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.

Notices Federal Register

21908

Vol. 66, No. 85

Wednesday, May 2, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV–01–328]

United States Standards for Grades of

Frozen Celery

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service,

USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing

Service (AMS) is soliciting comments

on its proposal to create new United

States Standards for Grades of Frozen

Celery. USDA has received a petition

from a grower of celery to create grade

standards for frozen celery that will

include a description of the product,

style, sample unit size, grades,

ascertaining the grade by sample, and

ascertaining the grade by lot. This

proposal will provide a common

language for trade, a means of

measuring value in the marketing of

frozen celery, and provide guidance in

the effective utilization of frozen celery.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on

or before July 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be

submitted to: Karen L. Kaufman,

Processed Products Branch, Fruit and

Vegetable Programs, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of

Agriculture, STOP 0247,1400

Independence Avenue SW.,

Washington, DC 20250–0247; fax (202)

690–1087; or e-mail

karen.kaufman@usda.gov.

Comments should reference the date

and page of this issue of the Federal

Register. All comments received will be

made available for public inspection at

the address listed above during regular

business hours and on the Internet.

The draft of the United States

Standards for Grades of Frozen Celery

available either through the address

cited above or by accessing AMS’s

Home Page on the Internet at:

www.ams.usda.gov/standards/

frozveg.htm. Any comments received,

regarding this proposed standard will

also be posted on that site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen L. Kaufman at (202) 720–5021 or

e-mail at karen.kaufman@usda.gov.

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 no longer appear in the

Code of Federal Regulations but are

maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and

Vegetable Programs.

AMS is proposing to establish the

U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen

Celery using the procedures that appear

in Part 36 of Title 7 of the Code of

Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).

Proposed by the Petitioner

The petitioner, a grower of celery,

requested that USDA develop a standard

for frozen celery to be used by the

industry. The petitioner provided

information on style, sample size and

description to AMS to develop the

standard. AMS visited the petitioner’s

facility to collect information on grades

of frozen celery and how to ascertain the

grade of a sample and of a lot.

AMS prepared a discussion draft of

the frozen celery standard, and

distributed copies for input to the

petitioner, the American Frozen Food

Institute (AFFI), and the National Food

Processors Association (NFPA). Input

from the above groups was used to

develop the proposed standard.

Proposed by Fruit and Vegetable

Programs, AMS

Based on the results of the

information gathered, AMS is proposing

to establish a standard for frozen celery

following the standard format for U.S.

Grade Standards. AMS is proposing to

define ‘‘frozen celery’’ and establish

‘‘sliced’’ and ‘‘diced as the style

designations. The proposal will also

define the quality factors that affect

frozen celery and determine sample unit

sizes for this commodity.

This proposal will establish the grade

levels ‘‘A’’, ‘‘B’’ and ‘‘Substandard’’ and

assign the corresponding score points

for each level. The proposed tolerance

for each quality factor as defined for

each grade level will be established.

The grade of a sample unit of frozen

celery will be ascertained by

considering the factors of varietal

characteristics and flavor and odor

which are not scored; the ratings for the

factors of color, defects, and character,

which are scored; the total score; and

the limiting rules which apply. This

proposal will provide a common

language for trade, a means of

measuring value in the marketing of

frozen celery, and provide guidance in

the effective utilization of frozen celery.

The official grade of a lot of frozen

celery covered by these standards will

be determined by the procedures set

forth in the Regulations Governing

Inspection and Certification of

Processed Products Thereof, and Certain

Other Processed Foods Products (§ 52.1

to 52.83).

This notice provides for a 60 day

comment period for interested parties to

comment on changes to the standards.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627.

Dated: April 25, 2001.

Kenneth C. Clayton,

Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing

Service.

[FR Doc. 01–10893 Filed 5–1–01; 8:45 am]

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