United States Standards for Grades of Cantaloups, 40825 [E7-14337]

Agencies

• Agricultural Marketing Service
• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 142 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 40825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14337]


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 142 / Wednesday, July 25, 2007 / 
Notices

[[Page 40825]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket  AMS-FV-2006-0205; FV-06-317]


United States Standards for Grades of Cantaloups

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting 
comments on its proposal to revise the voluntary United States 
Standards for Grades of Cantaloups. AMS is proposing revisions to the 
``Application of Tolerances'' section in the cantaloup standards. 
Additionally, AMS is removing the ``Unclassified'' category from the 
standards. The proposed revisions will update the cantaloup grade 
standards and better reflect current marketing practices.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 24, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on 
the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov or 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. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Vincent J. Fusaro, Standardization 
Section, Fresh Products Branch, (202) 720-2185. The United States 
Standards for Grades of Cantaloups are available by accessing the 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.'' AMS is committed to carrying out 
this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of 
agricultural commodities. AMS 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 United States Standards for Grades 
of Cantaloups 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 1968.

Background

    On December 28, 2006, AMS published a notice in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 78128-78129) soliciting comments for possible revisions 
for the United States Standards for Grades of Cantaloups. In response 
to the notice, AMS received one comment on the proposed revisions. The 
comment received was from an agricultural trade association and is 
available by accessing https://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/
main or the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: https://
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm. Based on the comment received 
and information gathered, AMS developed revised grade standards for 
cantaloups.
    The agricultural trade association favored changing the wording in 
section 51.480, ``Application of Tolerances'' of the United States 
Standards for Grades of Cantaloups. Accordingly, AMS will make 
revisions to section 51.480 so that the tolerances may be applied to: 
Either samples of the entire contents of melons in cartons or to 
samples consisting of at least twenty five melons for cantaloups packed 
in bulk bins or other packaging. Specifically within the section, ``The 
contents of individual packages* * *'' will be modified to ``Samples* * 
*'' and ``(a) A package may contain* * *'' will be modified to ``(a) 
Samples may contain* * *''. These revisions will make the Application 
of Tolerances applicable to cantaloups shipped in larger containers, 
such as bulk bins, which may contain several hundred melons, as well as 
those shipped in smaller containers.
    AMS will also eliminate 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 that no grade has been applied 
to the lot. It is no longer considered necessary.
    AMS is also seeking comments regarding how this revision will 
affect the marketing of cantaloups. Additionally, AMS is interested in 
learning the costs and/or benefits to the industry by revising the 
United States Standards for Grades of Cantaloups.
    The official grades of cantaloups 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).
    This notice provides for a 60-day comment period for interested 
parties to comment on the proposed revisions to the standards.

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

    Dated: July 19, 2007.
Lloyd C. Day,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-14337 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P