[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78285-78286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30281]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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