United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers, 12172 [05-4810]
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12172
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 47 / Friday, March 11, 2005 / Notices
USDA with regard to quantity of leaf
tobacco in all forms in the United States
and Puerto, owned by or in the
possession of dealers, manufacturers,
growers’ cooperative associations, and
others with the exception of the original
growers of the tobacco. The information
furnished under the provisions of this
Act shall be used only for statistical
purposes for which it is supplied.
Need and Use of the Information: The
basic purpose of the information
collection is to ascertain the total supply
of unmanufactured tobacco available to
domestic manufacturers and to calculate
the amount consumed in manufactured
tobacco products. This data is also used
for the calculation of production quotas
for individual types of tobacco and for
price support calculations. Without the
information USDA would not be able to
disseminate marketing information as
directed and authorized in the Act.
Description of Respondents: Business
or other for-profit.
Number of Respondents: 76.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
quarterly.
Total Burden Hours: 278.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 05–4809 Filed 3–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV–04–307]
United States Standards for Grades of
Cucumbers
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice; withdrawal.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is withdrawing the
notice soliciting comments on its
proposal to amend the voluntary United
States Standards for Grades of
Cucumbers. After reviewing and
considering the comments received, the
Agency has decided not to proceed with
this action.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 11, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Priester, Standardization Section,
Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
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
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:40 Mar 10, 2005
Jkt 205001
David.Priester@usda.gov. The United
States Standards for Grades of
Cucumbers are available either through
the address cited above or by accessing
the Fresh Products Branch Web site at
https://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/
stanfrfv.htm.
Background
At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and
Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee,
AMS was asked to review all the fresh
fruit and vegetable grade standards for
usefulness in serving the industry. AMS
had identified the United States
Standards for Grades of Cucumbers for
a possible revision. The United States
Standards for Grades of Cucumbers
were last amended March 1, 1958.
On June 25, 2004, a notice requesting
comments on the possible revision of
the standards by incorporating industry
terms as well as other changes was
published in the Federal Register (69
FR 35572) with the comment period
ending August 24, 2004.
Three comments were received during
the official period for comment. One
comment from a consumer did not
support revising the standard. One
comment from an industry member
supported the inclusion of industry
terms. The commenter stated, ‘‘I feel we
should have two categories for Super
Selects: #1 criteria being a 66–76 count
and a #2 criteria being a 56–65 count.’’
However, another industry member
commented, ‘‘That the terms Super
Select, Select, Small, Large and Plain
are commonly used by the industry to
convey the desired size, quality and
condition of cucumbers but that the
criteria for these terms are not
consistently defined. This commenter
noted that the meaning is often
interpreted differently by various
trading partners.’’ This industry member
further stated, ‘‘* * * that wholesale
receivers and the greater produce
industry would be better served if
current trading practices were
supported by a system of U.S. grade
standards that establish reasonable
parameters for size, consistency of size
within packs and provide more
meaningful definitions for quality and
condition.’’ However, the commenter
did not include those definitions.
While some members of the industry
agree that a consistency of size and
specific count ranges would promote
orderly marketing, different segments
within the industry are divided over the
meanings of industry terms. In view of
the lack of any substantial consensus as
to whether the proposed inclusion of
industry terms would meet the needs of
the entire industry, the notice is being
withdrawn. The withdrawal of this
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
notice will provide industry
representatives with an opportunity for
further discussions in the areas of
mutual concern.
After reviewing and considering the
comments received, the Agency has
decided not to proceed with the action.
Therefore, the notice published June 25,
2004 (69 FR 35572), is withdrawn.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627.
Dated: March 7, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05–4810 Filed 3–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV–04–311]
United States Standards for Grades of
Kale
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for public
comment.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting
comments on it’s proposal to revise the
United States Standards for Grades of
Kale. This action is being taken at the
request of the Fruit and Vegetable
Industry Advisory Committee, which
asked AMS to review the grade
standards for possible revision. AMS is
proposing to revise the standards to
allow percentages to be determined by
count rather than weight. AMS is also
proposing to revise the application of
tolerances for packages which contain
less than 15 specimens. Additionally,
based on a request from an industry
group, the North American Perishable
Agriculture Receivers (NAPAR), AMS is
proposing to allow the standards to be
used for kale leaves and bunches of
leaves in addition to kale plants. The
proposed revision would bring the
standards for kale in line with current
marketing practices, thereby improving
the usefulness in serving the industry.
DATES: Comments must be received by
May 10, 2005.
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)
E:\FR\FM\11MRN1.SGM
11MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 47 (Friday, March 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 12172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4810]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-04-307]
United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; withdrawal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the
notice soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary
United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers. After reviewing and
considering the comments received, the Agency has decided not to
proceed with this action.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 11, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Priester, Standardization
Section, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of 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 David.Priester@usda.gov. The United States Standards for Grades
of Cucumbers are available either through the address cited above or by
accessing the Fresh Products Branch Web site at https://
www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm.
Background
At a 2003 meeting with the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory
Committee, AMS was asked to review all the fresh fruit and vegetable
grade standards for usefulness in serving the industry. AMS had
identified the United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers for a
possible revision. The United States Standards for Grades of Cucumbers
were last amended March 1, 1958.
On June 25, 2004, a notice requesting comments on the possible
revision of the standards by incorporating industry terms as well as
other changes was published in the Federal Register (69 FR 35572) with
the comment period ending August 24, 2004.
Three comments were received during the official period for
comment. One comment from a consumer did not support revising the
standard. One comment from an industry member supported the inclusion
of industry terms. The commenter stated, ``I feel we should have two
categories for Super Selects: 1 criteria being a 66-76 count
and a 2 criteria being a 56-65 count.'' However, another
industry member commented, ``That the terms Super Select, Select,
Small, Large and Plain are commonly used by the industry to convey the
desired size, quality and condition of cucumbers but that the criteria
for these terms are not consistently defined. This commenter noted that
the meaning is often interpreted differently by various trading
partners.'' This industry member further stated, ``* * * that wholesale
receivers and the greater produce industry would be better served if
current trading practices were supported by a system of U.S. grade
standards that establish reasonable parameters for size, consistency of
size within packs and provide more meaningful definitions for quality
and condition.'' However, the commenter did not include those
definitions.
While some members of the industry agree that a consistency of size
and specific count ranges would promote orderly marketing, different
segments within the industry are divided over the meanings of industry
terms. In view of the lack of any substantial consensus as to whether
the proposed inclusion of industry terms would meet the needs of the
entire industry, the notice is being withdrawn. The withdrawal of this
notice will provide industry representatives with an opportunity for
further discussions in the areas of mutual concern.
After reviewing and considering the comments received, the Agency
has decided not to proceed with the action. Therefore, the notice
published June 25, 2004 (69 FR 35572), is withdrawn.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: March 7, 2005.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-4810 Filed 3-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
