[Federal Register: January 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 15)]
[Notices]
[Page 3817-3818]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja06-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-05-308]
United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods
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 the proposed voluntary
United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods. This action is being
taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory
Committee, which asked AMS to identify commodities that may be better
served if grade standards are developed. The proposed standards would
provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading,
thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of pea pods.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 27, 2006.
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 and on the Internet.
The draft of the proposed United States Standards for Grades of Pea
Pods is available by accessing AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at:
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.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 that are not requirements of 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 establish voluntary United States Standards for
Grades of Pea Pods 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 Advisory
Committee, AMS was asked to identify fresh fruit and vegetables that
may be better served if grade standards are developed. As a result, AMS
identified pea pods, or as they are sometimes called snow peas, as a
commodity possibly in need of official grade standards. Such standards
are used by the fresh produce industry to describe the product they are
trading, thus facilitating the marketing of the product.
Prior to undertaking research and other work associated to develop
the standards, AMS published a notice on May 2, 2005 in the Federal
Register (70 FR 83) soliciting comments on the possible development of
the United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods.
In response to the request for comments, AMS received one comment
on the development of U.S. standards for pea pods. The comment was from
an industry group that expressed support for the development of
standards for pea pods. The comment is available by accessing AMS,
Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fvfpbdocketlist.htm.
Based on the
[[Page 3818]]
comment received and information gathered, AMS has developed proposed
grade standards for pea pods. This proposal would establish the
following grades, as well as a tolerance for each grade: U.S. Fancy and
U.S. No. 1. In addition, there are proposed ``Tolerances,'' and
``Application of Tolerances'' sections. AMS is proposing to define
``Injury,'' ``Damage'' and ``Serious Damage,'' along with specific
basic requirements and definitions for defects.
The official grade of a lot or shipment of fresh vegetables covered
by U.S. 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 for a 60-day comment period for interested
parties to comment on the proposed United States Standards for Grades
of Pea Pods.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: January 18, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-784 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P