[Federal Register: December 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 78285-78286]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de08-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-FV-08-0084; FV-08-331]
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Blueberries
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) prior to undertaking research and
other work associated with revising an official grade standard, is
soliciting comments on the petition to revise the United States
Standards for Grades of Frozen Blueberries. AMS received a petition
from blueberry producers asking USDA to consider revising the current
U.S. grade standard.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 20, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be mailed to Brian E. Griffin,
Inspection and Standardization Section, Processed Products Branch
(PPB), Fruit and Vegetable Programs (FV), AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Room 0709, South Building; STOP 0247, Washington, DC
20250; fax: (202) 690-1527; or Internet: http://www.regulations.gov.
The United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Blueberries are
available either through the address cited above or by accessing the
AMS Web site on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/
processedinspection. All comments should reference the docket number,
date, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register. All
comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the
record and will be made available to the public. Please be advised that
the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the comments
will be made public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov.
Comments will be made available for public inspection at the above
address during regular business hours, or can be viewed at: http://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian E. Griffin, Inspection and
Standardization Section, USDA, AMS, FV, PPB. Telephone: (202) 720-5021
or (202) 720-4693.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946, as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition,
quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and
[[Page 78286]]
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. Some of these United States Standards for
Grades of Fruits and Vegetables no longer appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs. AMS is requesting comments on revising the U.S. Standards for
Grades of Frozen Blueberries using the procedures that appear in Part
36 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).
Background
AMS received a petition from the North American Blueberry Council,
an association of blueberry producers, requesting the revision of the
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Blueberries. These
standards are issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7
U.S.C. 1621-1627).
The petitioners are requesting the USDA to revise the terminology
employed in connection with the product description of frozen
blueberries. The current grade standards, effective since May 22, 1957,
state that frozen blueberries are prepared from sound, properly ripened
fresh fruit of the blueberry bush (Genus Vaccinium), including species
or varieties often called huckleberries, but not of the Genus
Gaylussacia. To more narrowly define the term blueberry, the
petitioners are requesting that the new proposed standard employ the
following terms:
``Frozen blueberries are prepared from the sound, properly ripened
fresh fruit of the species Vaccinium corymbosum, V. virgatum (syn. V.
ashei), V. angustifolium, and V. myrtilloides (some common names:
highbush, cultivated, wild, lowbush, southern highbush, rabbiteye),
including species and cultivars often called huckleberries, but not of
the genus Gaylussacia.'' A copy of the petitioners' request is located
at http://www.regulations.gov.
Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with
revising the grade standards, AMS is soliciting comments on the
petition requesting the revision of the U.S. Standards for Grades of
Frozen Blueberries. In particular, AMS would welcome comments and
information regarding the likely utility of revised terminology to
include Vaccinium corymbosum, V. virgatum (syn. V. ashei), V.
angustifolium, and V. myrtilloides. Some common names: Highbush,
cultivated, wild, lowbush, southern highbush, and rabbiteye, and the
probable impact on processors and growers. This notice provides for a
60-day comment period for interested parties to comment on the petition
to develop a proposed revision of the standard. Should AMS conclude
that there is a need for changes to the standard, detailed work would
be undertaken as soon as possible and the eventual proposed grade
standards would be published in the Federal Register with a request for
comments in accordance with 7 CFR Part 36.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: December 16, 2008.
James E. Link,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E8-30281 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P