[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 141 (Monday, July 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41754-41755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11734]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 141 / Monday, July 24, 2006 / 
Notices  

[[Page 41754]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV-06-327]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Sweet Potatoes

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 United States Standards for Grades 
of Canned Sweet Potatoes. The change was requested to reflect newer 
varieties, new sorting techniques, and canning processes.

DATES: Effective August 23, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Chere L. Shorter, Inspection and 
Standardization Section, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable 
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 0709, South Building; 
STOP 0247, Washington, DC 20250; fax (202) 690-1527, e-mail 
[email protected]. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Sweet Potatoes are available either through the address cited 
above or by accessing the AMS Web site on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppb.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946, 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. Those 
United States Standards for Grades of Fruits and Vegetables no longer 
appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by USDA/
AMS/Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
    AMS is revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Sweet 
Potatoes using the procedures that appear in Part 36 of Title 7 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).

Background

    The Food Products Association (FPA) sent petitions from two FPA 
member food processors to AMS requesting revision of the United States 
Standards for Grades of Canned Sweet Potatoes. The FPA requested that 
the USDA revise the definition of the style of ``Whole'' to reflect 
newer varieties, new sorting techniques, and canning processes. In 
particular, the ``Beauregard'' variety, a variety now widely used in 
canned sweet potatoes, is oddly shaped and must be cut and trimmed to 
give the appearance of a whole sweet potato. This variety may or may 
not be tapered on one end and because of mechanical trimming may not 
meet the definition of whole.
    The current definition for the style of ``Whole'' states that, 
``Whole means the canned sweet potatoes have the appearance of being 
essentially whole or almost whole in that the units retain the 
approximate shape of whole sweet potatoes.''
    The petitioners want AMS to revise the definition for canned whole 
sweet potatoes to allow for those that are cylindrical in shape, two 
inches plus or minus 0.5 inches in length, by 1.5 inches plus or minus 
0.25 inches in diameter for 404 x 307 and 603 x 700 can sizes and 1.0 
inch plus or minus 0.25 inches in diameter for smaller can sizes.
    Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with 
revising the grade standards, AMS sought public comments on the 
petitions. A notice requesting comments on the petitions to revise the 
United States Standards for Grades of Canned Sweet Potatoes was 
published in the March 12, 2003, Federal Register (68 FR 11802).
    In response to our request for comments, AMS received one comment 
from one of the processors that had petitioned for the revision to the 
standards. This commenter reconsidered its position and did not favor 
the proposed revision of the standard, noting that the use of a length 
and diameter requirement to describe a whole sweet potato would be a 
severe disadvantage to canners. The commenter observed, ``that 
environmental influences make potatoes longer or shorter in years due 
to natural weather conditions, soil types, and varietal differences.'' 
``This variation in size could result,'' according to the commenter, 
``in products not meeting the length and diameter standards for a 
portion of the canning season.'' The commenter further suggested that 
the term ``Almost Whole'' be removed from the standards, arguing that 
``processors are merely trimming the fibrous ends from the sweet potato 
that the consumer would have to do themselves.'' The commenter further 
suggested that the definition for ``whole'' should change to 
``practically represents a whole sweet potato.''
    AMS decided to proceed with developing the proposed revision to the 
standards. In reviewing the standards AMS noted that the term ``Whole'' 
implies that a sweet potato has not been cut into smaller pieces and 
the term ``Almost whole'' implies that a sweet potato unit should 
resemble a whole unit with one or both ends trimmed to remove fibrous 
ends. AMS noted that larger sized sweet potatoes would require 
excessive trimming to meet the suggested size requirement, as stated in 
the petition. AMS decided that the better approach to revising the 
grade standards was to leave the style description for ``Whole'' 
unchanged without specific reference to length and size. AMS further 
decided to remove the style of ``Sections,'' which is not commercially 
packed, reducing the confusion between ``Sections'' and ``Pieces, cuts, 
or cut'' styles. The style ``Other'' was added to account for styles 
not specifically mentioned in the grade standard. These changes were 
suggested in order to more clearly delineate the difference between 
``whole'' and ``pieces, cuts, or cut'' styles, thereby promoting 
uniformity in grading canned sweet potatoes.
    In March 2004 a discussion draft that included these changes was 
sent to FPA and they agreed with the proposed changes to the grade 
standards. AMS then published the proposed changes in the May 16, 2005, 
Federal Register (70 FR 25804). Only one comment was

[[Page 41755]]

received in response to this notice. The comment was in favor of the 
proposed change.
    Accordingly, AMS believes that the revised U.S. grade standards 
will provide a common language for trade; a means of measuring value in 
the marketing of canned sweet potatoes, and provide for the effective 
utilization of canned sweet potatoes. A copy of the proposed grade 
standards was posted on the AMS website located at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppb.html and is also available at the address cited 
above under ``For Further Information.''
    The official grade of a lot of canned sweet potatoes covered by 
these standards will be determined by the procedures set forth in the 
Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of Processed Fruits 
and Vegetables, Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other Processed 
Food Products (7 CFR 52.1-52.83).
    The revised U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Sweet Potatoes will 
become effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.

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

     Dated: July 18, 2006.
 Lloyd C. Day,
 Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-11734 Filed 7-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P