[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 14436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5608]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 54 / Tuesday, March 22, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 14436]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. No. FV-04-302]


United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Potatoes

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 Sweet Potatoes. USDA had received a request from several industry 
groups to add a new grade to the standards, U.S. No. 1 Petite. The 
change will allow the packing and shipping of smaller size sweet 
potatoes under the U.S. standards, thereby, improving the usefulness of 
the standards in serving the industry.

DATES: Effective Date: April 21, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Priester, Standardization 
Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1661 South Building, STOP 0240, 
Washington, DC 20250-0240, Fax (202) 720-8871 or call (202) 720-2185; 
E-mail [email protected]. The final United States Standards for 
Grades of Sweet Potatoes, will be available either through the address 
cited above or by accessing the AMS Home Page on the web at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegfm.htm.

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 not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or 
U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs.
    AMS is revising the voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Sweet 
Potatoes using procedures that appear in Part 36 Title 7 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).

Background

    On December 10, 2003, AMS published a notice in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 237) soliciting comments on a possible revision to the 
United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Potatoes. As a result, AMS 
received five comments from industry groups requesting the addition of 
a new grade entitled U.S. No. 1 Petite, with the same requirements as 
the U.S. No. 1 grade currently in the standard, except for the size 
requirements. The request specified that the size requirements for the 
U.S. No. 1 Petite be: A minimum diameter of 1\1/2\ inches, a maximum 
diameter of 2\1/4\ inches, a minimum length of 3 inches and a maximum 
length of 7 inches.
    A second notice was published in the October 29, 2004, Federal 
Register (69 FR 209) based on comments received on the first notice. 
AMS received seven comments from industry groups in response to the 
second notice. Six comments were in favor of the revision to the 
standard and one comment was opposed. The comments are available by 
accessing AMS's Home Page on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
    One comment opposing the revision stated the new grade is of 
negative value to their members and will cause confusion. The commenter 
stated the new grade may result in a lower overall return to their 
growers as the size is similar to a medium size which is the cheapest 
grade they market. The marketing of sweet potatoes using any size 
within the U.S. standard is voluntary. AMS believes the addition of the 
new grade will not cause confusion and will aid those producers whom 
would like to market smaller size sweet potatoes using the U.S. 
standards.
    AMS received six comments in favor of the revision. Those in favor 
of the new grade stated it would aid in the marketing of smaller size 
sweet potatoes as the U.S. standards currently require sweet potatoes 
to be a larger size in order to meet a grade. The change will allow the 
packing and shipping of smaller size sweet potatoes under the U.S. 
standards.
    Based on comments received and information gathered, AMS believes 
the addition of the U.S. No. 1 Petite grade will facilitate the 
marketing of smaller size sweet potatoes and improve the standards 
usefulness in serving the industry.
    The official grade of a lot of sweet potatoes covered by these 
standards are determined by the procedures set forth in the Regulations 
Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards of Fresh Fruits, 
Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
    Additionally, AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. This 
section is being removed in all standards, when they are revised. This 
category is not a grade and only serves to show that no grade has been 
applied to the lot. It is no longer considered necessary.
    The United States Standards for Grades of Sweet Potatoes will 
become effective 30 days after the publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.

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

    Dated: March 16, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-5608 Filed 3-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P