United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes, 30860-30861 [E6-8375]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 31, 2006 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV–04–301]
United States Standards for Grades of
Greenhouse Tomatoes
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting
comments on its proposal to revise the
United States Standards for Grades of
Greenhouse Tomatoes. AMS is
proposing to revise the standards to
allow that percentages of defects and
size classifications be determined by
count rather than weight. This would
result in a revision of the following
sections of the standards: Tolerances,
Size Classification, Standard Pack,
Damage, and Serious Damage sections.
Additionally, AMS is proposing to
delete the ‘‘Unclassified’’ section, add
moldy stems as a damage defect, and
add a scoring guide for damage and
serious damage for skin checks. The
proposed revisions would bring the
standards for greenhouse tomatoes in
line with current marketing practices,
thereby improving their usefulness in
serving the industry.
DATES: Comments must be received by
July 31, 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
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 proposed United States Standards
for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes are
available either through the address
cited above or by accessing the AMS,
Fresh Products Branch Web site at:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/
fpbdocketlist.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheri L. Emery, at the above address or
call (202) 720–2185, E-mail
Cheri.Emery@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act
of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), as
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:52 May 30, 2006
Jkt 208001
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 Greenhouse Tomatoes 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 1966.
Background
Prior to undertaking research and
other work associated with revision of
the grade standards, AMS published a
notice in the Federal Register (68 FR
68859) on December 10, 2003, soliciting
comments on the possible revision of
the United States Standards for Grades
of Greenhouse Tomatoes. In response to
this notice, a comment was received
from an international industry group
asking for an extension of the comment
period. Following a review of the
request AMS published a notice in the
Federal Register (69 FR 12299) on
March 16, 2004, extending the comment
period from February 9, 2004, to March
31, 2004.
Further, after the comment period,
AMS prepared a discussion draft of the
proposed greenhouse tomato standard,
and distributed copies for input to all
commenters, industry associations, and
other interested persons. As a result, we
are adding a scoring guide for damage
and serious damage by skin checks and
including moldy stems as a damage
defect.
In response to our request for
comments, AMS received seven
comments on the possible revisions.
Two from domestic trade organizations,
two from international trade
organizations, two from foreign trade
organizations, and one from a foreign
government agency. The comments are
available by accessing the AMS, Fresh
Products Branch Web site at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/
fpbdocketlist.htm.
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Four comments were in favor of the
revisions to allow that percentages of
defects and size classifications be
determined by count rather than weight,
stating the proposed change would
significantly increase the speed of the
inspection process while not changing
the integrity of the inspection.
AMS received one comment
specifically requesting a subsection for
Tomatoes on the Vine (TOV) in the
Greenhouse Tomato Standard. Three
comments asked to include information
to make the standards more useful to
other types of greenhouse tomatoes and
TOV. Based on these comments, we
believe that it is preferable to address
this issue by the development of a new
standard for TOV.
AMS received two comments
requesting a standard definition as to
what represents a greenhouse tomato,
and four comments that were opposed
to including such a definition. The
commenters opposed to defining
‘‘greenhouse tomatoes’’ stated that a
strict definition would limit some
growers from producing or marketing
their product. Historically, the industry
has been able to market this product
without such a definition in the
standards. Accordingly, AMS has
decided not to take further action
concerning the definition.
AMS received four comments
requesting that destination tolerances be
reviewed. However, no specific change
was requested. Accordingly, the
tolerances will remain unchanged.
AMS received four comments
expressing concerns with changing to a
size classification based on a diameter
calculation due to the variations in the
shape of the varieties. They requested
using a count basis for determining size.
AMS is proposing to revise the size
classification section to add that the size
of tomatoes may be specified by count
per container, or in accordance with the
defined diameter specifications.
Because of the change from weight to
count, AMS is also proposing to change
the size designations from ounces to
diameter, define the minimum and
maximum diameter in inches of a small
tomato to mean 24⁄32 to 29⁄32, a medium
tomato to mean 28⁄32 to 217⁄32, a large
tomato to mean 216⁄32 to 225⁄32, and an
extra large tomato to mean 224⁄32 and
larger, and add a definition for
minimum and maximum diameter.
The proposed revisions will result in
a modification of the following four
sections of the standards: The tolerance
section will change from weight to
count. The standard pack section would
be revised to base the ‘‘standard pack’’
on marked count by defining ‘‘Fairly
uniform in size’’ as: ‘‘not more than 10
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 31, 2006 / Notices
percent, by count, of the tomatoes in
any container may vary more than 1⁄2
inch in diameter.’’ The damage section
will be revised to include that all
references to area, aggregate area, length,
or aggregate length definitions are based
on a 21⁄2 inch in diameter tomato. The
damage by catfaces scoring guide will be
changed to 1⁄2 inch aggregate area based
on a tomato 21⁄2 inches in diameter. The
serious damage section will also be
revised to include references to area,
aggregate area, length, or aggregate are
based on a 21⁄2 inch in diameter tomato.
The serious damage by catfaces scoring
guide will be changed to 1 inch
aggregate area based on a tomato 21⁄2
inches in diameter.
Based upon input from industry, AMS
is proposing to add a scoring guide for
damage and serious damage by skin
checks. Damage will be defined as,
‘‘when the appearance of the tomato is
affected to a greater extent than that of
a tomato 21⁄2 inches in diameter having
skin checks which has an aggregate area
equivalent to that of a circle threeeighths inch in diameter.’’ Serious
damage will be defined as, ‘‘when the
appearance of the tomato is affected to
a greater extent than that of a tomato 21⁄2
inches in diameter having skin checks
which has an aggregate area equivalent
to that of a circle five-eighths inch in
diameter.’’ In addition, AMS is also
proposing to add moldy stems as a
damage defect in the requirements for a
U.S. No. 1.
Finally, AMS is proposing to
eliminate the ‘‘Unclassified’’ category.
This section is being removed in all
standards when they are revised. The
category is not a grade and only serves
to show that no grade has been applied
to the lot.
The official grade of a lot of
greenhouse tomatoes 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).
This notice provides a 60-day
comment period for interested parties to
comment on the proposed changes to
the standard.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627.
Dated: May 25, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. E6–8375 Filed 5–30–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:52 May 30, 2006
Jkt 208001
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Intent To Seek OMB Approval
To Collect Information, Forms
Pertaining to the Peer Review of ARS
Research Projects
Agricultural Research Service
(ARS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The proposed information
collection requirement described below
will be submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
review, as required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 and OMB
implementing regulations. The
Department is soliciting public
comments on the subject proposal.
DATES: Written comments on this notice
must be received by July 31, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments
concerning this notice to: Michael S.
Strauss, Peer Review Program
Coordinator, Office of Scientific Quality
Review; Agricultural Research Agency,
USDA; 5601 Sunnyside Avenue,
Beltsville, Maryland 20705; Phone: 301–
504–3283; Fax: 301–504–1251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael S. Strauss, 301–504–3282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Scientific Quality Review will seek
approval from OMB to update six
existing forms that will allow the ARS
to efficiently manage data associated
with the peer review of agricultural
research. All forms are transferred and
received in an electronic storage format
that does not include on-line access.
Abstract: The Office of Scientific
Quality Review was established in
September of 1999 as a result of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act 1998 (‘‘The Act’’)
(Pub. L. 105–185). The Act included
mandates to perform scientific peer
reviews of all research activities
conducted by the USDA. The Office
manages the ARS peer review system by
centrally planning peer panel reviews
for ARS research projects on a five-year
cycle.
Each set of reviews is assigned a
chairperson to govern the review
process. The majority of the peer
reviewers are non-ARS scientists. Peer
review panels are convened to provide
in-depth discussion and review of the
research project plans. Each panel
reviewer receives information on
between 1 and 20 ARS research projects.
On average, 220 research projects are
reviewed annually by an estimated 100
reviewers; whereby approximately 200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
30861
are reviewed by panel and
approximately 20 are reviewed through
an ad hoc process. The organization and
management of this peer review system,
particularly panel reviews, is highly
dependent on the use of forms.
The Office of Scientific Quality
Review will seek OMB approval of the
following forms:
1. Confidentiality Agreement Form—
USDA uses this form to document that
a selected reviewer is responsible for
keeping confidential any information
learned during the subject peer review
process. The Confidentiality Agreement
is signed prior to the reviewer’s
involvement in the peer review process.
This form requires an original signature.
2. Panelist Information Form—USDA
uses this form to gather up-to-date
background information about the
reviewer. Reviewers often include
sensitive information on this form. This
form requires an original signature.
3. Peer Review of an ARS Research
Project Form (Peer Review Form)—
USDA uses this form to guide the
reviewer’s comments on the subject
project. The form contains the reviewing
criteria and space for the reviewer’s
narrative comments and evaluation.
4. Recommendations for ARS
Research Project Form—
(Recommendations Form, formerly
known as ‘‘Critique Form’’). USDA uses
this form to guide the panel’s evaluation
and critique of the review process. The
form contains recommendations for the
subject research project.
5. Panel Expense Report Form
(Expense Report)—USDA uses this form
to document a panel reviewer’s expense
incurred traveling to and attending a
peer review meeting. The Expense
Report includes lodging, meals, and
transportation expenses. When
completed, the form contains sensitive
information.
Panel Invoice Form (Invoice)—USDA
uses this form to document the transfer
of an honorarium to a peer reviewer.
Reviewers receive honoraria as
compensation for serving as peer review
panelists. This form requires an original
signature.
(1) USDA’s collection of information
on the Confidentiality Agreement Form
is needed to document that a selected
reviewer is responsible for keeping
confidential any information learned
during the subject peer review process.
The Confidentiality Agreement would
be signed prior to the reviewer’s
involvement in the peer review process.
(2) USDA’s collection of information
on the Panelist Information Form is
needed to gather up-to-date background
information about the reviewer. It
contains sensitive information.
E:\FR\FM\31MYN1.SGM
31MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30860-30861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8375]
[[Page 30860]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV-04-301]
United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to revise the
United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse Tomatoes. AMS is
proposing to revise the standards to allow that percentages of defects
and size classifications be determined by count rather than weight.
This would result in a revision of the following sections of the
standards: Tolerances, Size Classification, Standard Pack, Damage, and
Serious Damage sections. Additionally, AMS is proposing to delete the
``Unclassified'' section, add moldy stems as a damage defect, and add a
scoring guide for damage and serious damage for skin checks. The
proposed revisions would bring the standards for greenhouse tomatoes in
line with current marketing practices, thereby improving their
usefulness in serving the industry.
DATES: Comments must be received by July 31, 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
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 proposed United States Standards for Grades of Greenhouse
Tomatoes are available either through the address cited above or by
accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri L. Emery, at the above address
or call (202) 720-2185, E-mail Cheri.Emery@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 Greenhouse Tomatoes 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 1966.
Background
Prior to undertaking research and other work associated with
revision of the grade standards, AMS published a notice in the Federal
Register (68 FR 68859) on December 10, 2003, soliciting comments on the
possible revision of the United States Standards for Grades of
Greenhouse Tomatoes. In response to this notice, a comment was received
from an international industry group asking for an extension of the
comment period. Following a review of the request AMS published a
notice in the Federal Register (69 FR 12299) on March 16, 2004,
extending the comment period from February 9, 2004, to March 31, 2004.
Further, after the comment period, AMS prepared a discussion draft
of the proposed greenhouse tomato standard, and distributed copies for
input to all commenters, industry associations, and other interested
persons. As a result, we are adding a scoring guide for damage and
serious damage by skin checks and including moldy stems as a damage
defect.
In response to our request for comments, AMS received seven
comments on the possible revisions. Two from domestic trade
organizations, two from international trade organizations, two from
foreign trade organizations, and one from a foreign government agency.
The comments are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch
Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.
Four comments were in favor of the revisions to allow that
percentages of defects and size classifications be determined by count
rather than weight, stating the proposed change would significantly
increase the speed of the inspection process while not changing the
integrity of the inspection.
AMS received one comment specifically requesting a subsection for
Tomatoes on the Vine (TOV) in the Greenhouse Tomato Standard. Three
comments asked to include information to make the standards more useful
to other types of greenhouse tomatoes and TOV. Based on these comments,
we believe that it is preferable to address this issue by the
development of a new standard for TOV.
AMS received two comments requesting a standard definition as to
what represents a greenhouse tomato, and four comments that were
opposed to including such a definition. The commenters opposed to
defining ``greenhouse tomatoes'' stated that a strict definition would
limit some growers from producing or marketing their product.
Historically, the industry has been able to market this product without
such a definition in the standards. Accordingly, AMS has decided not to
take further action concerning the definition.
AMS received four comments requesting that destination tolerances
be reviewed. However, no specific change was requested. Accordingly,
the tolerances will remain unchanged.
AMS received four comments expressing concerns with changing to a
size classification based on a diameter calculation due to the
variations in the shape of the varieties. They requested using a count
basis for determining size. AMS is proposing to revise the size
classification section to add that the size of tomatoes may be
specified by count per container, or in accordance with the defined
diameter specifications. Because of the change from weight to count,
AMS is also proposing to change the size designations from ounces to
diameter, define the minimum and maximum diameter in inches of a small
tomato to mean 2\4/32\ to 2\9/32\, a medium tomato to mean 2\8/32\ to
2\17/32\, a large tomato to mean 2\16/32\ to 2\25/32\, and an extra
large tomato to mean 2\24/32\ and larger, and add a definition for
minimum and maximum diameter.
The proposed revisions will result in a modification of the
following four sections of the standards: The tolerance section will
change from weight to count. The standard pack section would be revised
to base the ``standard pack'' on marked count by defining ``Fairly
uniform in size'' as: ``not more than 10
[[Page 30861]]
percent, by count, of the tomatoes in any container may vary more than
\1/2\ inch in diameter.'' The damage section will be revised to include
that all references to area, aggregate area, length, or aggregate
length definitions are based on a 2\1/2\ inch in diameter tomato. The
damage by catfaces scoring guide will be changed to \1/2\ inch
aggregate area based on a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in diameter. The serious
damage section will also be revised to include references to area,
aggregate area, length, or aggregate are based on a 2\1/2\ inch in
diameter tomato. The serious damage by catfaces scoring guide will be
changed to 1 inch aggregate area based on a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in
diameter.
Based upon input from industry, AMS is proposing to add a scoring
guide for damage and serious damage by skin checks. Damage will be
defined as, ``when the appearance of the tomato is affected to a
greater extent than that of a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in diameter having
skin checks which has an aggregate area equivalent to that of a circle
three-eighths inch in diameter.'' Serious damage will be defined as,
``when the appearance of the tomato is affected to a greater extent
than that of a tomato 2\1/2\ inches in diameter having skin checks
which has an aggregate area equivalent to that of a circle five-eighths
inch in diameter.'' In addition, AMS is also proposing to add moldy
stems as a damage defect in the requirements for a U.S. No. 1.
Finally, AMS is proposing to eliminate the ``Unclassified''
category. This section is being removed in all standards when they are
revised. The category is not a grade and only serves to show that no
grade has been applied to the lot.
The official grade of a lot of greenhouse tomatoes 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).
This notice provides a 60-day comment period for interested parties
to comment on the proposed changes to the standard.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Dated: May 25, 2006.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-8375 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
