[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45724-45725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-15951]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket  AMS-FV-07-0036; FV-06-318]


United States Standards for Grades of Pineapples

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting 
comments on its proposal to revise the United States Standards for 
Grades of Pineapples. The proposal would replace Tables I and II in the 
tolerances section with numerical tolerances and numerical application 
of tolerances. Decay tolerances would also be revised. The proposed 
revisions would make the United States Standards for Grades of 
Pineapples more uniform with other existing grade standards and would 
better serve the industry.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 15, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the internet at http://www.regulations.gov or 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; or fax (202) 720-8871. 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 United States Standards for 
Grades of Pineapples are available through the Fresh Products Branch 
Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent J. Fusaro, Standardization 
Section, Fresh Products Branch, (202) 720-2185.

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.'' The Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner 
that facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities

[[Page 45725]]

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 United States Standards for Grades 
of Pineapples using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). These standards were 
last revised July 5, 1990.

Background

    On September 21, 2006, AMS published a notice in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 55160) soliciting comments for the possible revision of 
the United States Standards for Pineapples. In response to this notice, 
AMS received two comments supporting the proposed revision. The 
comments are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web 
site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm as well as http://www.regulations.gov.
    One comment was from a pineapple producer and the second comment 
was from a trade association representing wholesale receivers.
    The first commenter supported changing the tables in the tolerance 
section to numerical tolerances. They also suggested revising the 
``Definitions'' and ``Classification of Defects'' sections of the 
standard, which they felt would make pineapple inspections more 
representative of the new hybrid clones. In order to account for new 
varieties and/or hybrids, AMS continuously updates all of its 
inspection handbooks, and believes that revising the pineapple 
inspection handbook to include definitions and classification of 
certain defects, would allow for new hybrids/varieties to be 
represented as they are produced and introduced into the marketing 
chain. Therefore, AMS will review the commentor's suggestions and 
address any needed revisions in future handbook updates and not in this 
action.
    The second commenter also felt the proposed revision would be 
beneficial to the industry. The commenter also submitted the following 
tolerances which they felt would be appropriate for pineapples: 
Shipping Point: Total Defects 8 percent, Serious Damage 4 percent, 
Decay \1/2\ of 1 percent. En Route or At Destination: Total Defects 12 
percent, Permanent Defects 8 percent, Serious Damage 6 percent, Decay 2 
percent. After reviewing the commentor's proposed tolerances, it was 
determined that the proposed shipping point decay tolerance was too 
restrictive and taking into account current marketing practices not 
practicable to achieve required level of quality compared to the 
current tables in the standards. Therefore, AMS has modified the 
commentor's proposed language and tolerances in reference to the 
shipping point decay tolerance. The following language and tolerances 
are being proposed:
    Tolerances: In order to allow for variations incident to proper 
grading and handling in each of the foregoing grades, the following 
tolerances, by count are provided as specified: U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 
1 Shipping Point: 8 percent for fruit which fails to meet the 
requirements of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this 
amount not more than the following percentages shall be allowed for the 
defects listed: 4 percent for defects causing serious damage, including 
in the later amount not more than 1 percent for decay. En Route or At 
Destination: 12 percent for fruit which fails to meet the requirements 
of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this amount not more 
than the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed: 
8 percent for permanent defects; 6 percent for defects causing serious 
damage; including therein not more than 4 percent for serious damage by 
permanent defects and not more than 2 percent decay. U.S. No. 2 
Shipping Point: 8 percent for fruit which fails to meet the 
requirements of the specified grade: Provided, that included in this 
amount not more than 1 percent for decay. En Route or At Destination: 
12 percent for fruit which fails to meet the requirements of the 
specified grade: Provided, that included in this amount not more than 
the following percentages shall be allowed for the defects listed: 8 
percent for permanent defects; and not more than 2 percent for decay. 
Application of Tolerances: Individual samples shall have not more than 
double a specified tolerance except that at least two defective 
specimens may be permitted in any container: Provided, That no more 
than one specimen affected by decay be permitted in any container, and 
provided further, that the averages for the entire lot are within the 
tolerances specified for the grades.
    AMS is soliciting comments on the proposed revision to the U.S. 
Standards for Grades of Pineapples. The official grades of pineapples 
covered by these standards are determined by the procedures set forth 
in the Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards 
of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (7 CFR 51.1 to 51.61).
    This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on changes to the standards. AMS is seeking comments 
regarding how marketing of pineapples will be effected with this 
revision.

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

    Dated: August 9, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-15951 Filed 8-14-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P