[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8196-8197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-4081]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. FV-03-328]


United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to create new 
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery. USDA received a 
petition from a grower and a processor of celery to create grade 
standards for frozen celery that will include a description of the 
product, style, sample unit size, grades, ascertaining the grade by 
sample, and ascertaining the grade by lot. The proposed standard is 
intended to provide a common language for trade, and a means of 
measuring value in the marketing of frozen celery.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before April 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to: Karen L. Kaufman, 
Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247,1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, D.C. 20250-0247; fax (202) 690-
1087; or e-mail [email protected].
    Comments should reference the date and page of this issue of the 
Federal Register. All comments received will be made available for 
public inspection at the address listed above during regular business 
hours and on the Internet.
    The draft of the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen 
Celery are available either through the address cited above or by 
accessing AMS's Home Page on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppbdocketlist.htm. Any comments received regarding this proposed 
standard will also be posted on that site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L. Kaufman at (202) 720-5021 or 
e-mail at [email protected].

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 in order 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 are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs and may be obtained by writing to the above address or on the 
internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/standpfv.htm.
    AMS is proposing to establish the U.S. Standards for Grades of 
Frozen Celery 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, a grower and a processor of celery, requested that 
USDA develop a standard for frozen celery to be used by the industry. 
The petitioner provided information on style, sample size and 
description to AMS to develop the standard. AMS visited the 
petitioner's facility to collect information on grades of frozen celery 
and how to ascertain the grade of a sample and of a lot.
    AMS prepared a discussion draft of the frozen celery standard, and 
distributed copies for input to the petitioner, the American Frozen 
Food Institute (AFFI), and the National Food Processors Association 
(NFPA). Input from the above groups was used to develop the proposed 
standard.

Proposed by Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS

    A notice proposing to create new United States Standards for Grades 
of Frozen Celery based on the petition was published in the May 2, 
2001, Federal Register (66 FR 21908). AMS received four comments in 
response to the notice. All of the responses but one were generally in 
favor of the new standard. These comments are available by accessing 
AMS's Home Page on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppb.html.
    One commentor did not see the need for a standard for frozen celery 
and felt

[[Page 8197]]

the standard was too subjective. The other commentors were in favor of 
a standard for frozen celery and proposed changes to the Table I-
Allowances For Defects In Frozen Celery for grade ``A'' and ``B,'' 
``sliced'' and ``diced'' styles. These changes included a reduction in 
the sample size for Table I from a maximum-per 500 grams to maximum-per 
283 grams for a 10-ounce portion, a separate allowance for seriously 
blemished units from blemished units, decrease the number of leaf 
material larger than a \1/4\'' from ``20 pieces'' to ``10 pieces,'' 
change mechanical damage from ``no more than 3 pieces'' to ``no more 
than 3% by weight'' and for insect damaged change from ``none'' to 
``0.5%.''
    Based on these comments, AMS has revised the proposed standard for 
grades of frozen celery. AMS is proposing to establish the U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery following the standard format for 
U.S. Grade Standards. AMS is proposing to define ``frozen celery'' and 
establish ``sliced'' and ``diced'' as the style designations. The 
proposal will also define the quality factors that affect frozen celery 
and determine sample unit sizes for this commodity.
    This proposal will establish the grade levels ``A,'' ``B'' and 
``Substandard'' and assign the corresponding score points for each 
level. The proposed tolerance for each quality factor as defined for 
each grade level will be established.
    The grade of a sample unit of frozen celery will be ascertained by 
considering the factors of varietal characteristics flavor and odor, 
which are not scored; the ratings for the factors of color, defects, 
and character, which are scored; the total score; and the limiting 
rules which apply. This proposal will provide a common language for 
trade, a means of measuring value in the marketing of frozen celery, 
and provide guidance in the effective utilization of frozen celery. The 
official grade of a lot of frozen celery covered by these standards 
will be determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations 
Governing Inspection and Certification of Processed Products Thereof, 
and Certain Other Processed Food Products (Sec.  52.1 to 52.83).
    This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on changes to the standards.

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

    Dated: February 13, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-4081 Filed 2-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-U