Washington, DC
October 29, 2004
[Federal Register: October 29,
2004 (Volume 69, Number 209)]
[Notices]
[Page 63133-63134]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29oc04-39]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. FV-04-306]
United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the
Department of Agriculture is soliciting comments on the proposal
to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons.
AMS has received a petition
from the National Watermelon Association (NWA), requesting a
definition for seedless watermelons be added to the standards.
Additionally, the petition included a request to add a variance
to the size requirements.
This change was requested by the industry in order to bring the
standards for watermelons in line with current marketing
practices, thereby, improving the usefulness of the standards in
serving the industry.
DATES: Comments must be received by December 28, 2004.
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
FPB.DocketClerk@usda.gov. 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 Watermelons is available either through
the address cited above or by accessing the AMS Home Page on the
Web at
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvstand.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David L. Priester, at the above
address or call (202) 720-2185; E-mail
David.Priester@usda.gov.
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 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 voluntary United States
Standards for Grades of Watermelons using procedures that appear
in part 36 Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR
part 36). These standards were last revised in 1978.
Background
AMS received a petition from the NWA requesting a revision to
the United States Standards for Grades of Watermelons. The
standards are established under the authority of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). The
petitioner represents watermelon growers and distributors from
30 states as well as Canada and Mexico.
The petitioner is requesting that USDA add the following
definition: ``Seedless Watermelons'' are watermelons which have
16 or less mature seeds, not to include pips/caplets, on the
face of the melon which has been cut into four equal sections
(one lengthwise cut and one crosswise cut). Additionally, the
petitioner is requesting the size
requirements be revised. Currently the size requirements state,
``When the size of the watermelons is stated in terms of average
weight, unless otherwise specified, the melons in any lot
averaging less than 30 pounds (13.6 kgs.) shall not vary more
than 3 pounds (1.4 kgs.) below the stated average, and the
melons in any lot averaging 30 pounds (13.6 kgs.) or more shall
not vary more than 5 pounds (2.3 kgs.) below the stated
average.'' The petitioner is requesting the size requirements be
revised to allow for watermelons to vary 3 pounds above or below
the average. Therefore, the size requirements would state,
``When the size of the watermelons is stated in terms of average
weight, unless otherwise specified, the melons in any lot
averaging less than 30 pounds (13.6 kgs.) shall not vary more
than 3 pounds (1.4 kgs.) above or below the stated average, and
the melons in any lot averaging 30 pounds (13.6 kgs.) or more
shall not vary more than 5 pounds (2.3 kgs.) below the stated
average.''
Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with
revision of the grade standards, AMS decided to seek public
comments on the petition. A notice requesting comments on the
petition to revise the United States Standards for Grades of
Watermelons was published in the April 22, 2004, Federal
Register (69 FR 21812).
In response to our request for comments, AMS received one
comment from an industry group. The comment was in favor of the
proposed revision of the standards.
Based on the submitted information, AMS is proposing to
revise the standards for watermelons following the standard
format for U.S. Grade Standards. Specifically, the proposed
revision will define seedless watermelons by including the
following definition: ``Seedless Watermelons'' are watermelons
which have 16 or less mature seeds, not to include pips/caplets,
on the face of the melon which has been cut into four equal
sections (one lengthwise cut and one crosswise cut). AMS is also
proposing to change the size requirements by adding an allowance
for watermelons to vary 3 pounds above or below the stated
average weight.
This proposal will bring the standards for watermelons in
line with current marketing practices, thereby, improving the
usefulness of the standards in serving the industry. The
official grade of a lot of watermelons covered by these
standards will be determined by the procedures set forth in the
Regulations Governing Inspection, Certification, and Standards
of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (Sec. Sec.
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: October 25, 2004.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 04-24162 Filed 10-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
Document in PDF format:
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-24162.pdf
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