[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 2 (Thursday, January 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31611]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. Number FV-11-0052]
United States Standards for Grades of Eggplant
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Final notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA), is revising the voluntary United States Standards
for Grades of Eggplant. AMS has reviewed the fresh fruit and vegetable
grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. As a result,
AMS will amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement in the
U.S. Fancy and No. 1 grades to allow mixed colors and/or types of
eggplant when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. In addition, AMS
will remove the ``Unclassified'' category from the standards.
DATES: Effective Date: February 4, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner, Standardization Branch,
Specialty Crops Inspection Division, (540) 361-1128. The United States
Standards for Grades of Eggplant are available through the Specialty
Crops Inspection Division Web site at http://www.ams.usda.gov/freshinspection.
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, and are available on the internet at www.ams.usda.gov/freshinspection.
AMS is revising the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of
Eggplant procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background and Comments
On February 9, 2012, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register
(77 FR 6774), soliciting comments regarding amending the varietal
characteristic requirement in the U.S. Fancy and No. 1 grades, removing
the unclassified section, and any other possible revision to the United
States Standards for Grades of Eggplant. The public comment period
closed on April 9, 2012, with no responses.
Based on the information gathered, AMS believes that permitting
mixed colors and/or type packs will facilitate the marketing of
eggplant by providing the industry with more flexibility that reflects
current marketing practices and consumer demand. Therefore, AMS will
revise provisions concerning the ``U.S. Fancy'' and ``U.S. No. 1''
grades by adding ``except when specified as a mixed or specialty pack''
to the similar varietal characteristics requirement. In addition, AMS
will remove the ``Unclassified'' category from the standards.
The official grade of a lot of eggplant covered by these standards
will be 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 Eggplant will be
effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: December 28, 2012.
Rex A. Barnes,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-31611 Filed 1-2-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P