[Federal Register: September 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 53149-53150]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07se05-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-04-306]
United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of
Agriculture is soliciting comments on its amended proposal to revise
the United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons. AMS received a
petition from the National Watermelon Association (NWA), amending a
portion of their original petition. NWA's amended petition is
requesting that seedless watermelons be defined as: ``Watermelons which
have 10 or less mature seeds, not to include pips/caplets, on the face
of the melon which has been cut into four equal sections (one
lengthwise cut and one crosswise cut).'' NWA's original petition
requested that a variance be added to the size requirements. This
request remains unchanged.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 7, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to
the Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 1661 South Building, Stop
0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240; Fax (202) 720-8871, E-mail
FPB.DocketClerk@usda.gov. Comments should make reference to the dates
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made
available for public inspection in the above office during regular
business hours. The United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons
are available either through the address cited above or by accessing
the Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/standfrfv.htm
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri L. Emery, at the above address
or call (202) 720-2185; E-mail Cheri.Emery@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes
the Secretary of Agriculture ``To develop and improve standards of
quality, condition, quantity, grade and packaging and recommend and
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and
consistency in commercial practices.'' AMS is committed to carrying out
this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of
agricultural commodities and makes copies of official standards
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of
Fruits and Vegetables not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or
U.S. Import Requirements no longer appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations, but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is proposing to revise the voluntary United States Standards
for Grades of Watermelons using procedures that appear in part 36,
title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). These
standards were last revised in 1978.
[[Page 53150]]
Background
AMS received two petitions from the NWA requesting a revision to
the United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons. In the first
petition, the NWA requested that the USDA revise the standards by
defining seedless watermelons as: ``Seedless Watermelons'' are
watermelons which have 16 or less mature seeds, not to include pips/
caplets, on the face of the melon which has been cut into four equal
sections (one lengthwise cut and one crosswise cut). The petitioner
also requested the size requirements be revised by adding an allowance
for watermelons to vary 3 pounds above the stated average weight.
Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with a
revision of the grade standards, AMS decided to seek public comments on
the petition. A notice requesting comments on the petition to revise
the United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons was published in
the April 22, 2004, Federal Register (69 FR 21812).
In response to our request for comments, AMS received one comment
from an industry group. The comment was in favor of the proposed
revision of the standards.
On October 29, 2004, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register
(69 FR 209) proposing to revise the standards based on the petitioner
request to define seedless watermelons and add a variance to the size
requirements.
A 60-day comment period was provided for interested parties to
comment on the proposed changes to the standards.
In response to our request for comments, AMS received two comments
on the proposed revision. One from an industry group representing
receivers and one comment from a consumer. Both commenters supported
the inclusion of a definition for seedless watermelons with a lower
number of allowable seed count. The commenter representing receivers
supported the inclusion of a 3 pound variance in the size requirements,
while the other commenter supported a 1 pound variance. The comments
are available by accessing AMS's Home Page on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm
.
After the comment period ended, AMS received a second petition from
the NWA amending the seedless watermelon definition in their original
petition. The amended petition is requesting that seedless watermelons
be defined as: ``Watermelons which have 10 or less mature seeds, not to
include pips/caplets, on the face of the melon which has been cut into
four equal sections (one lengthwise cut and one crosswise cut).'' NWA
did not amend their petition in regard to the inclusion of a the 3
pound variance.
Based on the submitted information and comments received, AMS is
proposing to revise the standards for watermelons following the
standard format for U.S. Grade Standards. Specifically, the proposed
revision will define seedless watermelons by including the following
definition: ``Seedless Watermelons'' are watermelons which have 10 or
less mature seeds, not to include pips/caplets, on the face of the
melon which has been cut into four equal sections (one lengthwise cut
and one crosswise cut).
AMS is also proposing to change the size requirements by adding an
allowance for watermelons to vary 3 pounds above the stated average
weight. As previously stated, one commenter recommended a 1 pound
variance rather then 3 pound variance. However, AMS is proposing to
change the size requirements by adding an allowance for watermelons to
vary 3 pounds above average weight as the standard currently allows
watermelons to vary 3 pounds below the stated weight, therefore the
inclusion would be consistent within the standards.
This proposal will bring the standards for watermelons in line with
current marketing practices, thereby, improving the usefulness of the
standards in serving the industry. The official grade of a lot of
watermelons covered by these standards will be determined by the
procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing Inspection,
Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other
Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested
parties to comment on changes to the standards.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: September 1, 2005.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-17709 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P