Check Quality Grades of Vegetables You Buy "Many canned and frozen vegetables are sold under quality grades established and maintained by consumer and marketing experts of the United States Department of Agriculture." Here is my tip on the subject: If you can't buy fresh buy it frozen. This is because the fruit or veg is frozen when the item was ripe. The flash freezing technique prevents moisture loss so it tastes better than the canned variety. Canned vegetables are cooked or blanched before the canning process. Canned foods also have some type of filler like water, oil, or syrup. So you lose some of the freshness of the product. I found a USDA pamphlet on canned and frozen grading that was published in 1969. READ IT HERE! Basically there are Grades A, B, & C A is best B is ok C is trash "Fancy" is also a term used for Grade A products. You just thought it was fancy marketing! EXTRA FANCY This is the best ...