[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3817-3818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-784]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-05-308]


United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods

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 Pea Pods. This action is being 
taken at the request of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory 
Committee, which asked AMS to identify commodities 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 the orderly and efficient marketing of pea pods.

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 Pea 
Pods is available by accessing AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.

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 that are not requirements of 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 proposing to establish voluntary United States Standards for 
Grades of Pea Pods 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. As a result, AMS 
identified pea pods, or as they are sometimes called snow peas, as a 
commodity possibly in need of official grade standards. Such standards 
are used by the fresh produce industry to describe the product they are 
trading, thus facilitating the marketing of the product.
    Prior to undertaking research and other work associated to develop 
the standards, AMS published a notice on May 2, 2005 in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 83) soliciting comments on the possible development of 
the United States Standards for Grades of Pea Pods.
    In response to the request for comments, AMS received one comment 
on the development of U.S. standards for pea pods. The comment was from 
an industry group that expressed support for the development of 
standards for pea pods. The comment is available by accessing AMS, 
Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fvfpbdocketlist.htm. Based on the

[[Page 3818]]

comment received and information gathered, AMS has developed proposed 
grade standards for pea pods. This proposal would establish the 
following grades, as well as a tolerance for each grade: U.S. Fancy and 
U.S. No. 1. In addition, there are proposed ``Tolerances,'' and 
``Application of Tolerances'' sections. AMS is proposing to define 
``Injury,'' ``Damage'' and ``Serious Damage,'' along with specific 
basic requirements and definitions for defects.
    The official grade of a lot or shipment of fresh vegetables covered 
by U.S. standards is 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 Pea Pods.

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

    Dated: January 18, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-784 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P