[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4967]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2250]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 21 / Friday, January 31, 2003 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 4967]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 51

[Doc. No. FV-00-303]


Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines; Grade Standards

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening and extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the comment period on proposed 
changes to the United States Standards for Grades of Peaches, the 
United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Plums and Prunes, and the 
United States Standards for Grades of Nectarines is reopened and 
extended.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Standardization Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Room 2065 South Building, STOP 
0240, Washington, DC 20250; Fax (202) 720-8871, E-mail 
[email protected]. Comments should make reference to the date 
and page number of this issue of the Federal Register and will be made 
available for public inspection in the above office during regular 
business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Priester, at the above 
address or call (202) 720-2185; E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register, September 25, 2002, (Vol 67, No. 186, Pages 60171--60184) 
requesting comments on the proposed revisions of the United States 
Standards for Grades of Peaches, the United States Standards for Grades 
of Fresh Plums and Prunes, and the United States Standards for Grades 
of Nectarines. The proposal would delete the ``Unclassified'' section, 
establish a 25-count minimum sample, revise standard pack and size 
requirements to reflect current marketing and packaging practices for 
all three standards, and develop en route or at destination tolerances 
for grades of peaches to make the standards more uniform and consistent 
with other tree fruit standards. The proposal would also make changes 
to the color requirements for grades of nectarines to reflect newer 
varieties being marketed, as well as current cultural and marketing 
practices. Also, a definition would be provided for damage and serious 
damage by discoloration, and additional definitions for damage and 
serious damage by growth cracks would be provided for grades of fresh 
plums and prunes. In addition, the proposed rule contains conforming 
and editorial changes. The comment period ended November 25, 2002.
    A comment was received from two industry associations representing 
peach growers requesting additional time to review the proposed 
revisions. The associations stated they were not aware changes were 
being made to the standards. Therefore, they requested the comment 
period be extended to allow the associations an opportunity to meet 
with their members to discuss the proposal.
    After reviewing the request, AMS is reopening and extending the 
comment period in order to allow sufficient time for interested 
persons, including the associations, to file comments.

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

    Dated: January 27, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-2250 Filed 1-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P