The USDA Agricultural MarkeƟng Service’s (AMS) Specialty Crops InspecƟon Division is a team of professionals who 

provide quality assurance reviews and inspecƟons, conduct food safety audiƟng, and develop naƟonal standards for fresh 

and processed fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other specialty products—all in support of America’s food industry 

supply chain.

WHAT ARE STANDARDS? DEVELOPMENT/REVISION 

U.S. GRADE STANDARDS for Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, and Other Specialty Products 

Agricultural MarkeƟng Service 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

USDA Specialty Crops InspecƟon Division 

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 1536‐S, Stop 0240 

Washington, DC 20250‐0240 

Phone: (202) 720‐5870 or (800) 811‐2373 

www.ams.usda.gov 

Recognized by the fruit, vegetable, nut, and specialty 

crop industry as an essenƟal element in resolving 

disputes of product quality. 

 Provide the foundaƟon for domesƟc and internaƟonal 

trade. 

 Promote efficiency in markeƟng and procurement.

 Determine levels of quality and value as a basis for: 

 Sales quotes, 

 Damage claims, 

 Loan values, 

 Futures trading, 

 Military and other government purchases, and 

 Market reporƟng. 

 A common language for trading where the commodity 

cannot be readily displayed or examined by the 

prospecƟve buyers. 

 Guide processors to: purchase suitable quality; uƟlize 

raw products effecƟvely; and pack products for a 

diverse domesƟc and internaƟonal markets. 

 A means of staƟng quality levels to be used on labels 

for official USDA marks as to quality. 

Generally iniƟated through an interested party request, 

such as a Commission or AssociaƟon represenƟng a 

specific commodity.

 Should demonstrate broad based support. 

 Based on sound technical and markeƟng informaƟon. 

 The official request should outline the reason for the 

request by: 

 A draŌ of how the party would like to see the 

standard revised or developed; or 

 A detailed summary of the specific areas that the 

party would like to see addressed in the U.S. grade 

standard. 
All official requests are evaluated; if valid, a Standardization Specialist is assigned to manage the project. U.S. Grade 

Standards are developed through guidance in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7 (Agriculture) Part 36, “Procedures 

by Which the Agricultural Marketing Service Develops, Revises, Suspends, or Terminates Voluntary Official Grade 

Standards.” Copies of the procedures are available on the Government PrinƟng Office Internet site at www.ecfr.gov. 

These procedures include publication in the Federal Register by USDA to ensure that any interested party has the 

opportunity to comment. 

DISCUSSION DRAFT 

If developing a new standard, or a revision that involves major changes, the Specialist will use the informaƟon they have 

gathered to develop a working draŌ for discussion purposes. The draŌ is sent to interested parƟes for input and 

comment prior to being published as an official noƟce in the Federal Register. 

RULEMAKING 

With all comments received and reviewed, an official proposal is compiled. The proposal goes through a clearance 

process within USDA before publishing in the Federal Register. 

Part 36 requires USDA to provide public noƟficaƟon of acƟons taken to develop new or revise exisƟng U.S. grade 

standards. AŌer developing the proposal: 

 AMS publishes a noƟce in the Federal Register describing the new U.S. grade standards or revision to exisƟng 

standard, or decisions to suspend or terminate exisƟng standard. 

 AMS issues a news release about these acƟons. 

 AMS also posts the proposals on the Internet. Other than minor editorial or technical changes, the noƟce provides at 

least 60 days for interested parƟes to submit comments to the Agency. 

 Based on the comments received, AMS evaluates all the inputs and decides whether the proposed acƟons should be 

implemented. If AMS concludes that the acƟons as proposed, or with minor modificaƟons, should be adopted, AMS 

will publish a descripƟon of the changes or acƟons in the Federal Register. 

 If AMS determines that the proposed changes are not warranted, or they are not in the public interest, the Agency 

will either publish a noƟce withdrawing the proposal in the Federal Register or revise the proposal and again seek 

public input. 

FINAL ACTION 

Is dependent on the comments received. Comments are reviewed based on their content and not on a majority rules 

basis. 

THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING OR REVISING U.S. GRADE STANDARDS 

Last updated February 2016 USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender.