[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 226 (Friday, November 24, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57904-57906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28695]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 945

[FV95-945-2IFR]


Irish Potatoes Grown in Certain Designated Counties in Idaho, and 
Malheur County, Oregon; Modification of the Handling Regulation

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This interim final rule changes pack requirements and 
establishes marking requirements for Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes. 
These changes are expected to improve the marketing of such potatoes 
and increase returns to producers. These changes were recommended by 
the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Potato Committee (Committee), the agency 
responsible for local administration of the marketing order program. 
The interim final rule also includes several conforming changes which 
recognize that the marketing order regulates shipments of potatoes 
within the production area, as well as shipments outside the production 
area.

DATES: Effective November 24, 1995. Comments which are received by 
December 26, 1995 will be considered prior to the issuance of a final 
rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this action. Comments must be sent in triplicate to the 
Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, room 2523, South 
Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; FAX: (202) 720-
5698. All comments should reference the docket number and the date and 
page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made 
available for public inspection in the Office of the Docket Clerk 
during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary D. Olson, Northwest Marketing 
Field Office, Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, 1220 SW Third Avenue, room 369, 
Portland, Oregon 97204-2807; telephone: (503) 326-2724 or FAX (503) 
326-7440; or Valerie L. Emmer, Marketing Order Administration Branch, 
Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 2523-S, 
Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 205-2829, or FAX (202) 720-
5698.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This interim final rule is issued under 
Marketing Agreement and Marketing Order No. 945 (7 CFR part 945), as 
amended, hereinafter referred to as the ``order,'' regulating the 
handling of Irish potatoes grown in certain designated counties in 
Idaho, and Malheur County, Oregon. 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.''
    The Department of Agriculture is issuing this rule in conformance 
with Executive Order 12866.
    This interim final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 
12778, Civil Justice Reform. This rule is not intended to have 
retroactive effect. This interim 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 608c(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 request 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.
    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.
    There are approximately 65 handlers of Idaho-Eastern Oregon 
potatoes that are subject to regulation under the order and 
approximately 1,600 producers in the production area. Small 
agricultural service firms, which include handlers of Idaho-Eastern 
Oregon potatoes, have 

[[Page 57905]]
been defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as 
those whose annual receipts are less than $5,000,000, and small 
agricultural producers are defined as those whose annual receipts are 
less than $500,000. The majority of potato handlers regulated under the 
order may be classified as small entities. The majority of producers 
may also be classified as small entities.
    This rule would amend Sec. 945.341 to: (1) Require that all cartons 
(except when used as a master container) be conspicuously marked as to 
potato size; (2) require for all varieties that when 50-pound 
containers of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes are marked with a count, 
size, or similar designation, the potatoes contained therein must meet 
the count, average count, and weight ranges established within the 
handling regulation; and (3) specify that Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes 
packed in cartons (except when used as a master container) shall be 
U.S. No. 1 grade or better.
    These changes were recommended by the Committee at its August 9, 
1995, meeting. The Committee's recommended revisions are authorized 
pursuant to Secs. 945.51 and 945.52 of the order. This action is 
expected to improve the marketing of Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes and 
improve returns to producers.
    A recent order amendment (60 FR 29724, June 5, 1995), added 
authority to Sec. 945.52 to require accurate and uniform marking and 
labeling of containers in which Idaho-Eastern Oregon potatoes are 
shipped. With this authority in the order, the Committee recommended 
requiring that all cartons shall be conspicuously marked as to potato 
size; i.e., marked so that the potato size is noticeable on the carton. 
The Committee recommended this requirement to reduce confusion in the 
marketplace as to the size of the potatoes in cartons. While most 
cartons already are marked as to size, the Committee reports that there 
have been many instances when product size in unmarked cartons has been 
misrepresented through the marketing chain (e.g., 100-count size 
potatoes in 50-pound cartons being represented as 90-count size). This 
type of misrepresentation can create market confusion, damage buyer 
acceptance, and depress prices.
    In addition, this action changes the pack requirements in 
Sec. 945.341(c). For several decades, the handling regulation has 
specified that when long varieties of potatoes in 50-pound containers 
are marked with a count, size or similar designation, the potatoes 
contained therein must meet the count, average count and weight ranges 
established within the handling regulation. This has been beneficial to 
buyers and sellers by reducing market confusion and misrepresentation 
related to the marking of count and weight ranges on 50-pound 
containers. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number 
of plantings of round varieties grown in the Idaho-Eastern Oregon 
production area. Therefore, the Committee recommended that this pack 
requirement, which the industry has found to be beneficial for long 
varieties, be extended to all varieties.
    The second aspect of the change in pack requirements recommended by 
the Committee is the establishment of a requirement that all Idaho-
Eastern Oregon potatoes packed in cartons of any size (except when used 
as a master container) shall be U.S. No. 1 grade or better. Currently, 
the handling regulation requires this of potatoes packed in 50-pound 
cartons (except when used as a master container). Some buyers have 
indicated that a smaller carton size is more desirable than the 
currently used 50-pound carton. These buyers indicate that they need a 
smaller carton that takes up less storage space and is easier to lift 
and handle. However, these buyers still want to be provided with the 
same quality of potatoes; i.e., U.S. No. 1 grade or better. Currently, 
the grade of potatoes packed in other than 50-pound cartons must be 
U.S. No. 2 grade or better. This change in the handling regulation 
reflects the industry's desire of providing a high quality product to 
users of potatoes, regardless of carton size desired.
    Another order amendment revised Sec. 945.9 to broaden the scope of 
the order to authorize regulating shipments of potatoes within the 
production area, as well as shipments outside the production area. 
Conforming changes are made in Sec. 945.341(d)(3) regarding inspection 
and certification procedures so these procedures cover all shipments of 
potatoes, not only shipments made outside the area of production.
    Based on available information, the Administrator of the AMS has 
determined that this action will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the Committee's recommendation and other available information, it is 
found that this interim 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 upon good 
cause that it is impractical, unnecessary and contrary to the public 
interest to give preliminary notice prior to putting this rule into 
effect, and that good cause exists for not postponing the effective 
date of this action until 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register because: (1) This action was recommended at a public meeting 
and all interested persons had an opportunity to express their views 
and provide input; (2) the 1995-96 shipping season has begun and these 
changes should apply to as much of that season as possible; and (3) 
this rule provides a 30-day comment period and any comments received 
will be considered prior to finalization of this rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 945

    Marketing agreements, Potatoes, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 945 is 
amended as follows:

PART 945--IRISH POTATOES GROWN IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED COUNTIES IN 
IDAHO, AND MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 945 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.

    2. Section 945.341 is amended by:
    (1) Removing the words ``On or after August 16, 1982,'' in the 
introductory text,
    (2) Removing in paragraph (d)(3) the words ``outside the area of 
production'' in the first and second sentences and the words ``outside 
the production area'' in the last sentence, and
    (3) Revising the heading of paragraph (c), the first sentence of 
the introductory text of paragraph (c)(1), paragraph (c)(2), and adding 
a new paragraph (c)(3) to read as follows:


Sec. 945.341  Handling regulation.

* * * * *
    (c) Pack and marking. (1) When 50-pound containers (except master 
containers) of potatoes are marked with a count, size or similar 
designation, they must meet the count, average count and weight ranges 
for the count designation listed below.
* * * * *
    (i) * * *
    (ii) * * *
    (2) Potatoes packed in cartons (except when used as a master 
container) shall be U.S. No. 1 grade or better. However, potatoes of 
U.S. Extra No. 1 Grade shall be no smaller than 110 size nor larger 
than 60 size.
    (3) Size shall be conspicuously marked on all cartons (except when 

[[Page 57906]]
    used as a master container) consistent with Sec. 51.1545 of the United 
States Standards for Grade of Potatoes (7 CFR 51.1540-51.1566).
* * * * *
    Dated: November 20, 1995.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen,
Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
[FR Doc. 95-28695 Filed 11-22-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P