[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3815-3816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-782]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-05-304]


United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus

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 voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Fresh Asparagus. Specifically, AMS is revising the 
standards to allow purple and white asparagus to be graded using the 
standards. This change will bring the standards for asparagus in line 
with current marketing practices, thereby, improving the usefulness of 
the standards in serving the industry.

DATES: Effective Date: February 23, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri L. Emery, 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, (202) 720-2185, fax (202) 720-8871, or e-
mail [email protected]. The revised United States Standards for 
Grades of Fresh Asparagus is available either from the above address or 
by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.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 United States Standards for Grades of 
Fresh Asparagus using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background

    Prior to undertaking detailed work to develop a proposed revision 
to the standards, AMS published a notice on March 29, 2005 in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 15817) soliciting comments on a possible 
revision of the United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus. 
Based on comments received and information gathered, a second notice 
was published on October 6, 2005 in the Federal Register (70 FR 58370) 
proposing to revise the standards to allow purple and white asparagus 
to be graded using the standards. In response to this notice AMS 
received two comments from Peruvian asparagus organizations supporting 
the proposed revision. The comments are available by accessing the AMS, 
Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm
    The two comments from Peruvian asparagus organizations supporting 
the proposed revision stated that the revision would facilitate the 
marketing of fresh asparagus. Based on comments received and 
information gathered, AMS is revising the fresh asparagus standards to 
allow purple and white asparagus to be graded using the U.S. standards.
    The official grade of a lot of fresh asparagus covered by these 
standards will be determined by the procedures set forth in the 
Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards

[[Page 3816]]

of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. 51.1 to 51.61).
    The United States Standards for Grades of Fresh Asparagus will be 
effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

    Dated: January 18, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-782 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P