As the standard of living improved in the developed countries of Europe and North America, the demand for high quality fresh commodities increased. The fruit and vegetable industry responded by developing products in accordance with this demand. In order to meet the market requirements, the industry developed a system of standards and grades which reflected consumer preferences and facilitated the rapidly expanding trade. Locally, the importance of standards and grades is gaining greater significance because of the need to increase foreign exchange earnings, throught the export of horticultural products. High standards and appropriate grades are critical for the successful marketing of Caribbean tropical products. In addition, local consumers have become more quality conscious in their demand for fresh commodities, as disposable income becomes scarcer. The purpuse of this paper is to give a better understanding of the function of standards and grades as they relate to the marketing of fresh commodities. (ACH)