[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 2885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1207]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 13 / Wednesday, January 21, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2885]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV-04-329]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pears

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking 
research and other work associated with revising an official grade 
standard, is soliciting comments on the petition to change the United 
States Standards for Grades of Canned Pears. AMS received two 
petitions, one from a grower cooperative, the other from a processor, 
requesting that USDA change the character classification for Grade 
``B'', slices, and diced, to read ``the units are reasonably tender or 
tenderness may be variable within the unit.''

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 22, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to Karen L. Kaufman, 
Standardization Section, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.; Room 0709, South Building; 
STOP 0247, Washington, DC 20250; Fax (202) 690-1527, e-mail 
[email protected]. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Pears is available either through the address cited above or by 
accessing the AMS Home page on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/frutcan.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    AMS received two petitions, one from a grower cooperative and the 
other from a processor, requesting the revision of the United States 
Standards for Grades of Canned Pears. The standards are established 
under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 
1621-1627). The petitioners represent growers from Washington State, 
Oregon and parts of California.
    The petitioners are requesting that USDA change the character 
classification for Grade ``B'', slices, and diced, to include the 
following: ``the units are reasonably tender or the tenderness may be 
variable within the unit.'' The current standard contains this wording 
for character classifications for halves, quarters, pieces or irregular 
pieces and whole pears. The petitioners believe the change in the 
standard will improve the economic position of domestic growers of 
pears.

Agricultural Marketing Service

    Prior to undertaking detailed work to develop a revision to the 
standard, AMS is soliciting for comments on the petitions submitted to 
change the United States Standards for Grades of Canned Pears.
    This notice provides a 60 day comment period for interested parties 
to comment on changes to the standard. Should AMS conclude that there 
is an interest in the proposal, the Agency will develop a proposed 
revised standard that will be published in the Federal Register with a 
request for comments in accordance with 7 CFR part 36.

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

    Dated: January 14, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-1207 Filed 1-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-M