[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2357-2358]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1054]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[FV-97-328N]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting 
comments on its proposal to change the voluntary United States 
Standards for Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes. Specifically, AMS 
proposes to lower the recommended drained weights for canned 
sweetpotatoes packed in retail size cans by two percent. AMS has 
received petitions to revise the United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Sweetpotatoes. The petitioners are requesting a decrease in the 
recommended drained weight for sweetpotatoes packed in retail size cans 
including No. 10 cans. The drained weight recommendations would also 
add No. 300 cans, a size pack which has been increasingly utilized in 
the industry. These changes would allow more equitable utilization of 
processed sweetpotatoes across domestic growing regions and will help 
the sweetpotato industry to meet its market needs.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 16, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit their written 
comments to Karen L. Kaufman, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and 
Vegetable Division, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; 
faxed to (202) 690-1087; or e-mailed to Karen__L__K[email protected]. 
Comments should reference the date and page number of this issue of the 
Federal Register. The petitions and comments will be made available for 
public inspection at the above address during regular business hours.
    The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned 
Sweetpotatoes, along with the proposed changes, are available through 
the above addresses or by accessing AMS's Home Page on the Internet at: 
www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L Kaufman at (202) 720-5021.

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, 
grade, and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such standards in 
order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices * 
* *'' The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is committed to carrying 
out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of 
agricultural commodities. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Sweetpotatoes do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations 
but are maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Copies of 
official standards are available upon request.
    AMS is proposing to change the United States Standards for Grades 
of Canned Sweetpotatoes using the procedures it published in the August 
13, 1997, Federal Register and that appear in part 36 of title 7 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Specifically, AMS is 
proposing to lower the recommended drained weight for

[[Page 2358]]

sweetpotatoes packed in retail size cans, including No. 10 size cans, 
by two percent. The drained weight criteria for the No. 300 can, a size 
pack which has been increasingly utilized in the industry, would also 
be added. This change would allow a more equitable marketing 
environment for domestic sweetpotato processors.
    AMS received petitions from the Sweet Potato Council of the United 
States, and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission and three 
processors requesting the revision of the United States Standards for 
Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes.
    The petitioners represent a significant part of the canned 
sweetpotato industry. The Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Carolina 
sweetpotato industry provides over half of the sweetpotatoes produced 
domestically. 1
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    \1\ Source--USDA, NASS, ASB
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    The petitions indicate that the recommended drained weights for 
canned sweetpotatoes packed in retail size cans, as shown in the U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes, are difficult to meet and 
put sweetpotato processors at an economic disadvantage in marketing 
these products.
    The reasons given for this disparity are that the changes in the 
varietal types of sweetpotatoes and the growing conditions in the 
growing regions have changed significantly since the current 
Recommended Minimum Drained Weight Averages (RMDWA's) were first 
proposed 21 years ago. Prior to 1985, there were several varieties of 
sweetpotatoes utilized in canned sweetpotatoes. These varieties were 
Centennial, Jewel, Gold Rush, and others. Since 1989, the fresh 
sweetpotato market has predominantly switched to marketing the 
Beauregard variety because of its improved quality characteristics and 
yield potential. Surplus sweetpotatoes from the fresh market have 
traditionally supplied canning operations. Since 1989, processors have 
noted that the sweetpotatoes they have been using have lower total 
solids and lower densities than previously used varieties. As part of 
the industry petition to review the RMDWA's for canned sweetpotatoes, 
USDA requested that the sweetpotato industry submit data covering 
several seasons to provide evidence of this processing condition. Data 
was collected from plants located in Louisiana, Mississippi, and North 
Carolina covering several processing seasons.
    The petitioners stated that to meet the standard when packing 
certain newer varieties of sweetpotatoes (i.e. Beauregard), the cans 
must be over-filled. This condition may cause damage to the 
sweetpotatoes resulting in downgrading the product, and may have an 
adverse effect on the integrity of the can seam closure. If the seal's 
integrity is lost during processing, the product's wholesomeness is 
jeopardized.
    The petitioners contend that a unilateral reduction in drained 
weight requirements in the grade standard is indicated due to the 
varietal characteristics of sweetpotatoes currently available for 
processing.
    AMS has reviewed the petitions and data submitted, and has gathered 
information from government and industry sources. Initial findings do 
substantiate that there may be a disparity between the drained weights 
for canned sweetpotatoes processed before 1985 and those processed 
since the newer varieties have become predominant.
    One study showed that in 1989, a producer maintained an average 
fill weight of 72.8 ounces. The resulting drained weights failed to 
meet the minimum of 73.0 ounces in only 31 percent of production. By 
1995, the average fill weight had been raised to 77.2 ounces, a full 
4.2 ounces over the minimum drained weight. Despite this increase, 55 
percent of production failed to meet 73 ounces after processing. This 
overfill not only penalized the processor financially but also 
threatened product quality and wholesomeness.
    AMS is continuing to gather drained weight information on the newer 
varieties of sweetpotatoes to ascertain an equitable recommended 
minimum drained weight of canned sweetpotatoes. As an interim measure 
while further studies are made, AMS proposes to lower the recommended 
drained weight for sweetpotatoes packed in retail size cans, including 
No. 10 size cans, by two percent, and add the recommended drained 
weight criteria for the No. 300 can.
    The No. 300 size can was not included in the last revision of the 
grades standard, but is being added because of the increased usage of 
this can size. The percentage water capacity, on which the recommended 
minimum drained weight averages are based, is calculated by dividing 
the RMDWA by the total water capacity of the container. The drained 
weight of the No. 300 can is based on the percentage water capacity 
available in the No. 303 can, which is very similar in size. As the 
canning industry has been replacing production of the No. 303 container 
size with the No. 300 can, it seems appropriate to include the RMDWA 
for No. 300 cans along with the other drained weight changes in the 
standard.
    A 60-day comment period is provided for interested persons to 
comment on changes to the standards.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: January 9, 1998.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-1054 Filed 1-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P