[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56795-56796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28271]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV-01-330]


United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Field Peas and 
Frozen Black-Eye Peas

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the United States Standards for Grades 
of Frozen Field Peas and Frozen Black-Eye Peas. Specifically, USDA is 
providing for the ``individual attributes'' procedure for product 
grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality levels (AQL's), 
tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable defects) in the 
grade standards. This revision will also provide a uniform format 
consistent with other recently revised U.S. grade standards by adopting 
definitions for terms and replacing textual descriptions with easy-to-
read tables and other editorial changes. These changes will improve use 
of the standards.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 13, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randle A. Macon, Processed Products 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS, USDA, STOP 0247, 1400 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250-0247; ph.: (202) 720-5021; 
fax; (202) 690-1527; or e-mail to [email protected]. The current 
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Field Peas and Frozen 
Black-Eye Peas, along with the revision, are available either through 
the above address or by accessing AMS's Web site on the Internet at 
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppb.html. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Frozen Field Peas and Frozen Black-Eye Peas do not appear in the Code 
of Federal Regulations.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), 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 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. The United States Standards for Grades of Fruits and 
Vegetables do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are 
maintained by USDA.
    AMS is revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Field Peas 
and Frozen Black-Eye Peas using the procedures that appear in part 36 
of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Proposed by the Petitioner

    The petitioner, the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), 
petitioned the USDA to revise the U.S. Grade

[[Page 56796]]

Standards for Frozen Field Peas and Frozen Black-Eye Peas. It was 
specifically requested that the ``individual attributes'' system of 
grading, be incorporated into the revision. ``Individual attributes'' 
provide statistically derived acceptable quality levels (AQL's) based 
on the tolerances in the grade standards.
    The current standards are based on an older ``attributes'' model. 
It is proposed that the standards be modified to convert them to the 
improved ``individual attributes'' grading system, similar to the U.S. 
grade standards for canned green and wax beans (58 FR 4295, January 14, 
1993).
    AMS prepared a discussion draft of the frozen field peas, frozen 
black-eye peas standard, and distributed copies for input to AFFI and 
the National Food Processors Association (NFPA). Input from the above 
groups was used to develop the proposed standards.

Proposed by Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS

    Based on the results of the information gathered, AMS prepared and 
published a notice proposing to revise the U.S. Grade Standards for 
Frozen Field Peas and Frozen Black-Eye Peas in the Federal Register 
February 9, 2000, with a 60-day comment period, proposing changes to 
the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Field Peas and Frozen 
Black-Eye Peas in the Federal Register (65 FR 7486).
    AMS received comments on the Notice from AFFI. AFFI recommended 
changing part of the product description to include a provision that 
``Frozen peas may contain succulent, unshelled pods of the field pea 
plant or small sieve round type succulent pods of the green bean plant 
as an optional ingredient used as a garnish.'' The purpose of the 
recommendation is to make the standards consistent with current 
industry practices. Changes in mechanical harvesting have lowered the 
supply of ``snaps'' (immature pods) from the field pea plant. Snaps 
were customarily used as a garnish. In order to maintain the custom, 
the industry wants to use the succulent pod of the green pea plant, 
which are readily available, using current harvesting practices. This 
recommendation has merit. Accordingly, we are incorporating this change 
into the standard.
    AFFI also recommended that the second category for ``Color 
Defectives'' in Table Ii, ``AQL's and Tolerances for Defects in White 
Acre Frozen Peas'', of the proposed draft of the grade standards be 
eliminated along with the corresponding footnotes. We are dropping the 
footnote and the second category, as AFFI recommends, because both were 
left in the table inadvertently. Since Table II refers to White acre 
peas only, footnote 2/ ``For Crowder Peas Only'' and the second 
category ``Color Defectives'' (for crowder peas), do not apply.
    Based on these changes, the revisions would modify the standards to 
present them in a simplified easy-to-use format. Consistent with recent 
revisions of other U.S. grade standards, definitions of terms and easy-
to-read tables would replace the textual descriptions. These changes 
are intended to facilitate better understanding and more uniform 
application of the grade standards.
    This revision becomes effective 30 days after date of publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register.

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

    Dated: November 6, 2001.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-28271 Filed 11-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M