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[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]

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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.

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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 http://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
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