[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 83 (Monday, May 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25561-25562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-6482]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-04-309]


United States Standards for Grades of Persian (Tahiti) Limes

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 Persian (Tahiti) Limes. Specifically, the juice content 
requirement shall be revised to allow juice content to be determined by 
weight. Additionally, the redesignation of limes to ``Mixed Color'' and 
``Turning'' within the color requirements will be made optional. The 
standards provide industry with a common language and uniform basis for 
trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of Persian 
limes.

DATES: Effective Date: May 31, 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 United States Standards for Grades of 
Persian (Tahiti) Limes 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 
Persian (Tahiti) Limes using the procedures that appear in part 36, 
Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background

    Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with a 
proposed revision of the standards, AMS published a notice on June 25, 
2004, in the Federal Register (69 FR 35572) requesting comments on the 
possible revision of the United States Standards for Grades of Persian 
(Tahiti) Limes. Based on the comments received, AMS published a notice 
in the Federal Register (70 FR 12174) on March 11, 2005, proposing to 
revise the juice and color requirements. AMS published a subsequent 
notice in Federal Register (70 FR 36111), on June 22, 2005, extending 
the period for comments.
    In response to the requests for comments, AMS received sixteen 
responses to the proposed revisions. Thirteen of the responses were 
from a produce association, with twelve separate comments from 
association members supporting the association response. One comment 
was from a national trade association representing produce receivers, 
one from a foreign trade organization and one from a foreign government 
agency. The comments are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products 
Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
    AMS proposed removing the juice requirement. Juice content is based 
on volume and is complex to determine. The comment from the produce 
association's President, supported by the twelve separate association 
members, was in favor of the removal. Another comment stated they 
believe that the requirement was difficult to apply, however, if the 
requirement remains in the standard they suggested the minimum juice 
content be reduced to 30 percent from the current requirement of 42 
percent. AMS does not support the commenter's proposed reduction, as 
the 42 percent juice content would be considered by most of the 
industry to have an acceptable amount of juice. Another commenter 
suggested that the juice content be determined by weight rather than 
volume. Given the comments received, AMS has decided to retain the 
juice requirement in the standards at the current requirement of 42 
percent and the volume method. AMS believes that the comment suggesting 
that the juice content be determined by weight has merit. This method 
is less complex than the volume method. Further, this method is 
currently used within the industry. Accordingly, an option to determine 
the juice content by weight will be added to the standard.
    AMS proposed removing the color requirements. The color 
requirements specify that limes have a percentage of the surface with 
good green color. The U.S. No. 1 grade, requires three-fourths of the 
surface to be good green color and the U.S. No. 2 grade requires one-
half of the surface good green color. The standard further states, 
limes not meeting the requirements of the grade due to blanching shall 
be redesignated as ``Mixed Color'' and limes that do not meet the 
requirements of the grade due to turning yellow or yellow color, caused 
by the ripening process shall be designated as ``Turning.'' One 
commenter supported eliminating the redesignation of lots as ``Mixed 
Color'' and ``Turning'' for the U.S. No. 1 grade only. Another 
commenter supported the elimination of the ``Turning'' designation for 
all grades. The comment from the produce association's President, 
supported by the twelve separate association members, supported leaving 
the redesignation of lots to ``Turning'' for advanced yellowing. This 
commenter further suggested designating lots of limes with blanching 
and ``incipient'' yellowing as ``Mixed Color.'' Additionally, this 
commenter also suggested creating a new grade, U.S. Fancy, which would 
require limes to be predominately good green. The commenter also 
recommended revising the U.S. No. 1 grade to allow the fruit to have 50 
percent of the surface to show ``lightened color'' as a result of 
blanching and an additional 10 percent of the surface to show 
``lightened color'' as a result of yellowing. Since these suggested 
changes significantly deviate from the two proposed changes, and

[[Page 25562]]

they will not be addressed in this revision. Based on the comments 
received, AMS believes a revision to the color requirement, rather than 
removal, would better meet the needs of the industry, because this 
requirement still reflects industry practice. Therefore, the 
requirement regarding limes having a percentage of the surface with 
good green color will remain unchanged. However, in view of the 
comments received, the required redesignation to ``Mixed Color'' and 
``Turning'' is revised to an optional redesignation in order to provide 
the industry with flexibility regarding these designations. Otherwise, 
limes that do not make grade based on color will be designated as a 
``fails to grade.''
    Two comments were received regarding size. Additionally, two 
comments were received suggesting the elimination of the U.S. 
Combination grade. These matters are beyond the scope of the proposed 
revision. Therefore, these changes are not addressed in this action.
    Based on the comments received and information gathered, AMS 
believes the revision to the standards will improve their usefulness in 
serving the industry. The official grade of a lot of Persian (Tahiti) 
Limes 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 Persian (Tahiti) Limes 
will be effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.

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

    Dated: April 26, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-6482 Filed 4-28-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P