[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 141 (Friday, July 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43141-43142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18085]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Document Number AMS--FV-09-0028, FV-09-327]
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Vegetables
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking
research and other work associated with revising official grade
standards, is soliciting comments on the possible revisions to eighteen
U.S. grade standards for frozen vegetables issued on or before July 22,
1985. AMS annually reviews its processed fruit and vegetable grade
standards for suitability and has identified eighteen grade standards
for frozen vegetables for possible revision.
AMS is considering replacing the two term system with a single term
to describe each quality level for the grade standards identified in
this notice. The term using the letter grade would be retained, and the
descriptive term would be eliminated. For example, grade standards
using the term ``U.S. Grade A'' or ``U.S. Fancy'' would be revised to
use the single term ``U.S. Grade A'' and the terms ``U.S. Grade B'' or
``U.S. Extra Standard'' would be revised to use the single term ``U.S.
Grade B.'' In addition miscellaneous changes would be made to update a
number of references to licensed supplier addresses and incorporate
updated terminology that reflects current marketing practices.
AMS is seeking comments regarding these changes as well as any
other possible revisions that may be necessary to better serve the
industry.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on
the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or to Lydia E. Berry,
Inspection and Standardization Section, Processed Products Branch,
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 0709 South
Building, STOP 0247, Washington, DC 20250-0247; phone: (202) 720-5021;
fax: (202) 690-1527. Comments should make reference to the date and
page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made
available for public inspection at the above office during regular
business hours. Please be advised that all comments submitted in
response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made
available to the public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov.
Also, the identity of the individuals or entities submitting the
comments will be made public. The U.S. grade standards for frozen
vegetables identified in this notice are available either at the above
address or by accessing the AMS Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/processedinspection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lydia E. Berry, at the above address,
by phone at 202-720-5021, or by e-mail [email protected].
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 U.S. standards for frozen 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
AMS and are available on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/processedinspection.
AMS is considering revisions to these voluntary U.S. grade
standards using procedures that appear in part 36, title 7 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
AMS periodically reviews the processed fruit and vegetable grade
standards for usefulness in serving the industry. AMS has identified
eighteen grade standards covering various frozen vegetables for
possible revision. Prior to undertaking detailed work developing the
proposed revisions to these grade standards, AMS is soliciting comments
on the possible changes and any other comments regarding these grade
standards to better serve the industry.
More recently developed grade standards use a single term, such as
``U.S. Grade A'' or ``U.S. Grade B'' to describe each level of quality
within a grade standard. Older standards used a dual system, such as
``U.S. Grade A'' and ``U.S. Fancy'' to describe the same level of
quality within a grade standard.
For the grade standards in the table below, AMS is requesting
comments on replacing the two term system of naming levels of quality
with single letter grade designations. The terms ``U.S. Fancy'', ``U.S.
Extra Standard'', and ``U.S. Standard'' would be removed and the terms
``U.S. Grade A,'' ``U.S. Grade B,'' and ``U.S. Grade C,'' would be used
exclusively. These changes would conform to recent changes in other
grade standards. AMS is also proposing editorial changes to these grade
standards, providing updated addresses to obtain copies of the grade
standards, and to remove specific addresses for licensed suppliers of
color standards and inspection aids, and incorporate updated
terminology that reflects current marketing practices. Contact
information for current licensed suppliers is available on the Internet
on the PPB Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/processedinspection.
These revisions will provide a format consistent with recent revisions
of other grade standards. The following table summarizes the changes
currently under consideration by AMS.
[[Page 43142]]
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Change level of quality
U.S. standards for grades of frozen Effective date designation to single Other revisions proposed
term
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Asparagus............................. June 30, 1974............ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Lima Beans............................ May 22, 1957............. Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Remove address for color standard and
inspection aid licensed supplier.
Speckled Butter (Lima) Beans.......... July 21, 1962............ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Carrots............................... February 28, 1974........ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Corn, Whole Kernel.................... August 1, 1952........... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Corn on the Cob....................... July 27, 1970............ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Onion Rings, Breaded.................. October 17, 1959......... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Peas.................................. May 28, 1959............. Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Peas and Carrots...................... March 20, 1955........... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Peppers, Sweet........................ March 13, 1959........... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Potatoes, French Fried................ February 8, 1967......... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Remove address for color standard and inspection aid
licensed supplier.
Update terminology.
Squash (Cooked)....................... October 15, 1953......... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Squash (Summer)....................... April 3, 1953............ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Succotash............................. March 6, 1959............ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Update terminology.
Sweet Potatoes........................ September 4, 1962........ Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Tomato Juice, Tomato Juice from July 22, 1985............ No--Single terms Update address for standards.
Concentrate. currently used. Remove address for color standard and inspection aid
licensed supplier.
Turnip Greens with Turnips............ August 15, 1958.......... Yes...................... Update address for standards.
Vegetables, Mixed..................... May 24, 1954............. Yes...................... Update address for standards.
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This notice provides for a 60-day period for interested parties to
comment on the changes under consideration by AMS as well as any
additional changes to the standards. Should AMS conclude that there is
a need for any revisions of the grade standards; the proposed revisions
will 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: July 20, 2010.
Rayne Pegg,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-18085 Filed 7-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P