[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8833-8834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2385]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-04-306]


United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

[[Page 8834]]


ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is revising the United States Standards for Grades 
of Watermelons. Specifically, AMS is revising the standard to include a 
definition for seedless watermelons and a variance to the size 
requirements. This action is being taken based on a request by the 
National Watermelon Association (NWA). This change will bring the 
standards for watermelons in line with current marketing practices, 
thereby, improving the usefulness of the standards in serving the 
industry.

DATES: Effective Date: March 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 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 revised United States Standards for 
Grades of Watermelons will be available either through the address 
cited above 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 
Watermelons using procedures that appear in part 36, Title 7 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). These standards were last 
revised in 1978.

Background

    AMS received a petition from the NWA requesting the United States 
Standards for Grades of Watermelons be revised to include a definition 
for seedless watermelons and a variance to the size requirements. Prior 
to undertaking detailed work to develop the proposed revision to the 
standards, AMS published a notice on April 22, 2004, in the Federal 
Register (69 FR 21812) requesting comments on the petition to revise 
the United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons which included 
watermelons with 16 or less mature seeds in the definition for seedless 
watermelons and proposed adding an allowance for watermelons to vary 3 
pounds above the average weight. In response to our request for 
comments, AMS received one comment from an industry group supporting 
the proposed revision. On October 29, 2004, AMS published a notice in 
the Federal Register (69 FR 209) proposing to revise the standards. In 
response to this notice, AMS received two comments, one from an 
industry group representing receivers and one comment from a consumer. 
Both commenters supported a modified version of the proposed revision 
of the standards. Both commenters supported the inclusion of a 
definition for seedless watermelons with a lower number of allowable 
seed count. The commenter representing receivers supported the 
inclusion of a 3 pound variance in the size requirements, while the 
other commenter supported a 1 pound variance. After further 
consideration, NWA submitted a second petition amending the seedless 
watermelon definition in their original petition. On September 7, 2005, 
AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (70 FR 172) proposing to 
revise the standards based on the amended petition which provided for 
10 instead of a 16 mature seeds or less. The comments are available by 
accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
    With regard to the numbers of mature seeds AMS believes that 10 
mature seeds or less best reflects current marketing practices. 
Further, a 3 pound variance above the stated average weight rather than 
a 1 pound is consistent within the size requirements as the standard 
currently allows watermelons to vary 3 pounds below the stated weight. 
According, AMS believes the revision to the standards for watermelons 
is warranted as the revision will bring the standards in line with 
current marketing practices, thereby, improving the usefulness of the 
standards in serving the industry.
    The official grade of a lot of watermelons 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).
    The United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons will become 
effective 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

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

    Dated: February 13, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2385 Filed 2-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P