[Federal Register: October 3, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 191)]
[Notices]
[Page 58367-58368]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03oc06-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-05-303]
United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting
Broccoli
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the
voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian
Sprouting Broccoli. AMS is revising the standards to include provisions
for certifying and grading broccoli crowns and florets. Specific size
requirements for broccoli crowns and florets are being established.
Additionally, the size requirements for the U.S. Fancy grade are being
revised to provide minimum and maximum lengths for broccoli bunches
``unless otherwise specified.'' AMS is also revising the size
specification section to allow percentages to be determined ``by
weight,'' as well as ``by count,'' when fairly uniform in size. AMS is
adding a definition for fairly uniform and definitions for the terms
florets and crowns and revising the definition for diameter. AMS is
defining and adding ``same type'' to the requirements for each of the
grades. AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. Additionally, AMS
is revising the title of the standards to United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli as the standards will now apply to
multiple forms of broccoli. These changes are made to update the
broccoli grade standards and better reflect current marketing
practices.
DATES: Effective Date: November 2, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri L. Emery, Standardization
Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1661 South Building, STOP 0240,
Washington, DC 20250-0240, Fax (202) 720-8871 or call (202) 720-2185;
E-mail Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The revised United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli will be available either through
the address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch
Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/[fxsp0]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.'' The Agricultural Marketing
Service (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 revising the United States Standards for Grades of Bunched
Italian Sprouting Broccoli using the procedures that appear in part 36,
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). These
standards were last revised in 1943.
Background
On April 21, 2005, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register
(70 FR 20730) soliciting comments for possible revisions of the United
States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli.
Based on the comments received and information gathered, AMS developed
revised grade standards for broccoli. AMS published a notice in the
February 28, 2006, Federal Register (71 FR 10001) soliciting comments
for the possible revision of the United States Standards for Grades of
Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli. In response to this notice, AMS
received two comments on the proposed revisions. One comment received
was from an agricultural trade association and the other from a grower.
The comments received are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh
Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov[fxsp0]/fv/
fpbdocketlist.htm.
The agricultural trade association supported including broccoli
crowns and florets into the United States Standards for Grades of
Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli. They also supported having maximum
stem lengths for broccoli crowns. AMS is establishing sizes for minimum
and maximum lengths for the U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 1 grades of
broccoli for crown and floret styles. The requirements include the
option for minimum and maximum lengths to be ``unless otherwise
specified.'' AMS is also establishing sizes for minimum and maximum
diameter for the U.S. Fancy grade for
[[Page 58368]]
crowns and florets as well as for florets in the U.S. No. 1 grade. AMS
has also included the option for diameter to be specified in connection
with the U.S. No. 1 grade for broccoli crowns. The U.S. Fancy grade
length requirements for bunched broccoli is being revised to provide
for minimum and maximum lengths ``unless otherwise specified.'' The
sizes for the U.S. Fancy grades and the U.S. No. 1 grades are as
listed. The sizes for the U.S. Fancy grades are as follows: For Bunched
Broccoli. (a) The diameter of each stalk shall be not less than 2\1/2\
inches. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each stalk shall be
not less than 6 inches or more than 8\1/2\ inches. For Broccoli Crowns.
(b) The diameter of each crown shall be not less than 2\1/2\ inches or
more than 5 inches. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each
stalk shall be not less than 2\1/2\ inches or more than 5 inches. For
Broccoli Florets. (c) The diameter of each floret shall be not less
than \3/4\ inch or more than 3 inches. Unless otherwise specified, the
length of each stem shall not be less than 1 inch or more than 3\1/2\
inches. The sizes for the U.S. No. 1 grades are as follows: For Bunched
Broccoli. (a) There are no requirements for diameter but diameter may
be specified for any lot as set forth in ``Size specifications''
section. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each stalk shall be
not less than 5 inches or more than 9 inches. For Broccoli Crowns. (b)
There are no requirements for diameter but diameter may be specified
for any lot as set forth in ``Size specifications'' section. Unless
otherwise specified, the length of each crown shall be not less than
3\1/2\ inches or more than 6 inches. For Broccoli Florets. (c) The
diameter of each floret shall be not less than 1 inch or more than 4
inches. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each floret shall not
be less than 1\1/2\ inch or more than 4\1/2\ inches.
The association also wanted bunched broccoli to contain more than
one stalk. AMS disagrees with this comment because, as defined in the
standards, ``Bunch'' means: ``Stalks bound together to form a unit. A
single stalk may be considered a bunch if it is approximately as large
as other bunches in the lot.'' AMS believes that this definition offers
flexibility to the industry and will keep that option available.
The grower requested, that the Department consider allowing the
sale of broccoli crowns as a unit or an individual item, without a
weight statement. The United States Standards issued under the 1946 Act
does not regulate the sale of graded commodities. However, AMS is
revising the size specification section of the standards to provide
percentages to be determined and certified individually ``by weight''
as well as ``by count'' when fairly uniform.
AMS is revising the title of the standards to United States
Standards for Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli as these standards
now will apply to broccoli crowns, florets, and bunched broccoli. AMS
is revising the size specification section to allow percentages to be
determined ``by weight'' as well as ``by count'' when fairly uniform,
in order to increase the efficiency of inspections. AMS is defining
``fairly uniform'' since it is referenced in the standards but not
currently defined. ``Fairly uniform'' means: (a) For bunched broccoli:
Bunches are considered fairly uniform if the diameter of the bunches
within the container do not vary more than three inches. (b) For
broccoli crowns: Crowns are considered to be fairly uniform if the
diameter of the crowns within the container do not vary more than three
inches. (c) For broccoli florets: Florets are considered fairly uniform
if the diameter of the florets within the sample do not vary more than
1\1/2\ inches. Additionally, AMS is adding definitions for florets and
crowns. ``Florets'' or ``Florettes'' means the main stem is cut back
considerably and only a single smaller secondary stem remains with the
bud cluster. Florets are bud clusters or pieces of the bud cluster that
have been closely trimmed from the head. Crowns or Crown cuts are
defined as: ``Crowns'' mean the main stem is cut back from a portion of
the broccoli plant including the stems which are of lengths according
to the grade applied, bud clusters, and leaves. The definition for
diameter is revised to: ``Diameter'' means the measurement across the
bud cluster. With the inclusion of crowns and florets in the standards,
AMS is adding ``same type'' to the requirements for the grades and
defining ``same type'' as: ``Same type'' means lots shall consist of
broccoli with similar type characteristics, i.e., bunched can not be
mixed with florets.
AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. This category is
being removed from all standards when they are revised. This category
is not a grade and only serves to show than no grade has been applied
to the lot. It is no longer considered necessary.
The official grades of broccoli covered by these standards are
determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations Governing
Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables
and Other Products (7 CFR 51.1 to 51.62).
The United States Standards for Grades of Italian Sprouting
Broccoli will become effective 30-days after publication of this notice
in the Federal Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621--1627.
Dated: September 25, 2006.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-16256 Filed 10-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P