[Federal Register: January 12, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 8)]
[Notices]
[Page 2013-2014]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja06-29]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
[[Page 2013]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-04-304]
United States Standards for Grades of Mangos
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is establishing voluntary United States Standards
for Grades of Mangos. The standards are intended to provide industry
with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting
orderly and efficient marketing of fresh mangos.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 13, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Emery, 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, call (202) 720-2185, or e-mail
Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The United States Standards for Grades of Mangos
is available at the above address or by accessing the AMS, Fresh
Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda. gov/standards/
stanfrfv.htm.
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 the USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is establishing United States Standards for Grades of Mangos
using procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
On December 16, 2003, AMS published a notice in the Federal
Register (68 FR 69984) soliciting comments for the possible development
of United States Standards for Grades of Mangos. Based on the comments
received and information gathered, AMS developed proposed grade
standards for Mangos. A notice was then published in the March 11,
2005, Federal Register (70 FR 12173) requesting comments on the
proposed United States Standards for Grades of Mangos. The proposed
standards contained sections pertaining to grades, sizes, tolerances,
application of tolerances, definitions, and a table of defects. The
following grades as well as a tolerance for each grade would be
established: U.S. Fancy, U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2. In addition,
``Application of Tolerances'' section and ``Size Requirements'' section
with a table listing size designations would also be established. The
standards defined ``Injury,'' ``Damage,'' ``Serious damage,'' along
with specific basic requirements and other defects. Also included was a
``Classification of Defects'' section, in a table format, which would
list some of the various defects affecting mangos and scoring guides
for the particular grade involved. In response to this notice a request
was received from a national trade association representing produce
receivers for an extension of the comment period. Following a review of
the request, AMS published a notice in the July 1, 2005, Federal
Register (38091) extending the comment period. AMS received eighteen
comments from the mango industry on the proposed standards. The
comments are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web
site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
AMS received fourteen comments opposing the size proposed in the
table because it did not include some of the currently marketed sizes.
The commenters stated that the table was limiting because it did not
take into account different varieties. Some felt the table was too
inconsistent by suggesting a four ounce and a six ounce difference
between the top and the bottom of the size. In addition, three of those
commenters stated that the customer base and the existing packing house
technology would prevent the industry from implementing the size
requirement. The comments suggesting that the table be removed have
merit. Accordingly, the size section of the standards is removed.
The proposed standard provided that ``soft'' would be scored as a
defect. AMS received three comments that stated that the word ``soft''
was not a negative attribute and therefore should not be used as a term
which may cause confusion in the mango industry. They went on further
to state that consumers are taught that mangos are ripe when they yield
to gentle pressure or are soft and that ``overripe'' was a negative
attribute. In addition, two commenters referred to the defect as
overripe in their table of classification of defects with their scoring
guides in the comments which were submitted in the form of quality
assurance standards. Therefore, based on the comments received, the
references to ``soft'' are removed and replaced with the word
``overripe.'' The term overripe will now also be defined in the
standard as follows: ``Overripe'' means that flesh of the mango yields
to slight pressure and is beginning to disintegrate and is past
commercial utility. Also, one commenter stated there was some confusion
over the term ``Soft nose.'' Upon further review, we believe that use
of the term would be confusing; therefore, this term has been
eliminated from the requirements of the grades and from the
classification of defects table.
Three commenters expressed the concern that the scoring guide for
the classification of skin defects such as external (surface)
discoloration and sunken discolored areas were too tight. One commenter
believed that a majority of the fruit being shipped today would not
even pass the U.S. No. 2 grade due
[[Page 2014]]
to skin defects such as sap burn, abrasions, freckling, pitting, or
other discolorations that do not affect the eating quality of the
fruit. The commenter went on to state, ``At the same time, we must not
allow normal levels of minor skin defects to cause the fruit to fall
completely out of grade and destroy any commercial value the fruit
would otherwise have without the grade standard.'' Another commenter
stated, ``In the Ataulfo variety, some resin spots on the skin vanish
while reaching yellow color.'' However, one commenter felt that the
scoring guides were too loose. Based upon the comments received, AMS
believes it is appropriate to increase the percentage of the surface
affected before scoring of certain skin defects. Therefore, external
(surface) discoloration was increased from ten and fifteen percent to
aggregate areas of more than fifteen and twenty-five percent for damage
and serious damage respectively in the classification of defects table.
The skin defect shriveling was changed from scored when present in any
amount, when affecting an aggregate are more than five percent of the
surface, and when affecting an aggregate area more than ten percent of
the surface to five, fifteen, and twenty-five percent respectively for
injury, damage, and serious damage in the classification of defects
table. AMS believes that the sunken discolored areas category does not
need adjustment because it is a combination defect and combination
defects affect the marketing of mangos more than surface discoloration
or sunken areas alone.
Additionally, AMS believes the defect Anthracnose should also be
removed from the classification of defects table. There may be
difficulty in identifying this defect. This defect has various symptoms
such as superficial black spots and streaks or fruit staining that then
may become sunken and eventually lead to fruit rot. However, this
defect will be scored according to the general definitions of injury,
damage, and serious damage.
The adoption of these standards will provide the rapidly growing
mango industry with grade standards similar to those extensively in use
by the fresh produce industry to assist in orderly marketing of other
commodities.
The official grade of a lot of mangos 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).
The United States Standards for Grades of Mangos will become
effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: January 6, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 06-281 Filed 1-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P