[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10001-10002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2769]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket Number FV-05-303]


United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting 
Broccoli

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 Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli. At a 2003 meeting of the 
Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, AMS was asked to 
review all the fresh fruit and vegetable standards for usefulness in 
serving the industry. The current U.S. grade standards do not have 
provisions for grading broccoli crowns and florets. The proposed 
revisions will allow crowns and florets to be certified to a United 
States grade.

DATES: Comments must be received by May 1, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 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; Fax (202) 720-8871, E-mail 
[email protected]. 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 Bunched 
Italian Sprouting Broccoli is available either at the above address or 
by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri Emery, at the above address or 
call (202) 720-2185; E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as

[[Page 10002]]

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 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 Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli 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 in 1943.

Background

    On April 21, 2005, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register 
(70 FR 20730) soliciting comments for the possible revision of the 
United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting 
Broccoli. In response to this notice, AMS received three comments on 
the proposed revision. One from an agricultural trade association, one 
from a representative of an exporter of broccoli from Mexico, and one 
from a state agriculture representative. The comments are available by 
accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
    The agricultural trade association supported including broccoli 
crowns and had an interest in ``revisiting the diameter as well as the 
length under U.S. Fancy and No. 1'' (for bunched broccoli). AMS has 
included crowns and florets in the proposed standard. However, the 
commenter provided no specific suggestions for diameters and lengths 
for the U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 1 grades of broccoli. Further, AMS 
believes that the current diameters and lengths for U.S. Fancy and U.S. 
No. 1 reflect current marketing practices. Therefore, AMS has not 
proposed a change to the existing requirements in these grades.
    The representative for the exporter of broccoli from Mexico noted 
the various styles of broccoli they market. AMS has taken into 
consideration the lengths and diameters provided for bunched and has 
included similar lengths and diameters into the standards for crowns 
and florets.
    The state agricultural representative commented that the U.S. Fancy 
grade should be eliminated. The continued use of the U.S. Fancy grade 
for broccoli and other commodities, reflects commodity marketing 
practices. Therefore, AMS does not believe such a change is warranted. 
The commenter also stated there should be a separate ``U.S. No. 1 
Bunched,'' ``U.S. No. 1 Crowns,'' and ``U.S. No. 1 Florets'' grade and 
inclusion of a similar U.S. No. 2 grade. AMS believes that separate 
grades would be redundant and are not necessary and will instead have 
the existing U.S. grades and other sections revised so the standards 
specifically cover the broccoli styles of bunched, crowns, and florets. 
The commenter also proposed for crowns a three inch minimum diameter 
with no maximum size along with a stem length of maximum two inches. 
The commenter stated the size for florets as three inches maximum 
diameter and stem length of one inch. AMS disagrees with the 
commenter's proposed sizes since they are not consistent with those 
sizes marketed today. It was further suggested the diameter and stem 
length should have the option of meeting ``unless otherwise 
specified.'' However, AMS believes that the commenter's suggestion to 
add an ``unless otherwise specified'' option for length of the U.S. 
Fancy and U.S. No. 1 grades for the styles of ``Bunched,'' ``Crowns,'' 
and ``Florets'' has merit and this change is proposed.
    The state agricultural representative also recommended eliminating 
the reference to ``shoot'' and adding language for the defect under the 
``Damage'' definition for overmaturity and discoloration of bud 
clusters. AMS disagrees and will keep the reference to ``shoot'' 
because it is used in the reporting of size for bunched broccoli. AMS 
also believes that the current definition for ``Damage'' is sufficient 
for determining the extent of overmaturity and discoloration of bud 
clusters.
    AMS is proposing to revise the title of the standards to United 
States Standards for Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli. AMS is also 
proposing to revise the size specification section to allow percentages 
to be determined ``by weight'' as well as ``by count'' when fairly 
uniform, in order to increase the efficiency of inspections. AMS is 
proposing to add a definition for fairly uniform since it is referenced 
in the standard but not defined. Additionally, AMS is proposing to add 
definitions for the terms florets and crowns and revising the 
definition for diameter to: ``Diameter'' means the measurement across 
the bud cluster. With the inclusion of crowns and florets in the 
standards, AMS is also proposing to add same type to the requirements 
for the grades and define same type as: Lots shall consist of broccoli 
with similar type characteristics, i.e., bunched can not be mixed with 
florets.
    AMS will eliminate the unclassified category. This section is not a 
grade and only serves to show than no grade has been applied to the 
lot. This section will be removed from all fresh fruit and vegetable 
standards. It is no longer considered necessary.
    The official grades of broccoli 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 (51.1 to 51.61).
    This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on changes to the standards.

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

    Dated: February 23, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-2769 Filed 2-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P