[Federal Register: October 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 58370]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc05-30]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 58370]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-05-304]
United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to revise the
United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus. At a 2003
meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was
asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for
usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has noted the
current U.S. Grade standards do not have provisions for grading purple
or white asparagus. The proposed revision will allow purple or white
asparagus to be certified to a U.S. grade.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 5, 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 the issue of the Federal Register and will be made
available for public inspection in the above office during regular
business hours. The current United States Standards for Grades of Fresh
Asparagus, along with the proposed changes, will be available either
through the address cited above or by accessing the AMS Home Page on
the Web at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.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, quality, 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 the USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Fresh
Asparagus using the procedures that appear in part 36, title 7 of the
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
At a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Committee, AMS was
asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for
usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified the
U.S. Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus color requirement for
possible updating. The color requirement only provides for the grading
of green color asparagus and not purple or white asparagus.
Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with a
revision of the grade, AMS published a notice on March 29, 2005 in the
Federal Register (70 FR 59) soliciting comments on the possible
revision of the United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus.
In response to the request for comments, AMS received three
comments on the proposed revision. One comment was from an industry
group supporting the proposal. The second comment was from a private
individual that did not support the revision and was generally opposed
to a federal grade standard. And the third comment was from another
industry group supporting the development of standards for white and
purple asparagus. However, the commenter believes that separate
standards are needed, noting that any change to the current standards
would compromise the fresh green asparagus marketing standards. We
disagree that separate standards for white and purple asparagus are
necessary and no change to the current green asparagus requirements are
anticipated. The comments are available by accessing AMS's Home Page on
the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fvfpbdocketlist.htm.
AMS believes that a revision to include purple and white
requirements in the color section of the standards is warranted to
facilitate the marketing of purple and white asparagus and improve the
usefulness of the standards in better serving the industry.
Additionally, AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. This
section is being removed in all standards, when they are revised. This
category is not a grade and only serves to show that no grade has been
applied to a lot or shipment.
The official grade of a lot or shipment of fresh asparagus covered
by the standards is 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 a 60-day comment period for interested parties
to comment on changes to the standards.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: October 3, 2005.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-20091 Filed 10-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P