[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 23 (Monday, February 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 5260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1761]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket  AMS-FV-2007-0003; FV-06-307]


United States Standards for Grades of Mushrooms

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the 
notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary 
United States Standards for Grades of Mushrooms. After reviewing and 
considering the comments received, the Agency has decided not to 
proceed with this action.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 5, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent J. Fusaro, Standardization 
Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, 
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 
720-2185.

Background

    At a meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory 
Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable 
grade standards for their usefulness in serving the industry. AMS had 
identified the United States Standards for Grades of Mushrooms for a 
possible revision. The United States Standards for Grades of Mushrooms 
were last amended July 15, 1966.
    On May 26, 2006, a notice requesting comments on the possible 
revision of the standards to allow the standards to be used for open 
veil types of mushrooms; include small, medium, and large size 
classifications for open veil types of mushrooms; revise the current 
size classifications (small to medium and large) as well as an addition 
of a button and jumbo size for the closed veil types of mushrooms; and 
eliminate the unclassified category was published in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 30366) with the comment period ending July 25, 2006.
    Two comments were received during the official period for comment. 
One comment from a consumer raised a number of concerns, including 
establishing new standards for fungi for consumption. Another comment 
from a national trade association representing domestic growers, buyer/
shippers and processors of mushrooms, and those who provide services to 
the mushroom industry did not support revising the standard, stating 
that there was no consensus among growers, shippers, or customers as to 
industry-wide terms such as button, small, medium, large, or jumbo. 
This comment also questioned the use of the term ``open veiled'' and 
whether all such varieties would be covered by the proposed standards. 
Developing new standards for fungi for consumption is beyond the scope 
of what AMS proposed. Further, given the comment concerning the lack of 
consensus among the industry concerning the size terminology, we 
believe that the standards should not be changed at this time.
    After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Agency 
has decided not to proceed with the action. Therefore, the notice 
published May 26, 2006, (71 FR 30366) is withdrawn.

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

    Dated: January 30, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-1761 Filed 2-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P