[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3816-3817]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-780]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-06-301]


United States Standards for Grades of Mixed Commodities

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 the proposed voluntary 
United States Standards for Grades of Mixed Commodities. This action is 
being taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory 
Committee, which asked AMS to identify products that may be better 
served if grade standards are developed. The proposed standards would 
provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, 
thus promoting orderly and efficient marketing of fresh produce 
shipments containing different commodities packaged in the same 
container.

DATES: Comments must be received by March 27, 2006.

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 1661, South Building, 
Stop 0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240, fax (202) 720-8871, e-mail 
[email protected]. Comments should make reference to the dates 
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 and on the Internet.
    The draft of the proposed United States Standards for Grades of 
Mixed Commodities is available by accessing AMS, Fresh Products Branch 
Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.

[[Page 3817]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri L. Emery, at the above address 
or call (202) 720-2185, 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 not connected with Federal Marketing Orders or 
U.S. Import Requirements, no longer appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations, but are maintained by the USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs.
    AMS is proposing to establish voluntary United States Standards for 
Grades of Mixed Commodities using the procedures that appear in Part 
36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background

    At a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory 
Committee, AMS was asked to identify fresh fruit and vegetables that 
may be better served if grade standards are developed. AMS identified 
fresh produce that are uniformly packaged with different types of 
commodities in the same container, as possibly in need of official 
grade standards. Such standards are used by the fresh produce industry 
to describe the products they are trading, thus facilitating the 
marketing of those products.
    AMS has developed proposed voluntary grade standards for shipments 
of mixed commodities. These standards would establish a grade U.S. 
Mixed as well as sections pertaining to sampling, tolerances, 
application of tolerances, and definitions for Injury, Damage and 
Serious Damage.
    The adoption of these proposed standards would provide the ever 
expanding mixed commodity industry with U.S. grade standards similar to 
those extensively in use by the fresh produce industry to assist in 
orderly marketing of other commodities.
    The official grade of a lot of mixed commodities covered by these 
standards will be 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).
    This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on the proposed United States Standards for Grades 
of Mixed Commodities.

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

    Dated: January 18, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-780 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P