[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35615-35616]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12154]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-04-311]
United States Standards for Grades of Kale
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 Kale. Specifically, AMS is revising the standards to allow
percentages to be determined by count rather than weight and the
application of tolerances for packages which contain less than 15
specimens. Additionally, AMS is revising the standards to allow the
standards to be used for kale leaves and bunches of leaves in addition
to kale plants. The revisions will bring the standards for kale in-line
with current marketing practices, thereby improving their usefulness in
serving the industry.
DATES: Effective Date: July 21, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Priester, Standardization
Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
[[Page 35616]]
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 1661 South Building,
STOP 0240, Washington, DC 20250-0240, Fax (202) 720-8871 or call (202)
720-2185; E-mail [email protected]. The revised United States
Standards for Grades of Kale will be available either through the
address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web
site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.
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. AMS 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 revising the voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Kale
using procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
On October 1, 2004, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register
(69 FR 58879) soliciting comments on the possible revision to the
United States Standards for Grades of Kale. In response to our request
for comments, AMS received one comment from an industry group in favor
of the proposed revision. The group also requested to allow the
standards to be used for kale leaves and bunched kale leaves in
addition to kale plants.
A second notice was published in the March 11, 2005, Federal
Register (70 FR 12172) based on the comment received on the first
notice. AMS received one comment from an industry group in response to
the second notice. The comment was in favor of the revision to the
standard. The favorable comment stated that a well-defined standard for
kale shipped in a variety of ways will improve consistency of delivered
product and enhance the relevance and effectiveness of USDA
inspections. The comment is available by accessing AMS's Home Page on
the Internet at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
Additionally, AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. This
section is being removed in all standards, when they are revised. This
category is not a grade and only serves to show that no grade has been
applied to the lot. It is no longer considered necessary.
Based on comments received and information gathered, AMS believes
the revisions to the standards will bring the standards for kale in-
line with current marketing practices and thereby improve their
usefulness.
The official grade of a lot of kale 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).
The United States Standards for Grades of Kale will become
effective 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: June 15, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12154 Filed 6-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P