[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68858-68859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-30605]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. FV-04-328]


United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is establishing the United States Standards for 
Grades of Frozen Celery. USDA received a petition from a grower and a 
processor of celery

[[Page 68859]]

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 standard is intended to provide a common language for trade, and a 
means of measuring value in the marketing of frozen celery.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 9, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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, DC 20250-0247; fax (202) 690-1087; or e-mail 
[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 establishing 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 standard.

Proposed by Fruit and Vegetable Programs, AMS

    The first notice proposing to create a new United States Standards 
for Grades of Frozen Celery was published based on the petition in the 
May 2, 2001 Federal Register. A second notice was published in the 
February 20, 2003 Federal Register (68 FR 8196) based on comments 
received from the first notice. AMS received three comments in response 
to the second notice. All of the responses were 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.
    Based on recommendations from the commentors the following changes 
were made to the standard, add ``Bias sliced celery'' to Section 
2.6681. Styles of frozen celery. (a) Sliced celery; changes to Table 
I--Allowances for Defects in Frozen Celery include the addition of 
``bias sliced'' celery with ``sliced'' style; for blemished and 
seriously blemished units no unit larger than a \1/4\'', for insect 
damage no larger than \1/8\''; for grades of ``sliced'' , ``bias'' and 
``diced'' style: blemished Grade ``A'' maximum of 3% by weight, Grade 
``B'' maximum of 4% by weight, seriously blemished Grade ``A'' maximum 
of 1% by weight, Grade ``B'' maximum of 2% by weight, for mechanical 
damage, crushed or broken units for Grade ``B'' no more than 3% by 
weight and ``sliced'' and ``bias'' style extraneous vegetable material 
allowed in Grade ``A'' one piece, and Grade ``B'' two pieces.
    Accordingly, AMS is establishing the United States Standard for 
Grades of Frozen Celery. The U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery 
following the standard format for U.S. Grade Standards. AMS is 
establishing the definition of ``frozen celery'' and including 
``sliced'', ``bias'' and ``diced'' as the style designations in the 
standard. Finally, this standard defines the quality factors that 
affect frozen celery and determine sample unit sizes for this 
commodity.
    This standard establishes the grade levels ``A'', ``B'' and 
``Substandard'' and assigns the corresponding score points for each 
level. The tolerance for each quality factor as defined for each grade 
level is 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 standard 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).
    The U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery will become 
effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

    Dated: December 4, 2003.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 03-30605 Filed 12-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P