United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli, 58367-58368 [E6-16256]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 3, 2006 / Notices
SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Director, Office of the Executive
Secretariat, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250.
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number FV–05–303]
United States Standards for Grades of
Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli
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whether this system of records contains
information about them, who want to
access their records, or who want to
contest the contents of a record, should
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Office of the Executive Secretariat, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250. Individuals
must furnish the following information
for their records to be located and
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a personal inspection of the records or
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D. Signature.
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requesting access are also required to
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may be required in some instances.
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follow the Notification Procedures and
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the change.
RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES:
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Information in this system of records
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EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THE SYSTEM:
None.
[FR Doc. 06–8418 Filed 10–2–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–01–M
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:59 Oct 02, 2006
Jkt 211001
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is revising the voluntary
United States Standards for Grades of
Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli.
AMS is revising the standards to
include provisions for certifying and
grading broccoli crowns and florets.
Specific size requirements for broccoli
crowns and florets are being established.
Additionally, the size requirements for
the U.S. Fancy grade are being revised
to provide minimum and maximum
lengths for broccoli bunches ‘‘unless
otherwise specified.’’ AMS is also
revising the size specification section to
allow percentages to be determined ‘‘by
weight,’’ as well as ‘‘by count,’’ when
fairly uniform in size. AMS is adding a
definition for fairly uniform and
definitions for the terms florets and
crowns and revising the definition for
diameter. AMS is defining and adding
‘‘same type’’ to the requirements for
each of the grades. AMS is eliminating
the unclassified category. Additionally,
AMS is revising the title of the
standards to United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli as
the standards will now apply to
multiple forms of broccoli. These
changes are made to update the broccoli
grade standards and better reflect
current marketing practices.
DATES: Effective Date: November 2,
2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheri L. Emery, 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
Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The revised
United States Standards for Grades of
Italian Sprouting Broccoli will be
available either through the address
cited above or by accessing the AMS,
Fresh Products Branch Web site at:
https://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
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
58367
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 revising 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 possible
revisions of the United States Standards
for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting
Broccoli. Based on the comments
received and information gathered,
AMS developed revised grade standards
for broccoli. AMS published a notice in
the February 28, 2006, Federal Register
(71 FR 10001) 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 two
comments on the proposed revisions.
One comment received was from an
agricultural trade association and the
other from a grower. The comments
received are available by accessing the
AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site
at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/
fpbdocketlist.htm.
The agricultural trade association
supported including broccoli crowns
and florets into the United States
Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian
Sprouting Broccoli. They also supported
having maximum stem lengths for
broccoli crowns. AMS is establishing
sizes for minimum and maximum
lengths for the U.S. Fancy and U.S. No.
1 grades of broccoli for crown and floret
styles. The requirements include the
option for minimum and maximum
lengths to be ‘‘unless otherwise
specified.’’ AMS is also establishing
sizes for minimum and maximum
diameter for the U.S. Fancy grade for
E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM
03OCN1
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
58368
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 191 / Tuesday, October 3, 2006 / Notices
crowns and florets as well as for florets
in the U.S. No. 1 grade. AMS has also
included the option for diameter to be
specified in connection with the U.S.
No. 1 grade for broccoli crowns. The
U.S. Fancy grade length requirements
for bunched broccoli is being revised to
provide for minimum and maximum
lengths ‘‘unless otherwise specified.’’
The sizes for the U.S. Fancy grades and
the U.S. No. 1 grades are as listed. The
sizes for the U.S. Fancy grades are as
follows: For Bunched Broccoli. (a) The
diameter of each stalk shall be not less
than 21⁄2 inches. Unless otherwise
specified, the length of each stalk shall
be not less than 6 inches or more than
81⁄2 inches. For Broccoli Crowns. (b) The
diameter of each crown shall be not less
than 21⁄2 inches or more than 5 inches.
Unless otherwise specified, the length of
each stalk shall be not less than 21⁄2
inches or more than 5 inches. For
Broccoli Florets. (c) The diameter of
each floret shall be not less than 3⁄4 inch
or more than 3 inches. Unless otherwise
specified, the length of each stem shall
not be less than 1 inch or more than 31⁄2
inches. The sizes for the U.S. No. 1
grades are as follows: For Bunched
Broccoli. (a) There are no requirements
for diameter but diameter may be
specified for any lot as set forth in ‘‘Size
specifications’’ section. Unless
otherwise specified, the length of each
stalk shall be not less than 5 inches or
more than 9 inches. For Broccoli
Crowns. (b) There are no requirements
for diameter but diameter may be
specified for any lot as set forth in ‘‘Size
specifications’’ section. Unless
otherwise specified, the length of each
crown shall be not less than 31⁄2 inches
or more than 6 inches. For Broccoli
Florets. (c) The diameter of each floret
shall be not less than 1 inch or more
than 4 inches. Unless otherwise
specified, the length of each floret shall
not be less than 11⁄2 inch or more than
41⁄2 inches.
The association also wanted bunched
broccoli to contain more than one stalk.
AMS disagrees with this comment
because, as defined in the standards,
‘‘Bunch’’ means: ‘‘Stalks bound together
to form a unit. A single stalk may be
considered a bunch if it is
approximately as large as other bunches
in the lot.’’ AMS believes that this
definition offers flexibility to the
industry and will keep that option
available.
The grower requested, that the
Department consider allowing the sale
of broccoli crowns as a unit or an
individual item, without a weight
statement. The United States Standards
issued under the 1946 Act does not
regulate the sale of graded commodities.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:59 Oct 02, 2006
Jkt 211001
However, AMS is revising the size
specification section of the standards to
provide percentages to be determined
and certified individually ‘‘by weight’’
as well as ‘‘by count’’ when fairly
uniform.
AMS is revising the title of the
standards to United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli as
these standards now will apply to
broccoli crowns, florets, and bunched
broccoli. AMS is revising 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
defining ‘‘fairly uniform’’ since it is
referenced in the standards but not
currently defined. ‘‘Fairly uniform’’
means: (a) For bunched broccoli:
Bunches are considered fairly uniform if
the diameter of the bunches within the
container do not vary more than three
inches. (b) For broccoli crowns: Crowns
are considered to be fairly uniform if the
diameter of the crowns within the
container do not vary more than three
inches. (c) For broccoli florets: Florets
are considered fairly uniform if the
diameter of the florets within the
sample do not vary more than 11⁄2
inches. Additionally, AMS is adding
definitions for florets and crowns.
‘‘Florets’’ or ‘‘Florettes’’ means the main
stem is cut back considerably and only
a single smaller secondary stem remains
with the bud cluster. Florets are bud
clusters or pieces of the bud cluster that
have been closely trimmed from the
head. Crowns or Crown cuts are defined
as: ‘‘Crowns’’ mean the main stem is cut
back from a portion of the broccoli plant
including the stems which are of lengths
according to the grade applied, bud
clusters, and leaves. The definition for
diameter is revised to: ‘‘Diameter’’
means the measurement across the bud
cluster. With the inclusion of crowns
and florets in the standards, AMS is
adding ‘‘same type’’ to the requirements
for the grades and defining ‘‘same type’’
as: ‘‘Same type’’ means lots shall consist
of broccoli with similar type
characteristics, i.e., bunched can not be
mixed with florets.
AMS is eliminating the unclassified
category. This category is being removed
from all standards when they are
revised. This category is not a grade and
only serves to show than no grade has
been applied to the lot. 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
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Fruits, Vegetables and Other Products (7
CFR 51.1 to 51.62).
The United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli will
become effective 30-days after
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621—1627.
Dated: September 25, 2006.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6–16256 Filed 10–2–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Nutrition Service
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Performance
Reporting System, Management
Evaluation
Food and Nutrition Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice invites the general public and
other public agencies to comment on a
proposed information collection for
which approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) will be
requested. The proposed collection
would be an extension of a currently
approved collection under OMB No.
0584–0010 which is due to expire
January 31, 2007.
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted on or before December 4,
2006.
Comments are invited on:
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information shall have practical utility;
(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden of the proposed collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to Moira
Johnston, Senior Program Analyst,
Program Design Branch, Food Stamp
Program, Food and Nutrition
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\03OCN1.SGM
03OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58367-58368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-16256]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the
voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian
Sprouting Broccoli. AMS is revising the standards to include provisions
for certifying and grading broccoli crowns and florets. Specific size
requirements for broccoli crowns and florets are being established.
Additionally, the size requirements for the U.S. Fancy grade are being
revised to provide minimum and maximum lengths for broccoli bunches
``unless otherwise specified.'' AMS is also revising the size
specification section to allow percentages to be determined ``by
weight,'' as well as ``by count,'' when fairly uniform in size. AMS is
adding a definition for fairly uniform and definitions for the terms
florets and crowns and revising the definition for diameter. AMS is
defining and adding ``same type'' to the requirements for each of the
grades. AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. Additionally, AMS
is revising the title of the standards to United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli as the standards will now apply to
multiple forms of broccoli. These changes are made to update the
broccoli grade standards and better reflect current marketing
practices.
DATES: Effective Date: November 2, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheri L. Emery, 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 Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The revised United States Standards for
Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli will be available either through
the address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch
Web site at: https://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.'' 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 revising 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 possible revisions of the United
States Standards for Grades of Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli.
Based on the comments received and information gathered, AMS developed
revised grade standards for broccoli. AMS published a notice in the
February 28, 2006, Federal Register (71 FR 10001) 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 two comments on the proposed revisions. One comment received
was from an agricultural trade association and the other from a grower.
The comments received are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh
Products Branch Web site at: https://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/
fpbdocketlist.htm.
The agricultural trade association supported including broccoli
crowns and florets into the United States Standards for Grades of
Bunched Italian Sprouting Broccoli. They also supported having maximum
stem lengths for broccoli crowns. AMS is establishing sizes for minimum
and maximum lengths for the U.S. Fancy and U.S. No. 1 grades of
broccoli for crown and floret styles. The requirements include the
option for minimum and maximum lengths to be ``unless otherwise
specified.'' AMS is also establishing sizes for minimum and maximum
diameter for the U.S. Fancy grade for
[[Page 58368]]
crowns and florets as well as for florets in the U.S. No. 1 grade. AMS
has also included the option for diameter to be specified in connection
with the U.S. No. 1 grade for broccoli crowns. The U.S. Fancy grade
length requirements for bunched broccoli is being revised to provide
for minimum and maximum lengths ``unless otherwise specified.'' The
sizes for the U.S. Fancy grades and the U.S. No. 1 grades are as
listed. The sizes for the U.S. Fancy grades are as follows: For Bunched
Broccoli. (a) The diameter of each stalk shall be not less than 2\1/2\
inches. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each stalk shall be
not less than 6 inches or more than 8\1/2\ inches. For Broccoli Crowns.
(b) The diameter of each crown shall be not less than 2\1/2\ inches or
more than 5 inches. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each
stalk shall be not less than 2\1/2\ inches or more than 5 inches. For
Broccoli Florets. (c) The diameter of each floret shall be not less
than \3/4\ inch or more than 3 inches. Unless otherwise specified, the
length of each stem shall not be less than 1 inch or more than 3\1/2\
inches. The sizes for the U.S. No. 1 grades are as follows: For Bunched
Broccoli. (a) There are no requirements for diameter but diameter may
be specified for any lot as set forth in ``Size specifications''
section. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each stalk shall be
not less than 5 inches or more than 9 inches. For Broccoli Crowns. (b)
There are no requirements for diameter but diameter may be specified
for any lot as set forth in ``Size specifications'' section. Unless
otherwise specified, the length of each crown shall be not less than
3\1/2\ inches or more than 6 inches. For Broccoli Florets. (c) The
diameter of each floret shall be not less than 1 inch or more than 4
inches. Unless otherwise specified, the length of each floret shall not
be less than 1\1/2\ inch or more than 4\1/2\ inches.
The association also wanted bunched broccoli to contain more than
one stalk. AMS disagrees with this comment because, as defined in the
standards, ``Bunch'' means: ``Stalks bound together to form a unit. A
single stalk may be considered a bunch if it is approximately as large
as other bunches in the lot.'' AMS believes that this definition offers
flexibility to the industry and will keep that option available.
The grower requested, that the Department consider allowing the
sale of broccoli crowns as a unit or an individual item, without a
weight statement. The United States Standards issued under the 1946 Act
does not regulate the sale of graded commodities. However, AMS is
revising the size specification section of the standards to provide
percentages to be determined and certified individually ``by weight''
as well as ``by count'' when fairly uniform.
AMS is revising the title of the standards to United States
Standards for Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli as these standards
now will apply to broccoli crowns, florets, and bunched broccoli. AMS
is revising 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 defining
``fairly uniform'' since it is referenced in the standards but not
currently defined. ``Fairly uniform'' means: (a) For bunched broccoli:
Bunches are considered fairly uniform if the diameter of the bunches
within the container do not vary more than three inches. (b) For
broccoli crowns: Crowns are considered to be fairly uniform if the
diameter of the crowns within the container do not vary more than three
inches. (c) For broccoli florets: Florets are considered fairly uniform
if the diameter of the florets within the sample do not vary more than
1\1/2\ inches. Additionally, AMS is adding definitions for florets and
crowns. ``Florets'' or ``Florettes'' means the main stem is cut back
considerably and only a single smaller secondary stem remains with the
bud cluster. Florets are bud clusters or pieces of the bud cluster that
have been closely trimmed from the head. Crowns or Crown cuts are
defined as: ``Crowns'' mean the main stem is cut back from a portion of
the broccoli plant including the stems which are of lengths according
to the grade applied, bud clusters, and leaves. The definition for
diameter is revised to: ``Diameter'' means the measurement across the
bud cluster. With the inclusion of crowns and florets in the standards,
AMS is adding ``same type'' to the requirements for the grades and
defining ``same type'' as: ``Same type'' means lots shall consist of
broccoli with similar type characteristics, i.e., bunched can not be
mixed with florets.
AMS is eliminating the unclassified category. This category is
being removed from all standards when they are revised. This category
is not a grade and only serves to show than no grade has been applied
to the lot. 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 (7 CFR 51.1 to 51.62).
The United States Standards for Grades of Italian Sprouting
Broccoli will become effective 30-days after publication of this notice
in the Federal Register.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621--1627.
Dated: September 25, 2006.
Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. E6-16256 Filed 10-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
