Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, 75932-75933 [E6-21567]

Download as PDF 75932 Notices Federal Register Vol. 71, No. 243 Tuesday, December 19, 2006 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Docket No. FV–06–311] United States Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is establishing voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng. AMS received a request from an industry group representing cultivated ginseng growers to develop a standard that will provide the industry with a common language and uniform basis for trading, thus promoting the orderly and efficient marketing of cultivated ginseng. DATES: Effective Date: January 18, 2007. 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 Ave., SW., Room 1661, South Building, Stop 0240, Washington, DC 20250–0240, (202) 720–2185, fax (202) 720–8871, or e-mail Cheri.Emery@usda.gov. The United States Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng are available either from the above address or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: https:// www.ams.usda.gov/standards/ stanfrfv.htm. 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 hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:07 Dec 18, 2006 Jkt 211001 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 established voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Background AMS received a request from an industry group representing cultivated ginseng growers to develop a standard that will provide a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of cultivated ginseng. Based on information gathered and comments rendered by the industry, AMS developed a proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng. The proposed standards contained the following grades, as well as a range of numerical values for each grade: U.S. Premium, U.S. Select, U.S. Medium and U.S. Standard. In addition, proposed basic requirements for all grades, size, sample size, color, wrinkle and a definitions section would be established. On June 28, 2006, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (71 FR 36753), soliciting comments on the proposed United States Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng. In response to the notice, comments were received from two industry groups. One comment from an industry group was in favor of the standards as proposed. Another comment was also in favor of the proposed standards. However, they suggested that the section concerning Sample and Sample Size should be changed, and the words ‘‘at least’’ be added to the sample size to allow for any needed adjustments by the inspector while performing inspections. AMS agrees with this comment, because adjustments in the sample size may be necessary when performing the inspection. PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Consequently, AMS has added the wording ‘‘minimum’’ to the section. The comments are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: https:// www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ fpbdocketlist.htm. The adoption of the U.S. grade standards will provide the cultivated ginseng industry with U.S. grade standards similar to those extensively in use by the fresh produce industry to assist in orderly marketing of other commodities. The official grade of a lot of cultivated ginseng 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. 51.1 to 51.61). The United States Standards for Grades of Cultivated Ginseng will be effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: December 13, 2006. Lloyd C. Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E6–21568 Filed 12–18–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Docket No. FV–06–378] Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry’s needs. This notice sets forth the schedule and location for the meeting. E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 243 / Tuesday, December 19, 2006 / Notices Tuesday, January 23, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, January 24, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. DATES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Central, 1501 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal Official, USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202) 690–0182. Facsimile: (202) 720–0016. Email: andrew.hatch@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry’s needs. The Committee was re-chartered in July 2003 and again in June 2005 with new members appointed by USDA from industry nominations. AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert C. Keeney, serves as the Committee’s Executive Secretary. Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to participate in the Committee’s meetings as determined by the Committee Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the Committee meeting to the public so that they may attend and present their recommendations. Reference the date and address section of this announcement for the time and place of the meeting. Topics of discussion at the advisory committee meeting will include: Invasive pests and disease initiatives; an update on U.S. produce industry labor and immigration issues; Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) program budget and fees; and food safety initiatives. Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should register on or before January 15, 2007. To register as a speaker, please e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, and phone number to Mr. Andrew Hatch at: andrew.hatch@usda.gov or facsimile to (202) 720–0016. Speakers who have registered in advance will be given priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for the Committee’s consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting will be recorded, and information about obtaining a hsrobinson on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:07 Dec 18, 2006 Jkt 211001 transcript will be provided at the meeting. The Secretary of Agriculture selected a diverse group of members representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the fruit and vegetable industry’s needs. Equal opportunity practices were considered in all appointments to the Committee in accordance with USDA policies. If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, please use either contact name listed above. Dated: December 13, 2006. Lloyd Day, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. E6–21567 Filed 12–18–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS–2006–0166] Environmental Impact Statement; Genetically Engineered Fruit Fly and Pink Bollworm Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement and proposed scope of study. AGENCY: SUMMARY: We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service intends to prepare an environmental impact statement relative to the proposed use of genetically engineered fruit flies and pink bollworm in certain plant pest control programs. This notice identifies potential issues and alternatives that will be studied in the environmental impact statement, requests public comment to further delineate the scope of the issues and alternatives, and provides notice of public meetings. DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before February 20, 2007. We will also consider comments made at public meetings to be held in Washington, DC, on January 17, 2007; in Ontario, CA, on January 23, 2007; in Tempe, AZ, on January 25, 2007; in Weslaco, TX, on January 30, 2007; and in Tampa, FL, on February 1, 2007. Each meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., local time. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 75933 https://www.regulations.gov, select ‘‘Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, then click ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select APHIS–2006– 0166 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically. Information on using Regulations.gov, including instructions for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the comment period, is available through the site’s ‘‘User Tips’’ link. Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. APHIS–2006–0166, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. APHIS– 2006–0166. Public Meetings: For the locations of the public meetings regarding this notice, see the Supplementary Information section of this notice. Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690–2817 before coming. Other Information: Additional information about APHIS and its programs is available on the Internet at https://www.aphis.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David A. Bergsten, Biological Scientist, Environmental Services, PPD, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 149, Riverdale, MD 20737–1238; (301) 734–4883. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is considering using genetically engineered fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) in our ongoing plant pest control programs for fruit flies and pink bollworm. Currently, these programs use a sterile insect technique that involves mass-rearing plant pests in a special facility, sterilizing the insects by irradiation, and releasing the insects to mate with wild plant pests. The release of sterile insects reduces the pest population through E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM 19DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75932-75933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21567]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. FV-06-378]


Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to notify all interested parties 
that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will hold a Fruit and 
Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee) meeting that is open 
to the public. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established 
the Committee to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit 
and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions and ideas to the 
Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet 
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. This notice sets forth the 
schedule and location for the meeting.

[[Page 75933]]


DATES: Tuesday, January 23, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 
January 24, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

ADDRESSES: The Committee meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn 
Central, 1501 Rhode Island Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hatch, Designated Federal 
Official, USDA, AMS, Fruit and Vegetable Programs. Telephone: (202) 
690-0182. Facsimile: (202) 720-0016. E-mail: andrew.hatch@usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Secretary of Agriculture established 
the Committee in August 2001 to examine the full spectrum of issues 
faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and to provide suggestions 
and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet 
the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. The Committee was re-
chartered in July 2003 and again in June 2005 with new members 
appointed by USDA from industry nominations.
    AMS Deputy Administrator for Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Robert 
C. Keeney, serves as the Committee's Executive Secretary. 
Representatives from USDA mission areas and other government agencies 
affecting the fruit and vegetable industry will be called upon to 
participate in the Committee's meetings as determined by the Committee 
Chairperson. AMS is giving notice of the Committee meeting to the 
public so that they may attend and present their recommendations. 
Reference the date and address section of this announcement for the 
time and place of the meeting.
    Topics of discussion at the advisory committee meeting will 
include: Invasive pests and disease initiatives; an update on U.S. 
produce industry labor and immigration issues; Perishable Agricultural 
Commodities Act (PACA) program budget and fees; and food safety 
initiatives.
    Those parties that would like to speak at the meeting should 
register on or before January 15, 2007. To register as a speaker, 
please e-mail your name, affiliation, business address, e-mail address, 
and phone number to Mr. Andrew Hatch at: andrew.hatch@usda.gov or 
facsimile to (202) 720-0016. Speakers who have registered in advance 
will be given priority. Groups and individuals may submit comments for 
the Committee's consideration to the same e-mail address. The meeting 
will be recorded, and information about obtaining a transcript will be 
provided at the meeting.
    The Secretary of Agriculture selected a diverse group of members 
representing a broad spectrum of persons interested in providing 
suggestions and ideas on how USDA can tailor its programs to meet the 
fruit and vegetable industry's needs. Equal opportunity practices were 
considered in all appointments to the Committee in accordance with USDA 
policies.
    If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language 
interpreter, please use either contact name listed above.

    Dated: December 13, 2006.
Lloyd Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-21567 Filed 12-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P

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