

 types can no longer be easily identified and the 

 type designation usually refers only to a 

 marketing area. 



Each type is further subdivided into grades. 

 These grades are related to stalk position, quality, 

 color, and other characteristics of the leaf, and 

 provide a common language understood by both 

 buyer and seller. The official U.S. standards for 

 tobacco are playing an increasing role in world 

 trade since several major buyers now require 

 certification of their American purchases. 



CLASSIFICATION OF TOBACCO GROWN IN THE UNITED STATES 



Class 



Type 





Major Producing States 



1. Flue-cured 



11 

 12 

 13 

 14 



Old and Middle Belt 



Eastern Belt 



Border Belt 



Georgia and Florida Belt 



Va. and N.C. 



N.C. 



S.C. and N.C. 



Ga., Fla., and Ala. 



2. Fire-cured 



21 

 22 

 23 



Virginia 



Eastern District 

 Western District 



Va. 



Ky. and Tenn. 



Ky. and Tenn. 



3. Air-cured 

 (a) Light 



31 

 32 



Burley 



Southern Maryland 



Ky., Tenn., Ohio, Ind., Va 

 N.C, W. Va. and Mo. 



Md. 



(b) Dark 



35 

 36 

 37 



One Sucker 

 Green River 

 Virginia sun-cured 



Ky. and Tenn. 



Ky. 



Va. 



4. Cigar-filler 



41 



42-44 



46 



Pennsylvania Seedleaf 

 Ohio filler 

 Puerto Rican filler 



Pa. 



Ohio 



P.R. 



5. Cigar-binder 



51 

 52 

 54 

 55 



Connecticut Broadleaf 

 Connecticut Havana Seed 

 Southern Wisconsin 

 Northern Wisconsin 



Conn. 



Conn, and Mass. 



Wis. 



Wis. 



6. Cigar-wrapper 



61 

 62 



Connecticut Shade 

 Georgia and Florida Shade 



Conn, and Mass. 

 Ga. and Fla. 



7. Miscellaneous 

 Domestic 



72 



Perique 



La. 



Description of Tobacco Classes 



Following is a brief description of tobacco 

 classes, covering some of theelementsof quality, 

 volume of production and exports, and principal 

 uses. 



Class I — Flue-cured makes up about 60 

 percent of tobacco produced in the United States 

 today with annual production of more than 1 

 billion pounds (453 million kilograms). Its name 



