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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6774-6775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3013]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Doc.  AMS-FV-11-0052]

United States Standards for Grades of Eggplant

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA), is soliciting comments on the proposed revision to 
the United States Standards for Grades of Eggplant. AMS is reviewing 
the fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for usefulness in serving 
the industry. As a result, AMS has noted the current grade standards do 
not have provisions for mixed or specialty packs. Therefore, AMS is 
proposing to amend the similar varietal characteristic requirement in 
the U.S. Fancy and No. 1 grades to allow mixed colors and/or types of 
eggplant when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. In addition, AMS 
proposes to remove the unclassified section.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 9, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
the Standardization and Training Branch, Fresh Products Division, Fruit 
and Vegetable Programs, 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 on the Web at: www.regulations.gov. 
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. Comments 
can also be viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site. The current 
United States Standards for Grades of Eggplant will be available either 
through the address cited above or by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products 
Division Web site at www.ams.usda.gov/freshinspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Carl Newell, at the above address 
or call (540) 361-1120.

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 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 voluntary United States Standards 
for Grades of Eggplant using procedures that appear in Part 36, Title 7 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).

[[Page 6775]]

Background and Proposed Notice

    AMS is reviewing all fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards for 
usefulness in serving the industry. As a result, AMS has identified the 
U.S. Standards for Grades of Eggplant similar varietal characteristic 
requirement for possible updating. AMS has observed that mixing colors 
and/or types of eggplant in a specialty pack is a current marketing 
practice. The U.S. grade standards presently require eggplant to be 
packed with eggplant of similar type, color and character of growth; 
there are no provisions for mixed or specialty packs. AMS proposes to 
revise the similar varietal characteristic requirement for the U.S. 
Fancy and No. 1 grades to allow mixed colors and/or types of eggplant 
when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. The following language 
would be added to these two grades: ``* * * consists of eggplants of 
similar varietal characteristics, except when specified as a mixed or 
specialty pack * * *.'' AMS believes that permitting mixed colors and/
or type packs will facilitate the marketing of eggplant by providing 
the industry with more flexibility that reflects current marketing 
practices and consumer demand.
    AMS also proposes to eliminate 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.
    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: February 3, 2012.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-3013 Filed 2-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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