Fresh young and tender and green.  Plants or leaves should be free of insect injury, coarse stems, dry or yellowing leaves, excessive dirt, or development are usually lacking in quality and will cause excessive waste.  Wilted plants and leaves are undesirable.

Grades

There is a U.S. Standard grade for endive, escarole, and chicory, but not for French Endive, or Witloof or chicory which is marketed for its roots.

U.S. No.1  Fresh, well trimmed, free from decay, and damage caused by seed stems, broken or bruised, spotted or discolored leaves, wilting, dirt, disease, insects, or mechanical means.