[Federal Register: January 24, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 15)]
[Notices]
[Page 3816]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja06-30]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-05-305]
United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the United States Standards for Grades
of Globe Artichokes. Specifically, AMS is revising the standards to add
a U.S. No. 1 Long Stem grade along with an undersize tolerance of 5
percent in the standards. The new grade will have the same requirements
as the U.S. No. 1 except that the stems must be smoothly cut to a
minimum length of at least 8 inches, unless specified to a longer
length in connection with the grade. AMS is further defining ``fairly
compact'' by including a definition for ``slightly spread'' to mean,
``the outer scales may be slightly open, but the inner scales at the
tip of the artichoke must be closely folded into the bud.'' The
revisions would bring the standards for globe artichokes in line with
current marketing practices, thereby improving their usefulness in
serving the industry.
DATES: Effective Date: February 23, 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 Globe Artichokes 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/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 USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of
Globe Artichokes using procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
Prior to undertaking work to develop a proposed revision to the
standard, AMS published a notice on April 26, 2005, in the Federal
Register (70 FR 21391) soliciting comments on a possible revision to
the United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes. After
receiving comments, a second notice was published in the September 12,
2005, Federal Register (70 FR 53774) proposing to revise the standards
by adding a new grade ``U.S. No. 1 Long Stem'' and further defining
``fairly compact'' by including a definition for ``slightly spread.''
In response to this notice AMS received one comment from an industry
group supporting the proposed revision. The comment is available by
accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm
.
Based on comments received and information gathered, AMS believes
the revision to the standards will bring the standards for globe
artichokes in line with current marketing practices and thereby improve
their usefulness.
The official grade of a lot of globe artichokes covered by these
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).
The United States Standards for Grades of Globe Artichokes will
become effective 30 days after the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: January 18, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-785 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P