[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-14588] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: June 16, 1994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service 7 CFR Parts 915 and 944 [Docket Nos. FV93-915-2FR and FV91-288-FR] Avocados Grown in South Florida and Imported Avocados; Changes to Maturity and Reporting Requirements AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This final rule revises minimum maturity requirements and suspends certain reporting requirements for avocados grown in South Florida. This rule is designed to ensure that only mature fruit is shipped to the fresh market, thereby improving grower and importer returns and promoting orderly marketing conditions. For avocados imported into the United States, this final rule reinstates maturity requirements with certain revisions; adds an exemption for certain avocado varieties; removes the exemption for avocados grown in the southern hemisphere; and adds exemptions from maturity requirements for avocados imported for certain uses. This rule is needed so that imported avocados meet the same minimum size and color maturity requirements as those established for avocados under the Federal marketing order covering Florida avocados, consistent with section 8e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 1994. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caroline C. Thorpe, Marketing Specialist, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, Washington, DC 20090- 6456; telephone: 202-720-5127; or Aleck J. Jonas, Southeast Marketing Field Office, USDA/AMS, P.O. Box 2276, Winter Haven, Florida 33883; telephone: 813-299-4770. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing Agreement No. 148 and Order No. 915 (7 CFR part 915), as amended, regulating the handling of avocados grown in South Florida, hereinafter referred to as the order. The order is effective under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the Act. This rule is also issued under section 8e of the Act, which requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue grade, size, quality, or maturity requirements for certain listed commodities, including avocados, imported into the United States that are the same as, or comparable to, those imposed upon the domestic commodities, under Federal marketing orders. The Secretary has determined that the maturity requirements for imported avocados should be the same as those established for avocados grown in South Florida under the order. The Department is issuing this rule in conformance with Executive Order 12866. This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, Civil Justice Reform. This action is not intended to have retroactive effect. This final rule will not preempt any state or local laws, regulations, or policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this rule. The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted before parties may file suit in court. Under section 8c(15)(A) of the Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Secretary a petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law and requesting a modification of the order or to be exempted therefrom. A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the petition. After the hearing, the Secretary would rule on the petition. The Act provides that the district court of the United States in any district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her principal place of business, has jurisdiction in equity to review the Secretary's ruling on the petition, provided a bill in equity is filed not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling. There are no administrative procedures which must be exhausted prior to any judicial challenge to the provisions of the import rule. Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the economic impact of this action on small entities. The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued pursuant to the Act, and rules issued thereunder, are unique in that they are brought about through group action of essentially small entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small entity orientation and compatibility. Import regulations issued under the Act are based on those established under Federal marketing orders. There are about 65 avocado handlers subject to regulation under the marketing order covering avocados grown in Florida and about 95 avocados producers in South Florida. There are about 20 avocado importers who will be subject to the avocado import maturity requirements. Small agricultural producers have been defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as those whose annual receipts are less than $500,000, and small agricultural service firms, which include avocado handlers and importers, have been defined by the Small Business Administration as those having annual receipts of less than $5,000,000. The majority of the Florida avocado handlers and producers, and avocado importers may be classified as small entities. This rule finalizes two proposed rules: the first proposed revisions in the maturity and reporting requirements for avocados grown in Florida; the second proposed reinstatement and revision of maturity requirements for imported avocados. Both proposed rules were published in the April 4, 1994, Federal Register [59 FR 15658 and 15661] and provided 30 days to interested persons to file comments. No comments were received. However, several typographical and printing errors were identified in both proposed rules as published. This final rule corrects the errors in Table I of both rules: (1) For the Booth 8 variety after October 10, the minimum diameter is changed from 3\3/16\ to 3\1/16\ inches; (2) for the Chica variety after October 3, the minimum diameter is changed from 3\1/16\ to 3\4/16\ inches. The Avocado Administrative Committee (committee) works with the Department in administering the order, and it meets prior to and during each season to consider recommendations for modification, suspension, or termination of the regulatory requirements for Florida avocados. The committee met December 8, 1993, and unanimously recommended that the shipping schedules for avocados be revised and that certain reporting requirements be temporarily suspended. Committee meetings are open to the public and interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The Department reviews committee recommendations, information submitted by the committee and other information, and determines whether modification, suspension, or termination of the regulatory requirements would tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act. Maturity requirements for avocados grown in Florida, based on minimum weights, diameters, and skin color, are specified in Sec. 915.322 [7 CFR 915.322], and are in effect on a continuous basis. These maturity requirements specify minimum weights and diameters for specific shipping periods for some 60 varieties of avocados, and color specifications for those varieties which turn red or purple when mature. The maturity requirements for the various varieties of avocados are different, because each variety has different characteristics. The maturity requirements for each avocado variety are based on maturity test results. These maturity requirements are designed to prevent shipments of immature avocados to the fresh market, especially during the early part of the harvest season for each variety. Providing fresh markets with mature fruit is an important aspect of creating consumer satisfaction and is in the interest of both producers and consumers. Fresh shipments of Florida avocados usually begin with light shipments of early varieties in May, and they continue until the following March or April, with heaviest shipments occurring from July through December. This final rule revises the shipping schedules for the avocado varieties specified in Table I of paragraph (a)(2) of Sec. 915.322 (7 CFR part 915.322) to synchronize those schedules with any calendar year. The previous schedules needed to be adjusted to each new year to ensure that dates and weekdays conformed to each new year. The schedules in Table I are similar to previous calendars, except that the maturity schedules have fixed dates, which become effective on the Monday nearest the date specified in Table I. The new schedules are expected to conform more closely to the needs of the industry. This final rule also exempts from maturity requirements the Hass, Fuerte, Zutano, and Edranol varieties of avocados, since these varieties of avocados are not commercially grown in the production area in Florida. A minimum grade requirement of U.S. No. 2 currently in effect on a continuous basis for avocados grown in Florida under Sec. 915.306 (7 CFR part 915.306), and for avocados imported into the United States under Sec. 944.28 (7 CFR part 944.28) remains in effect unchanged by this action. Florida avocado handlers may ship, exempt from the minimum grade, size, and maturity requirements effective under the order, up to 55 pounds of avocados during any one day under a minimum quantity provision, and up to 20 pounds of avocados as gift packs in individually addressed containers. Also, avocados grown in Florida utilized for commercial processing are not subject to the grade, size, and maturity requirements under the order. Paragraph (d) of Sec. 915.150 (7 CFR part 915.150), currently requires that each handler, at the end of the day's operation, report to the committee the number of containers (\1/4\ Bushel, \1/2\ Bushel, and \4/5\ Bushel) of avocados sold and delivered within the State of Florida. This final action suspends paragraph (d) of Sec. 915.150 for the next two seasons, through March 31, 1996. This temporarily suspends the requirement that handlers file the ``Avocado Handler Daily Size Report Form'' which takes about 0.083 hours to complete for each report. The committee has determined that information needed for operations, marketing policies, and compliance, could sufficiently be obtained from inspection certificates collected on a daily basis by program staff, and that information collected on the ``Avocado Handler Daily Size Report Form'' will not be needed for the next two seasons. Further, Hurricane Andrew reduced avocado production by almost half, and this has reduced assessment collections, resulting in a need to reduce staff and administration costs. This rule is also issued under section 8e of the Act, which requires the Secretary of Agriculture to issue grade, size, quality, or maturity requirements for certain listed commodities imported into the United States, including avocados, that are the same as, or comparable to, those imposed upon the domestic commodities under Federal marketing orders. Minimum size (weight and diameter) and skin color maturity requirements for imported avocados in Sec. 944.31 (7 CFR 944.31) were continuously in effect for several years prior to their suspension by a final rule issued May 15, 1991 (56 FR 23009, May 20, 1991). The avocado import maturity requirements were temporarily suspended to provide the United States Trade Representative (USTR) adequate time to review contemplated changes in those requirements, as required by section 8e of the Act. Suspension of the avocado import maturity requirements became necessary when the Florida avocado maturity requirements in Sec. 915.332 (7 CFR 915.332), upon which the avocado import maturity requirements were based, were revised on May 15, 1991 (56 FR 23005, May 20, 1991). This revision was finalized on September 4, 1991 (56 FR 46224, September 11, 1991). Section 915.332 was most recently amended to make calendar date adjustments in the shipping schedule for several varieties of Florida avocados on June 29, 1993 (58 FR 34684, June 29, 1993), and that rule was finalized on October 4, 1993 (58 FR 46759, September 3, 1993). Prior to suspension, the avocado import maturity requirements were based on minimum weights and diameters applied to avocados grown in all foreign countries, except for those grown in southern hemisphere countries. Such requirements were applied to each variety for a specific time period during the first part of the shipping period. The minimum weights or diameters were not applied to avocados grown in southern hemisphere countries, such as Chile, where practically all imported southern hemisphere avocados have originated in recent years, because the southern hemisphere's avocado growing season and various shipping periods differ from those in Florida. The import maturity requirements based on minimum weights or diameters were applied to avocados grown in northern hemisphere countries, such as those in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, where practically all northern hemisphere imported avocados have originated in recent years, because their growing season and various shipping periods are similar to those in Florida. The avocado import maturity requirements based on skin color for certain varieties of avocados which turn red, purple or black when mature were applied to avocados imported from all foreign countries in both the southern and northern hemispheres. Such requirements applied to all avocados grown in both hemispheres, because all such avocados turn color when mature regardless of where they are grown. This final rule also reinstates the minimum size (weight and diameter) requirements for avocados and the skin color maturity requirements for avocados imported from all foreign countries by lifting the suspended provisions of Sec. 944.31. However, this final rule exempts the Hass, Fuerte, Zutano, and Edranol varieties of avocados from such import maturity requirements, because such varieties are not grown in commercial quantities in Florida and regulated under the Florida avocado maturity requirements in Sec. 915.332. This final rule obviates the need for exempting avocados imported from the southern hemisphere, since the major varieties imported from the southern hemisphere are the Hass, Fuerte, Zutano, and Edranol varieties. This final rule also adds language to Sec. 944.31 to cite the minimum size (weight and diameter) and skin color maturity requirements, and define the term ``diameter''. This final rule also exempts imported avocados under Sec. 944.31 from minimum weight, diameter, and color maturity requirements if they are to be used in certain specified outlets. Similar exemptions from grade requirements established for imported avocados under Sec. 944.28 were implemented by an interim final rule published in the Federal Register [58 FR 69182, December 30, 1993], with an effective date of January 1, 1994. The avocado import maturity regulation [7 CFR 944.31] is based on the maturity requirements in effect for avocados grown in Florida under the order throughout the year. Under the order, any person may handle avocados without regard to established grade, size, quality, or maturity requirements provided that such avocados are handled for (1) consumption by charitable institutions; (2) distribution by relief agencies; (3) commercial processing into products; (4) seed; or (5) individual shipments of up to 55 pounds. Prior to issuance of this rule, the only exemption allowed under the avocado import regulation was that for individual shipments of up to 55 pounds. Thus, this final rule adds consumption by charitable institutions, distribution by relief agencies, seed, and commercial processing into products to the list of exemptions allowed under the avocado import regulation. To ensure that imported avocados exempt from the maturity requirements are utilized in exempt outlets, this rule states that such avocados be subject to the safeguard procedures for imported fruit established in Sec. 944.350 [58 FR 69182, December 30, 1993]. Under these procedures, an importer wishing to import avocados covered herein for uses in other than regulated commercial channels, must complete in triplicate, prior to importation, an ``Importer's Exempt Commodity Form.'' One copy will notify the Marketing Order Administration Branch (MOAB) of the Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, and the second copy will notify the U.S. Customs Service of the importer's intent to import a commodity under an exemption. The third copy will accompany the exempt lot to the receiver. The form may be obtained from either the inspection or customs offices serving the port of entry. The form may also be obtained from the MOAB in Washington, DC or from its Marketing Field Offices in Fresno, California; Portland, Oregon; McAllen, Texas; or Winter Haven, Florida. The form must be completed at the time the commodity enters the United States. Copies are to be returned to the U.S. Customs Service at the time the commodity is offered for importation and to MOAB within 15 days after completion of the form. Information called for on the ``Importer's Exempt Commodity Form'' includes: (1) The commodity and the variety (if known) being imported, (2) The date and place of inspection, if applicable, (3) Identifying marks or numbers on the containers, (4) Identifying numbers on the railroad car, truck or other transportation vehicle transporting product to the receiver, (5) The name and address of the importer, (6) The place and date of entry, (7) The quantity imported, (8) the name and address of the intended receiver (eg. processor, feeder, charity, or other exempt receiver), (9) Intended use of the exempt commodity, (10) The U.S. Customs Service entry number and harmonized tariff code number, and (11) Such other information as may be necessary to ensure compliance with this regulation. For purposes of this regulation, a lot is considered to be imported when it is released by the Customs Service for entry into commercial markets or other channels. Lots that are exempt from maturity requirements of the import regulations are not subject to the inspection and certification requirements in such regulations. An imported lot intended for normal commercial channels, or any portion of such a lot, that fails established maturity requirements, could be disposed of in exempt outlets, as specified in the pertinent avocado import requirements. The third copy of the form will accompany the exempt lot to its intended destination. The receiver will then certify that the lot has been received and it will be utilized in an exempt outlet. After the certification is signed by the receiver, the form is to be returned to MOAB by the receiver, within 15 days of receipt of the lot. The information collection requirements contained in this final rule have been previously approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 [44 U.S.C. Chapter 35], and have been assigned OMB numbers 0581-0078 for avocados grown in South Florida and 0581-0167 for imported avocados. In accordance with section 8e of the Act, the USTR has concurred with the issuance of this final rule. This final rule reflects the committee's and the Department's appraisal of the need to make the specified changes. The Department's view is that this action will have a beneficial impact on producers and handlers since it will help ensure that only mature avocados are shipped to fresh markets. The committee considers that maturity requirements for Florida grown avocados are necessary to improve grower returns and promote orderly marketing conditions. Although compliance with these maturity requirements will affect costs to handlers, these costs will be offset by the benefits of providing the industry and consumers with mature avocados. This final rule also reflects the Department's appraisal of the need to reinstate the suspended avocado import maturity requirements, with the specified revisions, as hereinafter set forth, in accordance with section 8e of the Act. Based on the above, the Administrator of the AMS has determined that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. After consideration of all relevant matter presented, the information and recommendations submitted by the committee, and other information, it is found that this final rule as hereinafter set forth, will tend to effectuate the declared policy of the Act. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined that good cause exists for not postponing the effective date of this action until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register because: (1) The shipping season for South Florida avocados is expected to begin in late May; (2) avocado handlers are aware of this action which was unanimously recommended by the committee; (3) notice of the proposed rules were published in the Federal Register, and no comments were received during the 30-day comment period. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 915 Avocados, Marketing agreements, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 944 Avocados, Food grades and standards, Grapefruit, Grapes, Imports, Kiwifruit, Limes, Olives, Oranges. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR parts 915 and 944 are amended as follows: 1. The authority citation for 7 CFR parts 915 and 944 continues to read as follows: Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674. PART 915--AVOCADOS GROWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA 2. Section 915.332 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 915.332 Florida avocado maturity regulation. (a) No handler shall handle any variety of avocados, except Hass, Fuerte, Zutano, and Edranol, grown in the production area unless: (1) Any portion of the skin of the individual avocados has changed to the color normal for that fruit when mature for those varieties which normally change color to any shade of red or purple when mature, except for the Linda variety; or (2) Such avocados meet the minimum weight or diameter requirements for the Monday nearest each date specified, through the Sunday immediately prior to the nearest Monday of the specified date in the next column, for each variety listed in the following TABLE I: Provided, that avocados may not be handled prior to the earliest date specified in column A of such table for the respective variety; Provided further, There are no restrictions on size or weight on or after the date specified in column D; Provided further, That up to a total of 10 percent, by count to the individual fruit in each lot may weigh less than the minimum specified or be less than the specified diameter, except that no such avocados shall be over 2 ounces lighter than the minimum weight specified for the variety: Provided further, That up to double such tolerance shall be permitted for fruit in an individual container in a lot. Table I -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Variety A date wt. diam. Bdate wt. diam. C date wt. diam. D date -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Dupuis #2................................... 5-30 16 3\7/16\ 6-13 14 3\5/16\ 7-04 12 3\2/16\ 7-18 Simmons......................................... 6-20 16 3\9/16\ 7-04 14 3\7/16\ 7-18 12 3\1/16\ 8-01 Pollock......................................... 6-20 18 3\11/16\ 7-04 16 3\7/16\ 7-18 14 3\4/16\ 8-01 Hardee.......................................... 6-27 16 3\2/16\ 7-04 14 2\14/16\ 7-11 12 ......... 7-25 Nadir........................................... 6-27 14 3\3/16\ 7-04 12 3\1/16\ 7-11 10 2\14/16\ 7-18 Ruehle.......................................... 7-04 18 3\11/16\ 7-11 7-18 16 14 3\9/16\ 3\7/16\ 8-01 8-08 12 10 3\5/16\ 3\3/16\ 8-15 ......... Bernecker....................................... 7-18 18 3\6/16\ 8-01 16 3\5/16\ 8-15 14 3\4/16\ 8-29 Miguel (P)...................................... 7-18 22 3\13/16\ 8-01 20 3\12/16\ 8-15 18 3\10/16\ 8-29 Nesbitt......................................... 7-18 22 3\12/16\ 8-01 16 3\5/16\ 8-08 14 3\3/16\ 8-22 Tonnage......................................... 8-01 16 3\6/16\ 8-15 14 3\4/16\ 8-22 12 3\0/16\ 8-29 Waldin.......................................... 8-01 16 3\9/16\ 8-15 14 3\7/16\ 8-29 12 3\4/16\ 9-12 Tower........................................... 8-01 14 3\6/16\ 8-15 12 3\4/16\ ......... ....... ......... 9-05 Beta............................................ 8-08 18 3\8/16\ 8-15 16 3\5/16\ ......... ....... ......... 9-05 Lisa (P)........................................ 8-08 12 3\2/16\ 8-15 11 3 ......... ....... ......... 8-22 Black Prince.................................... 8-15 28 4\1/16\ 8-29 23 3\14/16\ 9-12 16 3\9/16\ 10-03 Loretta......................................... 8-22 30 4\3/16\ 9-05 26 3\15/16\ ......... ....... ......... 9-26 Booth 8......................................... 8-29 16 3\9/16\ 9-12 14 3\6/16\ 9-26 10-10 12 10 3\3/16\ 3\1/16\ 10-24 Booth 7......................................... 8-29 18 3\13/16\ 9-12 16 3\10/16\ 9-26 14 3\8/16\ 10-10 Booth 5......................................... 9-05 14 3\9/16\ 9-19 12 3\6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-03 Choquette....................................... 9-26 28 4\4/16\ 10-17 24 4\1/16\ 10-31 20 3\14/16\ 11-14 Hall............................................ 9-26 26 3\14/16\ 10-10 20 3\9/16\ 10-24 18 3\8/16\ 11-07 Lula............................................ 10-03 18 3\11/16\ 10-10 14 3\6/16\ 10-31 12 3\3/16\ 11-14 Monroe.......................................... 11-07 26 4\3/16\ 11-21 24 4\1/16\ 12-05 12-19 20 16 3\14/16\ 3\9/16\ 1-02 ......... Arue............................................ 5-16 ....... 16 5-30 14 3\3/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-04 Donnie.......................................... 5-23 16 3\5/16\ 6-06 14 3\4/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-04 Fuchs........................................... 6-06 14 3\3/16\ 6-20 12 3\0/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-04 K-5............................................. 6-13 18 3\5/16\ 6-27 14 3\3/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-11 West Indian Seedling\1\......................... 6-20 18 ......... 7-18 16 ......... 8-22 14 ......... 9-19 Gorham.......................................... 7-04 29 4\5/16\ 7-18 27 4\3/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Biondo.......................................... 7-11 13 ......... ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Petersen........................................ 7-11 14 3\8/16\ 7-18 12 3\5/16\ 7-25 10 3\2/16\ 8-08 232............................................. 7-18 14 ......... 8-01 12 ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Pinelli......................................... 7-18 18 3\12/16\ 8-01 16 3\10/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Trapp........................................... 7-18 14 3\10/16\ 8-01 12 3\7/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-15 K-9............................................. 8-01 16 ......... ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-22 Christina....................................... 8-01 11 2\14/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-22 Catalina........................................ 8-15 24 ......... 8-29 22 ......... ......... ....... ......... 9-19 Blair........................................... 8-29 16 3\8/16\ 9-12 14 3\5/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-03 Guatemalan Seedling\2\.......................... 9-05 15 ......... 10-03 13 ......... ......... ....... ......... 12-05 Marcus.......................................... 9-05 32 4\12/16\ 9/19 24 4\5/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Brooks 1978..................................... 9-05 12 3\4/16\ 9-12 10 3\1/16\ 9-19 8 2\14/16\ 10-10 Rue............................................. 9-12 30 4\3/16\ 9-19 24 3\15/16\ 10-03 18 3\9/16\ 10-17 Collinson....................................... 9-12 16 3\10/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Hickson......................................... 9-12 12 3\1/16\ 9-26 10 3\0/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Simpson......................................... 9-19 16 3\9/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Chica........................................... 9-19 12 3\7/16\ 10-03 10 3\4/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-17 Leona........................................... 9-26 18 3\10/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Herman.......................................... 10-03 16 3\9/16\ 10-17 14 3\6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Pinkerton (CP).................................. 10-03 13 3\3/16\ 10-17 11 3\0/16\ 10-31 9 ......... 11-14 Taylor.......................................... 10-10 14 3\5/16\ 10-24 12 3\2/16\ ......... ....... ......... 11-07 Ajax (B-7)...................................... 10-10 18 3\14/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Booth 3......................................... 10-10 16 3\8/16\ 10-17 14 3\6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Booth 1......................................... 11-14 16 3\12/16\ 11-28 12 3\6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 12-12 Zio (P)......................................... 11-14 12 3\1/16\ 11-28 10 2\14/16\ ......... ....... ......... 12-12 Gossman......................................... 11-28 11 3\1/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 12-26 Brookslate...................................... 12-05 18 3\13/16\ 12-12 16 3\10/16\ 1-02 12 3\5/16\ 1-30 12-19 14 3\8/16\ 1-16 10 Meya (P)........................................ 12-12 13 3\2/16\ 12-26 11 3\0/16\ ......... ....... ......... 1-89 Reed (CP)....................................... 12-12 12 3\4/16\ 12-26 10 3\3/16\ 1-09 9 3\0/16\ 1-23 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\Avocados of the West Indian type varieties and seedlings not listed elsewhere in Table I. \2\Avocados of the Guatemalan type varieties and seedlings, hybrid varieties and seedlings, and unidentified seedlings not listed elsewhere in Table I. (b) The term diameter means the greatest dimension measured at a right angle to a straight line from the stem to the blossom end of the fruit. PART 944--FRUITS; IMPORT REGULATIONS 3. The suspension of Sec. 944.31 is removed and the section is revised to read as follows: Sec. 944.31 Avocado import maturity regulation. (a) Pursuant to section 8e [7 U.S.C. 608e-1] of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended [7 U.S.C 601-674], and Part 944--Fruits; Import Regulations, the importation into the United States of any avocados, except the Hass, Fuerte, Zutano, and Edranol varieties, is prohibited unless: (1) any portion of the skin of the individual avocados has changed to the color normal for that fruit when mature for those varieties which normally change color to any shade of red or purple when mature, except for the Linda variety; or (2) Such avocados meet the minimum weight or diameter requirements for the Monday nearest each date specified, through the Sunday immediately prior to the nearest Monday of the specified date in the next column, for each variety listed in the following Table I: Provided, that avocados may not be handled prior to the earliest date specified in column A of such table for the respective variety; Provided further, There are no restrictions on size or weight on or after the date specified in column D; Provided further, That up to a total of 10 percent, by count to the individual fruit in each lot may weigh less than the minimum specified or be less than the specified diameter, except that no such avocados shall be over 2 ounces lighter than the minimum weight specified for the variety: Provided further, That up to double such tolerance shall be permitted for fruit in an individual container in a lot. Table 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Min. Variety Adate wt. diam. Bdate wt. diam. Cdate wt. diam. Ddate -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Dupuis #2................................... 5-30 16 3 \7/16\ 6-13 14 3 \5/16\ 7-04 12 3 \2/16\ 7-18 Simmons......................................... 6-20 16 3 \9/16\ 7-04 14 3 \7/16\ 7-18 12 3 \1/16\ 8-01 Pollock......................................... 6-20 18 3 \11/16\ 7-04 16 3 \7/16\ 7-18 14 3 \4/16\ 8-01 Hardee.......................................... 6-27 16 3 \2/16\ 7-04 14 2 \14/16\ 7-11 12 ......... 7-25 Nadir........................................... 6-27 14 3 \3/16\ 7-04 12 3 \1/16\ 7-11 10 2 \14/16\ 7-18 Ruehle.......................................... 7-04 18 3 \11/16\ 7-11 7-18 16 14 3 \9/16\ 3 \7/16\ 8-01 8-08 12 10 3 \5/16\ 3 \3/16\ 8-15 Bernecker....................................... 7-18 18 3 \6/16\ 8-01 16 3 \5/16\ 8-15 14 3 \4/16\ 8-29 Miguel (P)...................................... 7-18 22 3 \13/16\ 8-01 20 3 \12/16\ 8-15 18 3 \10/16\ 8-29 Nesbitt......................................... 7-18 22 3 \12/16\ 8-01 16 3 \5/16\ 8-08 14 3 \3/16\ 8-22 Tonnage......................................... 8-01 16 3 \6/16\ 8-15 14 3 \4/16\ 8-22 12 3 \0/16\ 8-29 Waldin.......................................... 8-01 16 3 \9/16\ 8-15 14 3 \7/16\ 8-29 12 3 \4/16\ 9-12 Tower........................................... 8-01 14 3 \6/16\ 8-15 12 3 \4/16\ ......... ....... ......... 9-05 Beta............................................ 8-08 18 3 \8/16\ 8-15 16 3 \5/16\ ......... ....... ......... 9-05 Lisa (P)........................................ 8-08 12 3 \2/16\ 8-15 11 3 \0/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-22 Black Prince.................................... 8-15 28 4 \1/16\ 8-29 23 3 \14/16\ 9-12 16 3 \9/16\ 10-03 Loretta......................................... 8-22 30 4 \3/16\ 9-05 26 3 \15/16\ ......... ....... ......... 9-26 Booth 8......................................... 8-29 16 3 \9/16\ 9-12 14 3 \6/16\ 9-26 10-10 12 10 3 \3/16\ 3 \1/16\ 10-24 Booth 7......................................... 8-29 18 3 \13/16\ 9-12 16 3 \10/16\ 9-26 14 3 \8/16\ 10-10 Booth 5......................................... 9-05 14 3 \9/16\ 9-19 12 3 \6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-03 Choquette....................................... 9-26 28 4 \4/16\ 10-17 24 4 \1/16\ 10-31 20 3 \14/16\ 11-14 Hall............................................ 9-26 26 3 \14/16\ 10-10 20 3 \9/16\ 10-24 18 3 \8/16\ 11-07 Lula............................................ 10-03 18 3 \11/16\ 10-10 14 3 \6/16\ 10-31 12 3 \3/16\ 11-14 Monroe.......................................... 11-07 26 4 \3/16\ 11-21 24 4 \1/16\ 12-05 12-19 20 16 3 \14/16\ 3 \9/16\ 1-02 Arue............................................ 5-16 16 ......... 5-30 14 3 \3/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-04 Donnie.......................................... 5-23 16 3 \5/16\ 6-06 14 3 \4/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-04 Fuchs........................................... 6-06 14 3 \3/16\ 6-20 12 3 \0/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-04 K-5............................................. 6-13 18 3 \5/16\ 6-27 14 3 \3/16\ ......... ....... ......... 7-11 West Indian Seedling\1\......................... 6-20 18 ......... 7-18 16 ......... 8-22 14 ......... 9-19 Gorham.......................................... 7-04 29 4 \5/16\ 7-18 27 4 \3/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Biondo.......................................... 7-11 13 ......... ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Petersen........................................ 7-11 14 3 \8/16\ 7-18 12 3 \5/16\ 7-25 10 3 \2/16\ 8-08 232............................................. 7-18 14 ......... 8-01 12 ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Pinelli......................................... 7-18 18 3 \12/16\ 8-01 16 3 \10/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-15 Trapp........................................... 7-18 14 3 \10/16\ 8-01 12 3 \7/16\ ......... ....... ......... 8-15 K-9............................................. 8-01 16 ......... ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-22 Christina....................................... 8-01 11 2 \14/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 8-22 Catalina........................................ 8-15 24 ......... 8-29 22 ......... ......... ....... ......... 9-19 Blair........................................... 8-29 16 3 \8/16\ 9-12 14 3 \5/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-03 Guatemalan Seedling\2\.......................... 9-05 15 ......... 10-03 13 ......... ......... ....... ......... 12-05 Marcus.......................................... 9-05 32 4 \12/16\ 9-19 24 4 \5/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Brooks 1978..................................... 9-05 12 3 \4/16\ 9-12 10 3 \1/16\ 9-19 8 2 \14/16\ 10-10 Rue............................................. 9-12 30 4 \3/16\ 9-19 24 3 \15/16\ 10-03 18 3 \9/16\ 10-17 Collinson....................................... 9-12 16 3 \10/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Hickson......................................... 9-12 12 3 \1/16\ 9-26 10 3 \0/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Simpson......................................... 9-19 16 3 \9/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Chica........................................... 9-19 12 3 \7/16\ 10-03 10 3 \4/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-17 Leona........................................... 9-26 18 3 \10/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-10 Herman.......................................... 10-03 16 3 \9/16\ 10-17 14 3 \6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Pinkerton (CP).................................. 10-03 13 3 \3/16\ 10-17 11 3 \0/16\ 10-31 9 ......... 11-14 Taylor.......................................... 10-10 14 3 \5/16\ 10-24 12 3 \2/16\ ......... ....... ......... 11-07 Ajax (B-7)...................................... 10-10 18 3 \14/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Booth 3......................................... 10-10 16 3 \8/16\ 10-17 14 3 \6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 10-31 Booth 1......................................... 11-14 16 3 \12/16\ 11-28 12 3 \6/16\ ......... ....... ......... 12-12 Zio (P)......................................... 11-14 12 3 \1/16\ 11-28 10 2 \14/16\ ......... ....... ......... 12-12 Gossman......................................... 11-28 11 3 \1/16\ ......... ....... ......... ......... ....... ......... 12-26 Brookslate...................................... 12-05 18 3 \13/16\ 12-12 12-19 16 14 3 \10/16\ 3 \8/16\ 1-02 1-16 12 10 3 \5/16\ 1-30 Meya (P)........................................ 12-12 13 3 \2/16\ 12-26 11 3 \0/16\ 1-09 Reed (CP)....................................... 12-12 12 3 \4/16\ 12-26 10 3 \3/16\ 1-09 9 3 \0/16\ 1-23 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\Avocados of the West Indian type varieties and seedlings not listed elsewhere in Table 1. \2\Avocados of the Guatemalan type varieties and seedlings, hybrid varieties and seedlings, and unidentified seedlings not listed elsewhere in Table I. (b) The term diameter means the greatest dimension measured at a right angle to a straight line from the stem to the blossom end of the fruit. (c) The term importation means release from custody of the United States Customs Service. The term commercial processing into products means the manufacture of avocado product which is preserved by any recognized commercial process, including canning, freezing, dehydrating, drying, the addition of chemical substances, or by fermentation. (d) Any person may import up to 55 pounds of avocados exempt from the requirements specified in this section. (e) The Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service, Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, is designated as the governmental inspection service for certifying the grade, size, quality, and maturity of avocados imported into the United States. Inspection by the Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service with evidence thereof in the form of an official inspection certificate, issued by the respective service, applicable to the particular shipment of avocados, is required on all such imports. The inspection and certification services will be available upon application in accordance with the Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification and Standards of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Products (7 CFR part 51), and in accordance with the regulation designating inspection services and procedure for obtaining inspection and certification (7 CFR 944.400). (f) Any avocados which fail to meet the import requirements prior to or after reconditioning and which are not being imported for purposes of consumption by charitable institutions, distribution by relief agencies, seed, or commercial processing into products may be reconditioned or exported, or disposed of under the supervision of the Federal or Federal-State Inspection Service with the costs of certifying the disposal of such avocados borne by the importer. (g) The size, weight, diameter, and color maturity requirements of this section shall not be applicable to avocados imported for consumption by charitable institutions, distribution by relief agencies, seed, or commercial processing into products, but shall be subject to the safeguard provisions contained in Sec. 944.350. Dated: June 9, 1994. Eric M. Forman, Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division. [FR Doc. 94-14588 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-02-P