[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30860-30861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8375]



[[Page 30860]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-04-301]


United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes

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 its proposal to revise the 
United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes. AMS is 
proposing to revise the standards to allow that percentages of defects 
and size classifications be determined by count rather than weight. 
This would result in a revision of the following sections of the 
standards: Tolerances, Size Classification, Standard Pack, Damage, and 
Serious Damage sections. Additionally, AMS is proposing to delete the 
``Unclassified'' section, add moldy stems as a damage defect, and add a 
scoring guide for damage and serious damage for skin checks. The 
proposed revisions would bring the standards for greenhouse tomatoes in 
line with current marketing practices, thereby improving their 
usefulness in serving the industry.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 31, 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.
    The proposed United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse 
Tomatoes are available either through the address cited above or by 
accessing the 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 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 proposing to revise the voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes 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 1966.

Background

    Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with 
revision of the grade standards, AMS published a notice in the Federal 
Register (68 FR 68859) on December 10, 2003, soliciting comments on the 
possible revision of the United States Standards for Grades of 
Greenhouse Tomatoes. In response to this notice, a comment was received 
from an international industry group asking for an extension of the 
comment period. Following a review of the request AMS published a 
notice in the Federal Register (69 FR 12299) on March 16, 2004, 
extending the comment period from February 9, 2004, to March 31, 2004.
    Further, after the comment period, AMS prepared a discussion draft 
of the proposed greenhouse tomato standard, and distributed copies for 
input to all commenters, industry associations, and other interested 
persons. As a result, we are adding a scoring guide for damage and 
serious damage by skin checks and including moldy stems as a damage 
defect.
    In response to our request for comments, AMS received seven 
comments on the possible revisions. Two from domestic trade 
organizations, two from international trade organizations, two from 
foreign trade organizations, 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.
    Four comments were in favor of the revisions to allow that 
percentages of defects and size classifications be determined by count 
rather than weight, stating the proposed change would significantly 
increase the speed of the inspection process while not changing the 
integrity of the inspection.
    AMS received one comment specifically requesting a subsection for 
Tomatoes on the Vine (TOV) in the Greenhouse Tomato Standard. Three 
comments asked to include information to make the standards more useful 
to other types of greenhouse tomatoes and TOV. Based on these comments, 
we believe that it is preferable to address this issue by the 
development of a new standard for TOV.
    AMS received two comments requesting a standard definition as to 
what represents a greenhouse tomato, and four comments that were 
opposed to including such a definition. The commenters opposed to 
defining ``greenhouse tomatoes'' stated that a strict definition would 
limit some growers from producing or marketing their product. 
Historically, the industry has been able to market this product without 
such a definition in the standards. Accordingly, AMS has decided not to 
take further action concerning the definition.
    AMS received four comments requesting that destination tolerances 
be reviewed. However, no specific change was requested. Accordingly, 
the tolerances will remain unchanged.
    AMS received four comments expressing concerns with changing to a 
size classification based on a diameter calculation due to the 
variations in the shape of the varieties. They requested using a count 
basis for determining size. AMS is proposing to revise the size 
classification section to add that the size of tomatoes may be 
specified by count per container, or in accordance with the defined 
diameter specifications. Because of the change from weight to count, 
AMS is also proposing to change the size designations from ounces to 
diameter, define the minimum and maximum diameter in inches of a small 
tomato to mean 2\4/32\ to 2\9/32\, a medium tomato to mean 2\8/32\ to 
2\17/32\, a large tomato to mean 2\16/32\ to 2\25/32\, and an extra 
large tomato to mean 2\24/32\ and larger, and add a definition for 
minimum and maximum diameter.
    The proposed revisions will result in a modification of the 
following four sections of the standards: The tolerance section will 
change from weight to count. The standard pack section would be revised 
to base the ``standard pack'' on marked count by defining ``Fairly 
uniform in size'' as: ``not more than 10

[[Page 30861]]

percent, by count, of the tomatoes in any container may vary more than 
\1/2\ inch in diameter.'' The damage section will be revised to include 
that all references to area, aggregate area, length, or aggregate 
length definitions are based on a 2\1/2\ inch in diameter tomato. The 
damage by catfaces scoring guide will be changed to \1/2\ inch 
aggregate area based on a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in diameter. The serious 
damage section will also be revised to include references to area, 
aggregate area, length, or aggregate are based on a 2\1/2\ inch in 
diameter tomato. The serious damage by catfaces scoring guide will be 
changed to 1 inch aggregate area based on a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in 
diameter.
    Based upon input from industry, AMS is proposing to add a scoring 
guide for damage and serious damage by skin checks. Damage will be 
defined as, ``when the appearance of the tomato is affected to a 
greater extent than that of a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in diameter having 
skin checks which has an aggregate area equivalent to that of a circle 
three-eighths inch in diameter.'' Serious damage will be defined as, 
``when the appearance of the tomato is affected to a greater extent 
than that of a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in diameter having skin checks 
which has an aggregate area equivalent to that of a circle five-eighths 
inch in diameter.'' In addition, AMS is also proposing to add moldy 
stems as a damage defect in the requirements for a U.S. No. 1.
    Finally, AMS is proposing to eliminate the ``Unclassified'' 
category. This section is being removed in all standards when they are 
revised. The category is not a grade and only serves to show that no 
grade has been applied to the lot.
    The official grade of a lot of greenhouse tomatoes covered by these 
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 a 60-day comment period for interested parties 
to comment on the proposed changes to the standard.

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

    Dated: May 25, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-8375 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P