[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 238 (Wednesday, December 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70565-70566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24058]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-FV-07-0100; FV-06-334]


United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Okra

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on the proposed revision to 
the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Okra. AMS received a 
petition from the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) requesting that 
USDA revise the standards for frozen okra from a ``score point'' 
grading system to an ``individual attribute'' grading system. The 
individual attribute grading system uses sample sizes and acceptable 
quality levels (AQL's), along with tolerances and acceptance numbers 
(number of allowable defects), to determine the quality level of a lot. 
This change was requested to bring the standards for frozen okra in 
line with the present quality levels being marketed today and to 
provide guidance in the effective utilization of frozen okra.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 11, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning this notice. Comments may be sent to Gabriel W. Mangino,

[[Page 70566]]

Inspection and Standardization Section, Processed Products Branch, 
Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250-0247; Fax: (202) 690-1087. E-mail: 
[email protected]. Comments may also be sent to http://www.regulations.gov. The United States Standards for Grades of Frozen 
Okra are available either through the address cited above, or by 
accessing the AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs Web site on the 
Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv or http://www.regulations.gov.

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. Most of 
the 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 proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen 
Okra using the procedures that appear in Part 36 of Title 7 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).

Background

    AMS received a petition from the American Frozen Food Institute 
(AFFI), requesting the revision of the standards for frozen okra. The 
petitioner represents AFFI's Western Technical Advisory Committee, 
which includes among its members almost all of the processors of frozen 
okra in the United States.
    The petitioner requested that USDA change the grading system for 
frozen okra from a score point grading system to an individual 
attribute system. The petitioner believes that the change will bring 
the grading of frozen okra in line with current marketing practices and 
innovations with processing techniques.
    The petitioner also specifically requested that AMS revise the 
definitions of the following terms: Extraneous vegetable material, 
small piece in whole style, and small piece or damaged piece in cut 
style. It proposes that extraneous vegetable material would be modified 
to include ``detached stems of any length.'' ``Small piece in whole 
style'' would be modified and no longer include ``very small tip ends'' 
as part of the definition. The term ``small or damaged piece in cut 
style,'' would be changed and separated into two unique definitions. 
The suggestion for the new terms to be used are ``small piece in cut 
style'' and ``mechanical damage'' respectively. The proposed revisions 
to the grade standards for frozen okra, including the changes to the 
definitions of terms, are available by accessing the AMS Fruit and 
Vegetable Programs Home Page on the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv or http://www.regulations.gov. AMS confirmed the 
revision at AFFI's annual conference in Monterey, CA, during a meeting 
on February, 24, 2007.
    In addition to the requested changes by the petitioner, AMS is 
requesting comments on replacing the dual grade nomenclature with 
single letter grade designations. ``U.S. Grade A'' (or ``U.S. Fancy'') 
and ``U.S. Grade B'' (or ``U.S. Extra Standard'') would become ``U.S. 
Grade A'' and ``U.S. Grade B'' respectively. This would conform to 
recent changes in other grade standards. AMS is also proposing minor 
editorial changes to the standards for frozen okra that would provide a 
format consistent with recent revisions of other U.S. grade standards. 
This format is intended to provide industry personnel and agricultural 
commodity graders with simpler and more comprehensive standards. 
Definitions of terms and easy to read tables would be incorporated to 
facilitate a better understanding and uniform application of the 
standards.
    The proposed revisions to the frozen okra standards would provide 
both a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the 
marketing of frozen okra. The standards would also provide guidance in 
determining whether frozen okra should be utilized in its present 
state, or subject to reprocessing. The official grade of a lot of 
frozen okra covered by these standards is determined by the procedures 
set forth in the ``Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification 
of Processed Products Thereof, and Certain Other Processed Food 
Products (Sec.  52.1 to 52.83).''
    This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on undertaking this revision.

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

    Dated: December 6, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E7-24058 Filed 12-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P