United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions, 63378 [2014-25195]

Download as PDF 63378 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 205 / Thursday, October 23, 2014 / Notices comply that can reduce the burden of developing their own methods and simplify audits and inspections. Alternative approaches that can demonstrate compliance with the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Act, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1621 note) will be considered. As with any alternative approach, TM strongly encourages States and industry to discuss alternative approaches with TM before implementing them to avoid unnecessary or wasteful expenditures of resources and to ensure the proposed alternative approach complies with the Act. III. Electronic Access Persons with access to Internet may obtain the guidance at either AMS’ Specialty Crop Block Grant Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ scbgp or https://www.regulations.gov. Requests for hard copies of the guidance documents can be obtained by submitting a written request to the person listed in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621 note. Dated: October 20, 2014. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2014–25270 Filed 10–22–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agricultural Marketing Service [Doc. # AMS–FV–13–0018] United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Final notice. AGENCY: This Notice revises the U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions, which are issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the similar varietal characteristic requirement to allow mixed colors of onions, when designated as a mixed or specialty pack, to be certified to a U.S. grade. In addition, AMS will correct language and remove the ‘‘Unclassified’’ category from the standards. These revisions will align the standards with today’s marketing practices and provide the industry with greater flexibility. DATES: Effective Date: November 24, 2014. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner, Standardization Branch, mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:52 Oct 22, 2014 Jkt 235001 Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division, (540) 361–1128 or 1150. The current U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions are available on the SCI Division Web site at https://www.ams. usda.gov/scihome. 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 U.S. standards for grades of fruits and vegetables that are not connected with 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 Program, and are available on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/ scihome. AMS is revising the voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36). Background and Comments The industry, particularly in Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, are packing mixed colors of onions. Currently, the Creole onion standards do not permit certifying a U.S. grade to a pack that comingles colors, such as white onions with yellow to brownish red onions. On August 22, 2013, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 52131) proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions to allow mixed color packs of onions to be certified to a U.S. grade. We apprised the onion industry of this notice to foster widespread participation in the Part 36 process. The comment period closed on October 21, 2013. No comments were received. Based on the information gathered, AMS will amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 sections of the standards by adding ‘‘except color when designated as a specialty or mixed pack.’’ The U.S. Combination grade section also will be amended to reflect this change. In addition, AMS will eliminate the ‘‘Unclassified’’ section. AMS is removing this section from standards for all commodities as they are revised. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 This category, which is not a grade and only serves to show that no grade has been applied to the lot, is no longer necessary. Furthermore, AMS will replace the capital ‘‘S’’ with a small ‘‘s’’ on the word ‘‘Seedstems’’ in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 sections of the standards to correct a formatting error. These revisions will facilitate onion marketing in the competitive U.S. market. The official grade of a lot of Creole onions 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 U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions will be effective 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: October 17, 2014. Rex A. Barnes, Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service. [FR Doc. 2014–25195 Filed 10–22–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (Board) will meet in Rapid City, South Dakota. The Board is established consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et. seq.), the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. sec. 1612), and the Federal Public Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 108–447). Additional information concerning the Board, including the meeting summary/ minutes, can be found by visiting the Board’s Web site at: https://www.fs.usda. gov/main/blackhills/workingtogether/ advisorycommittees. DATES: The meeting will be held Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 1 p.m. All meetings are subject to cancellation. For updated status of meeting prior to attendance, please contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\23OCN1.SGM 23OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 63378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25195]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. # AMS-FV-13-0018]


United States Standards for Grades of Creole Onions

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Notice revises the U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole 
Onions, which are issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. 
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is amending the similar 
varietal characteristic requirement to allow mixed colors of onions, 
when designated as a mixed or specialty pack, to be certified to a U.S. 
grade. In addition, AMS will correct language and remove the 
``Unclassified'' category from the standards. These revisions will 
align the standards with today's marketing practices and provide the 
industry with greater flexibility.

DATES: Effective Date: November 24, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner, Standardization Branch, 
Specialty Crops Inspection (SCI) Division, (540) 361-1128 or 1150. The 
current U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions are available on the 
SCI Division Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/scihome.

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 U.S. standards for grades of fruits and 
vegetables that are not connected with 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 Program, and are 
available on the Internet at www.ams.usda.gov/scihome.
    AMS is revising the voluntary U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole 
Onions using the procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

Background and Comments

    The industry, particularly in Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, 
are packing mixed colors of onions. Currently, the Creole onion 
standards do not permit certifying a U.S. grade to a pack that 
comingles colors, such as white onions with yellow to brownish red 
onions.
    On August 22, 2013, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register 
(78 FR 52131) proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of 
Creole Onions to allow mixed color packs of onions to be certified to a 
U.S. grade. We apprised the onion industry of this notice to foster 
widespread participation in the Part 36 process. The comment period 
closed on October 21, 2013. No comments were received. Based on the 
information gathered, AMS will amend the similar varietal 
characteristic requirement in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 sections of 
the standards by adding ``except color when designated as a specialty 
or mixed pack.'' The U.S. Combination grade section also will be 
amended to reflect this change.
    In addition, AMS will eliminate the ``Unclassified'' section. AMS 
is removing this section from standards for all commodities as they are 
revised. This category, which is not a grade and only serves to show 
that no grade has been applied to the lot, is no longer necessary.
    Furthermore, AMS will replace the capital ``S'' with a small ``s'' 
on the word ``Seedstems'' in the U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2 sections of 
the standards to correct a formatting error.
    These revisions will facilitate onion marketing in the competitive 
U.S. market.
    The official grade of a lot of Creole onions 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 U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions will be effective 30 
days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

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

    Dated: October 17, 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-25195 Filed 10-22-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.