[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 69 (Monday, April 10, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18871-18875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-8728]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 69 / Monday, April 10, 2000 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 18871]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 989

[Docket No. FV00-989-4 IFR]


Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown In California; Final Free and 
Reserve Percentages for 1999-2000 Crop Natural (Sun-Dried) Seedless and 
Zante Currant Raisins

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This rule establishes final volume regulation percentages for 
1999-2000 crop Natural (sun-dried) Seedless raisins (Naturals) and 
Zante Currant raisins (Zantes) covered under the Federal marketing 
order for California raisins (order). The volume regulation percentages 
are 85 percent free and 15 percent reserve for Naturals and 51 percent 
free and 49 percent reserve for Zantes. The order regulates the 
handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is 
administered locally by the Raisin Administrative Committee 
(Committee). The volume regulation percentages are intended to help 
stabilize raisin supplies and prices, and strengthen market conditions.

DATES: Effective April 10, 2000. Comments received by June 9, 2000, 
will be considered prior to issuance of a final rule.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this rule. Comments must be sent to the Docket Clerk, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, 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: Maureen T. Pello, Marketing 
Specialist, California Marketing Field Office, Marketing Order 
Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, 2202 
Monterey Street, suite 102B, Fresno, California 93721; telephone: (559) 
487-5901, Fax: (559) 487-5906; or George Kelhart, Technical Advisor, 
Marketing Order Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
AMS, USDA, room 2525-S, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456; 
telephone: (202) 720-2491, or Fax: (202) 720-5698.
    Small businesses may request information on complying with this 
regulation by contacting Jay Guerber, Marketing Order Administration 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, room 
2525-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: (202) 720-2491, Fax: 
(202) 720-5698, or E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule is issued under Marketing 
Agreement and Order No. 989 (7 CFR part 989), both as amended, 
regulating the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in 
California, 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.''
    The Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in 
conformance with Executive Order 12866.
    This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12988, Civil 
Justice Reform. Under the order provisions now in effect, final free 
and reserve percentages may be established for raisins acquired by 
handlers during the crop year. This rule establishes final free and 
reserve percentages for Naturals and Zantes for the 1999-2000 crop 
year, which began August 1, 1999, and ends July 31, 2000. This 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 an action is filed not 
later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
    This rule establishes final volume regulation percentages for 1999-
2000 crop Naturals and Zantes covered under the order. The volume 
regulation percentages are 85 percent free and 15 percent reserve for 
Naturals and 51 percent free and 49 percent reserve for Zantes. Free 
tonnage raisins may be sold by handlers to any market. Reserve raisins 
must be held in a pool for the account of the Committee and are 
disposed of through various programs authorized under the order. For 
example, reserve raisins may be sold by the Committee to handlers for 
free use or to replace part of the free tonnage raisins they exported; 
used in diversion programs; carried over as a hedge against a short 
crop the following year; or disposed of in other outlets not 
competitive with those for free tonnage raisins, such as government 
purchase, distilleries, or animal feed.
    The volume regulation percentages are intended to help stabilize 
raisin supplies and prices, and strengthen market conditions. Final 
percentages for Zantes were recommended by the Committee on January 13, 
2000, and for Naturals on February 11, 2000.

Computation of Trade Demands

    Section 989.54 of the order prescribes the procedures and time 
frames to be followed in establishing volume regulation. This includes 
methodology used to calculate percentages. Pursuant to Sec. 989.54(a) 
of the order, the Committee met on August 12, 1999, to review shipment 
and inventory data, and other matters relating to the supplies of 
raisins of all varietal types.

[[Page 18872]]

The Committee computed a trade demand for each varietal type for which 
a free tonnage percentage might be recommended. Trade demand is 
computed using a formula specified in the order and, for each varietal 
type, is equal to 90 percent of the prior year's shipments of free 
tonnage and reserve tonnage raisins sold for free use into all market 
outlets, adjusted by subtracting the carryin on August 1 of the current 
crop year and by adding the desirable carryout at the end of that crop 
year. As specified in Sec. 989.154(a), the desirable carryout for each 
varietal type is equal to the shipments of free tonnage raisins of the 
prior crop year during the months of August, September, and one-half of 
October. In accordance with these provisions, the Committee computed 
and announced 1999-2000 trade demands for Naturals and Zantes at 
254,475 and 1,855 tons, respectively, as shown below.

                         Computed Trade Demands
                        [Natural condition tons]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Naturals     Zantes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prior year's shipments..........................  \1\ 314,013      3,542
Multiplied by 90 percent........................         0.90       0.90
Equals adjusted base............................      282,612      3,188
Minus carryin inventory.........................      101,946      1,906
Plus desirable carryout.........................       73,809        573
Equals computed trade demand....................      254,475     1,855
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Pursuant to Sec.  989.54(a), 1996-97 shipments were utilized to
  compute trade demand because 1998-99 shipments were limited.

Computation of Preliminary Volume Regulation Percentages

    As required under Sec. 989.54(b) of the order, the Committee met on 
October 1, 1999, and announced a preliminary crop estimate of 294,519 
tons for Naturals. This estimate was almost 15 percent lower than the 
10-year average of 346,325 tons. Naturals are the major varietal type 
of California raisins. Combining the carryin inventory of 101,946 tons 
with the 294,519-ton crop estimate resulted in a total available supply 
of 396,465 tons, which was much higher than the 254,475-ton trade 
demand. Thus, the Committee determined that volume regulation for 
Naturals was warranted. The Committee announced preliminary free and 
reserve percentages for Naturals which released 65 percent of the 
computed trade demand since the field price had not yet been 
established. The preliminary percentages were 56 percent free and 44 
percent reserve. The Committee authorized its staff to modify the 
preliminary percentages to release 85 percent of the trade demand once 
the field price was established. The field price was established on 
October 22, 1999, and the preliminary percentages were thus modified to 
73 percent free and 27 percent reserve.
    Also at its October 1, 1999, meeting, the Committee announced a 
preliminary crop estimate for Zantes at 4,187 tons, which is comparable 
to the 10-year average of 4,463 tons. Combining the carryin inventory 
of 1,906 tons with the 4,187-ton crop estimate resulted in a total 
available supply of 6,093 tons, which is significantly greater the 
1,855-ton trade demand. Thus, the Committee determined that volume 
regulation for Zantes was warranted. The Committee announced 
preliminary free and reserve percentages for Zantes which released 65 
percent of the computed trade demand since field price had not yet been 
established. The preliminary percentages were 29 percent free and 71 
percent reserve. Like Naturals, the Committee authorized its staff to 
modify the preliminary percentages to release 85 percent of the trade 
demand once the field price was established. The field price was 
established on October 12, 1999, and the preliminary percentages were 
thus modified to 38 percent free and 62 percent reserve. As in past 
seasons, the Committee submitted its marketing policy to the Department 
for review. In addition, the Committee determined that volume 
regulation was not warranted for the other varietal types of raisins 
covered under the order.

Computation of Final Volume Regulation Percentages

    Pursuant to Secs. 989.54(c) and (d) of the order, the Committee met 
on January 12, 2000, and announced interim percentages for Zantes at 
50.75 percent free and 49.25 percent reserve. These interim percentages 
were based on a revised Zante crop estimate of 3,650 tons. At that 
meeting, the Committee also computed final percentages for Zantes 
which, when applied to the final 3,650-ton crop estimate, tend to 
release the full Zante trade demand. Final percentages compute to 51 
percent free and 49 percent reserve.
    The Committee met on February 11, 2000, and announced interim 
percentages for Naturals at 84.75 percent free and 15.25 percent 
reserve. These interim percentages were based on a revised crop 
estimate of 298,477 tons. The Committee also computed final percentages 
for Naturals which, when applied to the final 298,477-ton crop 
estimate, tend to release the full trade demand. Final percentages 
compute to 85 percent free and 15 percent reserve. The Committee's 
calculations to arrive at final percentages for Naturals and Zantes are 
shown in the table below.

                   Final Volume Regulation Percentages
                  [Tonnage as natural condition weight]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Naturals     Zantes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade demand....................................      254,475      1,855
Divided by crop estimate........................      298,477      3,650
Equals free percentage..........................           85         51
100 minus free percentage equals reserve                   15         49
 percentage.....................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, the Department's ``Guidelines for Fruit, Vegetable, 
and Speciality Crop Marketing Orders'' (Guidelines) specify that 110 
percent of recent years' sales should be made available to primary 
markets each season for marketing orders utilizing reserve pool 
authority. This goal will be met for Naturals and Zantes by the 
establishment of final percentages which release 100 percent of the 
trade demand and the offer of additional reserve raisins for sale to 
handlers under the ``10 plus 10 offers.'' As specified in 
Sec. 989.54(g), the 10 plus 10 offers are two offers of reserve pool 
raisins which are made available to handlers during each season. For 
each such offer, a quantity of reserve raisins equal to 10 percent of 
the prior year's shipments is made available for free use. Handlers may 
sell their 10 plus 10 raisins to any market.
    For Naturals, both 10 plus 10 offers will be held in June 2000 
where a total of about 44,000 tons of raisins will be made available to 
handlers. This quantity is less than the amount specified in the order. 
As previously stated, the Committee utilized 1996-97 shipments of 
314,013 tons as a base to compute trade demand because 1998-99 
shipments were limited. Similarly, as specified in Sec. 989.54(g), 
1996-97 shipments were used as a base to compute the amount of tonnage 
to be made available in the 10 plus 10 offers. Thus, 31,402 tons should 
be made available in each of the 10 plus 10 offers (62,803 tons total). 
However, this amount is not available in the reserve. Thus, all of the 
reserve pool raisins will be made available to handlers for free use 
through the 10 plus 10 offers.
    Adding the 44,000 tons of 10 plus 10 raisins to the 254,475-ton 
trade demand figure, plus 101,946 tons of 1998-99

[[Page 18873]]

carryin inventory equates to about 400,423 tons natural condition 
raisins, or 375,893 tons packed raisins, that will be made available 
for free use, or to the primary market. This is 136 percent of the 
quantity of Naturals shipped during the 1998-99 crop year (295,401 
natural condition tons or 277,305 packed tons).
    For Zantes, both Zante 10 plus 10 offers were made available 
simultaneously in early February 2000 and 708 tons of raisins were 
purchased by handlers. Adding the 708 tons of 10 plus 10 raisins to the 
1,855 ton trade demand figure, plus 1,906 tons of 1998-99 carryin 
inventory equates to 4,469 tons natural condition raisins, or about 
3,985 tons packed raisins, made available for free use, or to the 
primary market. This is 126 percent of the quantity of Zantes shipped 
during the 1998-99 crop year (3,542 natural condition tons or 3,158 
packed tons).
    In addition to the 10 plus 10 offers, Sec. 989.67(j) of the order 
provides authority for sales of reserve raisins to handlers under 
certain conditions such as a national emergency, crop failure, change 
in economic or marketing conditions, or if free tonnage shipments in 
the current crop year exceed shipments of a comparable period of the 
prior crop year. Such reserve raisins may be sold by handlers to any 
market. When implemented, these additional offers of reserve raisins 
make even more raisins available to primary markets which is consistent 
with the Department's Guidelines.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    Pursuant to requirements set forth in the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (RFA), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has considered the 
economic impact of this action on small entities. Accordingly, AMS has 
prepared this initial regulatory flexibility analysis.
    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 20 handlers of California raisins who are 
subject to regulation under the order and approximately 4,500 raisin 
producers in the regulated area. Small agricultural service firms have 
been defined by the Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.201) as 
those having annual receipts of less than $5,000,000, and small 
agricultural producers are defined as those having annual receipts of 
less than $500,000. Thirteen of the 20 handlers subject to regulation 
have annual sales estimated to be at least $5,000,000, and the 
remaining 7 handlers have sales less than $5,000,000, excluding 
receipts from any other sources. No more than 7 handlers, and a 
majority of producers, of California raisins may be classified as small 
entities.
    Pursuant to Sec. 989.54(d) of the order, this rule establishes 
final volume regulation percentages for 1999-2000 crop Natural and 
Zante raisins. The volume regulation percentages are 85 percent free 
and 15 percent reserve for Naturals and 51 percent free and 49 percent 
reserve for Zantes. Free tonnage raisins may be sold by handlers to any 
market. Reserve raisins must be held in a pool for the account of the 
Committee and are disposed of through certain programs authorized under 
the order.
    Volume regulation is warranted this season for Naturals because the 
final crop estimate of 298,477 tons combined with the carryin inventory 
of 101,946 tons results in a total available supply of 400,423 tons, 
which is about 57 percent higher than the 254,475-ton trade demand. 
Volume regulation is warranted for Zantes this season because the crop 
estimate of 3,650 tons combined with the carryin inventory of 1,906 
tons results in a total available supply of 5,556 tons which is about 
200 percent higher than the 1,855-ton trade demand. The volume 
regulation percentages are intended to help stabilize raisin supplies 
and prices, and strengthen market conditions.
    Many years of marketing experience led to the development of the 
current volume regulation procedures. These procedures have helped the 
industry address its marketing problems by keeping supplies in balance 
with domestic and export market needs, and strengthening market 
conditions. The current volume regulation procedures fully supply the 
domestic and export markets, provide for market expansion, and help 
prevent oversupplies in the domestic market.
    Raisin-variety grapes can be marketed as fresh grapes, crushed for 
use in the production of wine or juice concentrate, or dried into 
raisins. Annual fluctuations in the fresh grape, wine, and concentrate 
markets, as well as weather-related factors, cause fluctuations in 
raisin supply. These supply fluctuations can cause producer price 
instability and disorderly market conditions. Volume regulation is 
helpful to the raisin industry because it lessens the impact of such 
fluctuations and contributes to orderly marketing. For example, 
excluding the 1997-98 season for which complete data is not yet 
available, producer prices for Naturals have remained fairly steady 
between the 1992-93 through the 1998-99 seasons, although production 
has varied. As shown in the table below, production has varied from a 
low of 240,469 tons in 1998-99 to a high of 387,007 tons in 1993-94, or 
61 percent. According to Committee data, during years of Natural volume 
regulation, the total producer return per ton, which includes proceeds 
from both free tonnage plus reserve pool raisins, has varied from a low 
of $901 in 1992-93 to a high of $1,049 in 1996-97, or 16 percent.

                    Natural Seedless Producer Prices
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Production
                                                  (natural     Producer
                   Crop year                     condition      prices
                                                   tons)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998-99.......................................      240,469   \1\ $1,290
1997-98.......................................      382,448   \2\ 925.50
1996-97.......................................      272,063        1,049
1995-96.......................................      325,911        1,007
1994-95.......................................      378,427          928
1993-94.......................................      387,007          904
1992-93.......................................      371,516         901
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ No volume regulation.
\2\ Return to date, reserve pool still open.


[[Page 18874]]

    In addition, the Committee is implementing an export program for 
Naturals. Through this program, the Committee hopes to export more 
Naturals thereby helping to build and maintain export markets, and 
ultimately improving producer returns. Volume regulation helps the 
industry not only to manage its supply of raisins, but also maintain 
market stability.
    Regarding Zantes, Zante production is much smaller than that of 
Naturals. Volume regulation has been implemented for Zantes during the 
1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98, and 1998-99 seasons. Various programs to 
utilize reserve Zantes were implemented when volume regulation was in 
effect during the 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98, and 1998-99 seasons. As 
shown in the table following this paragraph, although production varied 
during those years, volume regulation helped to reduce inventories, and 
helped to strengthen total producer prices (free tonnage plus reserve 
Zantes) from $412.56 per ton in 1994-95 to an estimated high of $730 
per ton in 1997-98. The Committee is implementing an export program for 
Zantes, in addition to Naturals. Through this program, the Committee 
hopes to export more Zantes, thereby continuing to reduce the 
industry's oversupply, helping to build export markets, and ultimately 
improving producer returns. Volume regulation helps the industry not 
only to manage oversupplies of raisins, but also maintain market 
stability.

                 Zante Currant Inventories and Producer Prices During Years of Volume Regulation
                                           [* Natural condition tons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            Inventory *           Total season
                     Crop year                        Production *  --------------------------  average producer
                                                                      Desirable     Physical    price (per ton)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998-99............................................           3,880          573        1,906              (\1\)
1997-98............................................           4,826          694        1,188        \2\ $730.00
1996-97............................................           4,491          987          549       \3\ 1,150.00
1995-96............................................           3,294          782        2,890             711.32
1994-95............................................           5,377          837        4,364            412.56
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Data not yet available, reserve pool open.
\2\ Estimate.
\3\ No volume regulation.

    Free and reserve percentages are established by variety, and 
usually in years when the supply exceeds the trade demand by a large 
enough margin that the Committee believes volume regulation is 
necessary to maintain market stability. However, volume regulation may 
also be utilized in short crop years so that the industry may utilize 
its export program as described to maintain its export markets and 
provide stability in the domestic market. Accordingly, in assessing 
whether to apply volume regulation or, as an alternative, not to apply 
such regulation, the Committee recommended only two of the nine raisin 
varieties defined under the order for volume regulation this season.
    The free and reserve percentages established by this rule release 
the full trade demands and apply uniformly to all handlers in the 
industry, regardless of size. For Naturals, with the exception of the 
1998-99 crop year, small and large raisin producers and handlers have 
been operating under volume regulation percentages every year since 
1983-84. There are no known additional costs incurred by small handlers 
that are not incurred by large handlers. All handlers are regulated 
based on the quantity of raisins which they acquire from producers. 
While the level of benefits of this rulemaking are difficult to 
quantify, the stabilizing effects of the volume regulations impact both 
small and large handlers positively by helping them maintain and expand 
markets even though raisin supplies fluctuate widely from season to 
season. Likewise, price stability positively impacts small and large 
producers by allowing them to better anticipate the revenues their 
raisins will generate.
    There are some reporting, recordkeeping and other compliance 
requirements under the order. The reporting and recordkeeping burdens 
are necessary for compliance purposes and for developing statistical 
data for maintenance of the program. The requirements are the same as 
those applied in past seasons. Thus, this action will not impose any 
additional reporting or recordkeeping burdens on either small or large 
handlers. The forms require information which is readily available from 
handler records and which can be provided without data processing 
equipment or trained statistical staff. The information collection and 
recordkeeping requirements have been previously approved by the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control No. 0581-0178. As with 
other, similar marketing order programs, reports and forms are 
periodically studied to reduce or eliminate duplicate information 
collection burdens by industry and public sector agencies. In addition, 
the Department has not identified any relevant Federal rules that 
duplicate, overlap, or conflict with this rule. Finally, interested 
persons are invited to submit information on the regulatory and 
informational impacts of this action on small businesses.
    Further, Committee and subcommittee meetings are widely publicized 
in advance and are held in a location central to the production area. 
The meetings are open to all industry members, including small business 
entities, and other interested persons who are encouraged to 
participate in the deliberations and voice their opinions on topics 
under discussion.
    A small business guide on complying with fruit, vegetable, and 
specialty crop marketing agreements and orders may be viewed at the 
following web site: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/moab/html. Any questions 
about the compliance guide should be sent to Jay Guerber at the 
previously mentioned address in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.
    After consideration of all relevant material presented, including 
the Committee's recommendation, and other information, it is found that 
this interim final rule, as hereinafter set forth, will tend to 
effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
    This rule invites comments for a 60-day period on the establishment 
of final volume regulation percentages for 1999-2000 crop Natural and 
Zante raisins covered under the order. All comments received within the 
comment period will be considered prior to finalization of this rule.
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, it is also found and determined upon good 
cause

[[Page 18875]]

that it is impracticable, 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 rule until 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register because: (1) The relevant provisions of this part require that 
the percentages designated herein for the 1999-2000 crop year apply to 
all Natural and Zante raisins acquired from the beginning of that crop 
year; (2) handlers are currently marketing 1999-2000 crop Natural and 
Zante raisins and this action should be taken promptly to achieve the 
intended purpose of making the full trade demands available to 
handlers; (3) handlers are aware of this action, which the Committee 
recommended at open meetings, and need no additional time to comply 
with these percentages; and (4) this interim final rule provides a 60-
day comment period and any comments received will be considered prior 
to finalization of this rule.

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 989

    Grapes, Marketing agreements, Raisins, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR part 989 is 
amended to read as follows:

PART 989--RAISINS PRODUCED FROM GRAPES GROWN IN CALIFORNIA

    1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 989 continues to read as 
follows:

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


    2. Section 989.253 is added to Subpart--Supplementary Regulations 
to read as follows:

    Note: This section will not appear in the annual Code of Federal 
Regulations.

Sec. 989.253  Final free and reserve percentages for the 1999-2000 crop 
year.

    The final percentages for standard Natural (sun-dried) Seedless and 
Zante Currant raisins acquired by handlers during the crop year 
beginning on August 1, 1999, which shall be free tonnage and reserve 
tonnage, respectively, are designated as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Varietal type              Freepercentage  Reservepercentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Natural (sun-dried) Seedless.........              85                15
Zante Currant........................              51                49
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: April 4, 2000.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 00-8728 Filed 4-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P