[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41335-41336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20100]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration; United 
States Standards for Beans

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, USDA.


[[Page 41336]]


ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration 
(GIPSA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to change the voluntary 
United States Standards for Beans. Specifically, GIPSA is proposing to 
change the name of the class Black Turtle Soup beans to Black beans and 
to establish a separate grade chart for Cranberry beans. These changes 
have been requested by the industry in order to improve the usability 
of the voluntary United States Standards for Beans.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to Sharon Vassiliades at 
GIPSA, USDA, STOP 3649, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20250-3649; faxed to (202) 720-4628; or e-mailed to 
[email protected].
    All comments received will be made available for public inspection 
at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m.--3:30 p.m.).
    The current United States Standards for Beans, along with the 
proposed changes, is available either through the above addresses or by 
accessing GIPSA's Home Page on the Internet at: www.usda.gov/gipsa/
strulreg/standard/beans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Sharon Vassiliades at (202) 
720-1738.

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 demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and 
consistency in commercial practices* * *'' The Grain Inspection, 
Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) 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 
Beans do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are 
maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) 
is proposing to change the United States Standards for Beans using the 
procedures it published in the Federal Register on February 13, 1997 
(62 FR 6705). Specifically, GIPSA is proposing to change the name of 
the class Black Turtle Soup beans to Black beans and to establish a 
separate grade chart for Cranberry beans.
    In June 1995, the Michigan Bean Commission and the Michigan Bean 
Shippers Association requested that the U.S. Standards for Beans be 
revised to establish a separate grade chart for Cranberry beans. 
Currently, the grades and grade requirements for Cranberry and 
Yelloweye beans are shown together on one chart. These groups also 
asked that the class Black Turtle Soup beans be renamed as Black beans.
    Cranberry beans are grown predominately in Michigan. Traditionally, 
most Cranberry beans have been exported to Italy. The Cranberry bean 
market has expanded, and these beans are now being shipped in volume to 
Spain, Portugal, and other Mediterranean countries. As commerce has 
grown, acreage has increased to include parts of Minnesota and North 
Dakota. To ensure continued market stability, U.S. producers and 
shippers need more precise export tonnage information. Currently, the 
Department of Commerce combines Cranberry and Yelloweye bean export 
information into one database. Establishing a separate grade chart for 
Cranberry beans will enable the Department of Commerce to develop a 
separate database for Cranberry beans.
    Michigan is also the primary producer of Black Turtle Soup beans. 
These beans are commonly known in the United States, and throughout the 
world, as Black beans. According to the Michigan Bean Commission and 
the Michigan Bean Shippers Association, ``The Black bean has been 
saddled with the ill-advised, meaningless, and in many circles, 
derogatory label `Black Turtle Soup' bean too long.'' These groups feel 
that the U.S. class designation, Black Turtle Soup bean, is confusing 
to potential Black bean buyers. For this reason, the U.S. bean industry 
strongly favors renaming the class Black Turtle Soup beans as Black 
beans.
    Accordingly, GIPSA has determined that establishing a separate 
grade chart for Cranberry beans and renaming the class Black Turtle 
Soup beans as Black beans will improve the usability of U.S. Standards 
for Beans.
    These standard changes were recommended to us and reviewed by the 
affected trade. Therefore, GIPSA is publishing this notice with a 30-
day comment period which will provide a sufficient amount of time for 
interested persons to comment on changes to the standards.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 et seq.

    Dated: July 24, 1997.
James R. Baker,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-20100 Filed 7-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-EN-P