United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower, 28046-28047 [2016-10741]

Download as PDF 28046 Notices Federal Register Vol. 81, No. 89 Monday, May 9, 2016 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 [Doc. Number AMS–FV–10–0047, FV–16– 330] United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to revise the United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower. The current U.S. grade standards do not have provisions for grading purple, orange, or green cauliflower. The proposed revision would amend the color requirement to allow all colors of cauliflower to be certified to a U.S. grade. In addition, AMS proposes to amend the size requirement to allow curds less than 4 inches in diameter to be certified to a grade; to add marking requirements to sizes less than 4 inches in diameter; and, to remove the unclassified section. DATES: Comments must be received by July 8, 2016. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Training and Development Center, Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 22406; fax: (540) 361–1199; or, via the web at: www.regulations.gov. Comments should reference 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. Comments can also be viewed as submitted, including any personal information you provide, on the www.regulations.gov Web site. A mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 May 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 copy of the proposed revised United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower is located at https:// www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner at the address above, or at phone (540) 361–1128; fax (540) 361– 1199; or, email Dave.Horner@ ams.usda.gov. Copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades of Cauliflower are available on the Internet at https:// www.regulations.gov. The current U.S. Standards for Grades of Cauliflower are available on the Specialty Crops Inspection Division Web site at https:// www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/ cauliflower-grades-and-standards. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) (7 U.S.C. 1622(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, Specialty Crops Program, and are available on the internet at https://www.ams.usda.gov/ grades-standards. AMS proposes to revise the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower 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 March 15, 1968. Background and Comments On February 9, 2012, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (77 FR 6772) soliciting comments on proposed revisions to the United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower. AMS received one comment from an agricultural trade association. The agricultural trade association stated that by number, but not necessarily by volume, cauliflower growers supported the proposed PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 revision. However, members expressed some confusion about the meaning of ‘‘unless otherwise specified’’ in regards to size, and requested clarification. Following the comment period, AMS determined it would not proceed with the revisions as proposed. The U.S. grade standards presently require cauliflower curds to be white, creamy white, or cream color, but do not have provisions for grading other colors of cauliflower. AMS proposes to amend U.S. No. 1 color provisions by adding ‘‘unless otherwise specified’’ to the basic requirement for color. The phrase ‘‘unless otherwise specified’’ in regards to color would be interpreted as follows: When colors other than white, creamy white, or cream color are specified, those colors could be certified to a grade. Likewise, when designated as a mixed-color pack, a grade could be applied to all the colors in the pack, not just to the curds that are white, creamy white, or cream color. For example, a grade could be applied to a pack containing a green, an orange, a purple, and a white cauliflower curd when specified as a mixed-color pack. AMS applies the phrase ‘‘unless otherwise specified,’’ or similar terminology, to potatoes, peppers, and other commodities to allow other colors, or the comingling of colors, to be certified to a grade. This revision would also affect the U.S. Commercial grade. Previously, in 2012, AMS proposed to add ‘‘unless otherwise specified’’ to the size requirement for the U.S. No. 1 grade to allow for smaller sizes. This too is a common practice for potatoes, onions, and many other commodities. However, after contacting the agricultural trade association, AMS discovered that they were concerned that unmarked containers with curds smaller than 4 inches may lose their specified designation after being resold to another party. For example, the original verbal or contractual agreement might not follow the product through the marketing chain. At final destination, unmarked product may fail to grade U.S. No. 1, since the cauliflower curds would be smaller than 4 inches in diameter. Therefore, AMS now proposes to amend the U.S. No. 1 size provisions for cauliflower heads by adding ‘‘unless marked to a maximum diameter of less than 4 inches. Cauliflower curds marked less than 4 inches may not be comingled E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1 mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 89 / Monday, May 9, 2016 / Notices with cauliflower curds packed to be 4 inches or larger.’’ to the basic requirement for curd size. To explain the marking requirements, AMS proposes to add a new ‘‘§ 51.556 Marking Requirements,’’ which would read as follows: ‘‘When the product is packed to be less than 4 inches in maximum diameter, 90 percent or more of the master containers shall be plainly stamped, printed, labeled or otherwise marked with the maximum diameter. The term ‘maximum’ or its recognized abbreviation, when following a diameter size marking, means that the curds are of the size marked or smaller.’’ The current § 51.556, Metric Conversion Table, will be redesignated as § 51.557. The size revision and marking requirements would be interpreted as follows: When cauliflower curds are specified to be less than 4 inches in maximum diameter, at least 90 percent of the master containers in a lot must be marked by a maximum diameter of less than 4 inches. For example, a lot having curds no larger than 31⁄2 inches in diameter must have 90 percent or more of the master containers marked 31⁄2″ max. If less than 90 percent of the master containers are marked, the lot may meet grade requirements but would fail to meet marking requirements as to size. Furthermore, curds that are specified to be less than 4 inches in maximum diameter would not include cauliflower florets, since florets are pieces of curd and not considered small heads of cauliflower. Therefore, florets would not be certified to a grade. This revision would also affect the U.S. Commercial grade. The agricultural trade association had no objection to removing the ‘‘Unclassified’’ category from the standards. The unclassified section 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 believes that permitting all colors, mixed-color packs, and smaller sizes of cauliflower to be certified to a grade reflects current marketing practices and consumer demand, and will facilitate the marketing of cauliflower by providing the industry with more flexibility. The official grade of a lot of cauliflower 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). This notice provides a 60-day period during which interested parties may VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 May 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 comment on the proposed revisions to the standards. This period is deemed appropriate in order to implement these changes, if adopted, as soon as possible to reflect current marketing practices. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. Dated: May 3, 2016. Elanor Starmer, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2016–10741 Filed 5–6–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics; Notice of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture Meeting Agricultural Research Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, the United States Department of Agriculture announces a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21). The committee is being convened to: consider work of the three ad hoc subgroups on the progress of their analyses relevant to the new AC21 charge; discuss a draft outline for the committee’s next report and selected draft content, including a draft guidance document for producers and a draft model for facilitating local conversations around coexistence; and continue overall discussions on the committee charge and planning the completion of its work. DATES: The meeting will be held on Monday–Tuesday, June 13–14, 2016, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. This meeting is open to the public. On June 13, 2016, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for oral presentations of no more than five minutes each in duration, starting at 3:30 p.m. Members of the public who wish to make oral statements should also inform Dr. Schechtman in writing or via Email at the indicated addresses below at least three business days before the meeting. ADDRESSES: U.S. Access Board Conference Room, 1331 F Street NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General information about the committee can also be found at https:// www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/ usdahome?navid=BIOTECH_ AC21&navtype=RT&parentnav= BIOTECH. However, Michael SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 28047 Schechtman, Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 12th and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250; Telephone (202) 720–3817; Fax (202) 690–4265; Email AC21@ars.usda.gov may be contacted for specific questions about the committee or this meeting. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The AC21 has been established to provide information and advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on the broad array of issues related to the expanding dimensions and importance of agricultural biotechnology. The committee is charged with examining the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and agriculture system and USDA, and providing guidance to USDA on pressing individual issues, identified by the Office of the Secretary, related to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. In recent years, the work of the AC21 has centered on the issue of coexistence among different types of agricultural production systems. The AC21 consists of members representing the biotechnology industry, the organic food industry, farming communities, the seed industry, food manufacturers, state government, consumer and community development groups, as well as academic researchers and a medical doctor. In addition, representatives from the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative serve as ‘‘ex officio’’ members. In its last report, issued on November 17, 2012, entitled ‘‘Enhancing Coexistence: A Report to the Secretary of Agriculture,’’ and available on the Web site listed below, the AC21 offered a diverse package of recommendations, among which was a recommendation that ‘‘ . . . USDA should facilitate development of joint coexistence plans by neighboring farmers,’’ and that in a pilot program, USDA should, among other things, offer incentives for the development of such plans. At its meeting on December 14–15, 2015, USDA offered a specific new charge to the AC21 building on its previous work. Recognizing that USDA currently lacks the legal authority to offer any such incentives, the committee has been charged with considering the following two questions: Is there an approach by which farmers could be encouraged to work with their neighbors to develop joint coexistence plans at the State or local level? If so, how might the E:\FR\FM\09MYN1.SGM 09MYN1

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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 89 (Monday, May 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28046-28047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-10741]


========================================================================
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 89 / Monday, May 9, 2016 / Notices

[[Page 28046]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc. Number AMS-FV-10-0047, FV-16-330]


United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to 
revise the United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower. The 
current U.S. grade standards do not have provisions for grading purple, 
orange, or green cauliflower. The proposed revision would amend the 
color requirement to allow all colors of cauliflower to be certified to 
a U.S. grade. In addition, AMS proposes to amend the size requirement 
to allow curds less than 4 inches in diameter to be certified to a 
grade; to add marking requirements to sizes less than 4 inches in 
diameter; and, to remove the unclassified section.

DATES: Comments must be received by July 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, 
Specialty Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, National Training and Development Center, 
Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, 
Fredericksburg, VA 22406; fax: (540) 361-1199; or, via the web at: 
www.regulations.gov. Comments should reference 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. Comments can also be viewed as submitted, including any personal 
information you provide, on the www.regulations.gov Web site. A copy of 
the proposed revised United States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower 
is located at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Horner at the address above, or 
at phone (540) 361-1128; fax (540) 361-1199; or, email 
Dave.Horner@ams.usda.gov. Copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for 
Grades of Cauliflower are available on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov. The current U.S. Standards for Grades of 
Cauliflower are available on the Specialty Crops Inspection Division 
Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/cauliflower-grades-and-standards.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) (7 U.S.C. 1622(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, Specialty Crops 
Program, and are available on the internet at https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards.
    AMS proposes to revise the voluntary United States Standards for 
Grades of Cauliflower 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 March 15, 1968.

Background and Comments

    On February 9, 2012, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register 
(77 FR 6772) soliciting comments on proposed revisions to the United 
States Standards for Grades of Cauliflower. AMS received one comment 
from an agricultural trade association. The agricultural trade 
association stated that by number, but not necessarily by volume, 
cauliflower growers supported the proposed revision. However, members 
expressed some confusion about the meaning of ``unless otherwise 
specified'' in regards to size, and requested clarification. Following 
the comment period, AMS determined it would not proceed with the 
revisions as proposed.
    The U.S. grade standards presently require cauliflower curds to be 
white, creamy white, or cream color, but do not have provisions for 
grading other colors of cauliflower. AMS proposes to amend U.S. No. 1 
color provisions by adding ``unless otherwise specified'' to the basic 
requirement for color. The phrase ``unless otherwise specified'' in 
regards to color would be interpreted as follows: When colors other 
than white, creamy white, or cream color are specified, those colors 
could be certified to a grade. Likewise, when designated as a mixed-
color pack, a grade could be applied to all the colors in the pack, not 
just to the curds that are white, creamy white, or cream color. For 
example, a grade could be applied to a pack containing a green, an 
orange, a purple, and a white cauliflower curd when specified as a 
mixed-color pack. AMS applies the phrase ``unless otherwise 
specified,'' or similar terminology, to potatoes, peppers, and other 
commodities to allow other colors, or the comingling of colors, to be 
certified to a grade. This revision would also affect the U.S. 
Commercial grade.
    Previously, in 2012, AMS proposed to add ``unless otherwise 
specified'' to the size requirement for the U.S. No. 1 grade to allow 
for smaller sizes. This too is a common practice for potatoes, onions, 
and many other commodities. However, after contacting the agricultural 
trade association, AMS discovered that they were concerned that 
unmarked containers with curds smaller than 4 inches may lose their 
specified designation after being resold to another party. For example, 
the original verbal or contractual agreement might not follow the 
product through the marketing chain. At final destination, unmarked 
product may fail to grade U.S. No. 1, since the cauliflower curds would 
be smaller than 4 inches in diameter.
    Therefore, AMS now proposes to amend the U.S. No. 1 size provisions 
for cauliflower heads by adding ``unless marked to a maximum diameter 
of less than 4 inches. Cauliflower curds marked less than 4 inches may 
not be comingled

[[Page 28047]]

with cauliflower curds packed to be 4 inches or larger.'' to the basic 
requirement for curd size. To explain the marking requirements, AMS 
proposes to add a new ``Sec.  51.556 Marking Requirements,'' which 
would read as follows: ``When the product is packed to be less than 4 
inches in maximum diameter, 90 percent or more of the master containers 
shall be plainly stamped, printed, labeled or otherwise marked with the 
maximum diameter. The term `maximum' or its recognized abbreviation, 
when following a diameter size marking, means that the curds are of the 
size marked or smaller.'' The current Sec.  51.556, Metric Conversion 
Table, will be redesignated as Sec.  51.557.
    The size revision and marking requirements would be interpreted as 
follows: When cauliflower curds are specified to be less than 4 inches 
in maximum diameter, at least 90 percent of the master containers in a 
lot must be marked by a maximum diameter of less than 4 inches. For 
example, a lot having curds no larger than 3\1/2\ inches in diameter 
must have 90 percent or more of the master containers marked 3\1/2\'' 
max. If less than 90 percent of the master containers are marked, the 
lot may meet grade requirements but would fail to meet marking 
requirements as to size.
    Furthermore, curds that are specified to be less than 4 inches in 
maximum diameter would not include cauliflower florets, since florets 
are pieces of curd and not considered small heads of cauliflower. 
Therefore, florets would not be certified to a grade.
    This revision would also affect the U.S. Commercial grade.
    The agricultural trade association had no objection to removing the 
``Unclassified'' category from the standards. The unclassified section 
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 believes that permitting all colors, mixed-color packs, and 
smaller sizes of cauliflower to be certified to a grade reflects 
current marketing practices and consumer demand, and will facilitate 
the marketing of cauliflower by providing the industry with more 
flexibility.
    The official grade of a lot of cauliflower 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).
    This notice provides a 60-day period during which interested 
parties may comment on the proposed revisions to the standards. This 
period is deemed appropriate in order to implement these changes, if 
adopted, as soon as possible to reflect current marketing practices.

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

    Dated: May 3, 2016.
Elanor Starmer,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-10741 Filed 5-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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