This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

39655 

Vol. 82, No. 161 

Tuesday, August 22, 2017 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 51 

[Document Number AMS–SC–16–0005, SC– 

16–331] 

U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled 

Walnuts and Walnuts in the Shell 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This rule revises the U.S. 

Standards for Grades of Shelled Walnuts 

and the U.S. Standards for Grades of 

Walnuts in the Shell issued under the 

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act 

of 1946. The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) of the Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) is amending the 

color requirements to include redcolored walnuts. In addition, AMS is 

removing the ‘‘Unclassified’’ section. 

These revisions will modernize the 

standards to more accurately represent 

today’s marketing practices and to meet 

growing consumer demand by providing 

greater marketing flexibility. 

DATES: Effective September 21, 2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David G. Horner, Agricultural Marketing 

Specialist, Specialty Crops Inspection 

Division, USDA/AMS Specialty Crops 

Program, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 

101, Fredericksburg, VA 22406; 

telephone (540) 361–1120; fax (540) 

361–1199; or email Dave.Horner@

ams.usda.gov. Copies of the revised U.S. 

Standards for Grades of Shelled Walnuts 

and Walnuts in the Shell are available 

at http://www.regulations.gov or http:// 

www.ams.usda.gov/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

changes in these two sets of standards 

will permit grade certification of redcolored walnut varieties. These 

revisions also affect the grade 

requirements under the marketing order, 

7 CFR part 984, issued under the 

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act 

of 1937 (7 U.S.C. 601–674) and 

applicable imports. 

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 

This rule does not meet the definition 

of a significant regulatory action 

contained in section 3(f) of Executive 

Order 12866, and is not subject to 

review by the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB). Additionally, because 

this rule does not meet the definition of 

a significant regulatory action it does 

not trigger the requirements contained 

in Executive Order 13771. See OMB’s 

Memorandum titled ‘‘Interim Guidance 

Implementing Section 2 of the Executive 

Order of January 30, 2017 titled 

‘Reducing Regulation and Controlling 

Regulatory Costs’ ’’ (February 2, 2017). 

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 

direct agencies to assess all costs and 

benefits of available regulatory 

alternatives and, if regulation is 

necessary, to select regulatory 

approaches that maximize net benefits 

(including potential economic, 

environmental, public health and safety 

effects, distributive impacts, and 

equity). Executive Order 13563 

emphasizes the importance of 

quantifying both costs and benefits, 

reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and 

promoting flexibility. 

Executive Order 13175 

This action has been reviewed in 

accordance with the requirements of 

Executive Order 13175, Consultation 

and Coordination with Indian Tribal 

Governments. The review reveals that 

this regulation would not have 

substantial and direct effects on Tribal 

governments and would not have 

significant Tribal implications. 

Executive Order 12988 

This rule has been reviewed under 

Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform. It is not intended to have 

retroactive effect. There are no 

administrative procedures that must be 

exhausted prior to any judicial 

challenge to the provisions of this rule. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act and 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

Pursuant to the requirements of the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 

U.S.C. 601–612), AMS has considered 

the economic impacts of the revisions to 

the U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled 

Walnuts and the U.S. Standards for 

Grades of Walnuts in the Shell. The 

purpose of the RFA is to structure 

regulatory actions so small businesses 

will not be unduly or disproportionately 

burdened. Accordingly, AMS has 

prepared the following final regulatory 

flexibility analysis. 

The current U.S. walnut standards 

have four color classifications: Extra 

Light, Light, Light Amber, and Amber. 

Product that does not meet these color 

standards cannot be certified to a U.S. 

grade. AMS is revising these standards 

to include a new classification for redcolored walnuts. In addition, AMS is 

eliminating the ‘‘Unclassified’’ section. 

These revisions modernize the current 

grading standards by allowing the 

industry to meet the growing consumer 

demand for red-colored walnuts and by 

promoting better market information 

and greater marketing flexibility within 

the industry. 

The process of grading improves the 

functioning of a commodity market. 

Assigning different prices to different 

product characteristics and levels of 

quality increases opportunities for 

profitable trade. Including red-colored 

varieties to the walnut grading 

standards will facilitate additional 

market opportunities for walnut 

producers and other participants in the 

supply chain. The revision will result in 

a minor change only to the color 

requirements of the current standards. 

AMS anticipates that there will be little 

or no additional cost to implement this 

revision. This change applies uniformly 

to all market participants, and will not 

result in disproportionate additional 

costs being borne by small walnut 

producers or other small businesses. 

To determine the proportion of 

walnut producers that would be 

considered small, AMS conducted the 

following analysis. The Small Business 

Administration (SBA) defines small 

agricultural producers as those with 

annual receipts of less than $750,000 

(13 CFR 121.601). 

AMS used crop value per acre to 

determine the number of bearing acres 

required to generate annual sales of 

$750,000 or more, and came to 136 

bearing acres. To reach this number, 

AMS divided the total crop value 

measured in dollars by the total utilized 

production measured in tons. Using 

annual National Agricultural Statistics 

Service (NASS) data for the years 2010 

to 2014, the 5-year average crop value 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
39656 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 22, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

was $1,507,478,000; utilized production 

was 504,800 tons; and, grower price was 

$2,982 per ton. AMS multiplied the 

price by yield to find the crop value per 

acre of $5,670 on average over 5 years. 

Finally, AMS divided the SBA-defined 

annual sales threshold of $750,000 by 

value per acre, which resulted in 136 

acres. 

The NASS Agricultural Census is 

conducted every 5 years and in 2012 

showed that 87 percent of walnut 

farming operations in the U.S. fell into 

its Census category of ‘‘under 100 

bearing acres’’ of walnuts. AMS 

estimates that the proportion of walnut 

growers that qualify as small businesses 

under the SBA definition is likely to be 

close to 90 percent, given the probable 

exclusion in the ‘‘under 100 bearing 

acres’’ Census category of walnut 

producers with bearing acreage between 

100 and 136. These small growers will 

not be disproportionately affected by the 

final rule as all changes to the standards 

will be applied uniformly to all market 

participants. 

In August 2015, the Grades and 

Standards Committee of the California 

Walnut Board and Commission voted 

unanimously to revise the U.S. walnut 

standards to include non-amber 

cultivars such as red-colored varieties. 

More than 99 percent of U.S. walnuts 

are produced in California. Addition of 

an expanded color certification grade 

will encourage greater revenue to flow 

into the industry due to greater 

marketing opportunities for red-colored 

nuts. Revising the current grading 

standards to include red walnuts will 

come at a minimal cost to the industry. 

The benefits of modernized grading 

standards, which include better market 

information and greater marketing 

flexibility, exceed the minor costs to 

market participants of implementing 

this revision to the U.S. standards for 

walnuts. 

Background 

The current U.S. walnut standards 

only permit the following four colors: 

Extra Light, Light, Light Amber, and 

Amber. However, consumer demand is 

growing for red walnuts in the United 

States. In China, the Livermore variety 

(a red-colored walnut) is very desirable. 

U.S. growers and companies expect 

sales to continue rising domestically 

and in China, especially once red 

walnuts are permitted grade 

certification. 

To address anticipated consumer 

needs, the Grades and Standards 

Committee of the California Walnut 

Board and Commission voted 

unanimously in August 2015 to revise 

the U.S. walnut standards to include 

non-amber cultivars, beginning with the 

Livermore variety. Later, the California 

Walnut Board and Commission sent an 

official letter to the AMS Administrator 

formally requesting the addition of redcolored varieties. 

On November 25, 2016, AMS 

published a Proposed Rule in the 

Federal Register (81 FR 85164) 

soliciting comments on its proposal to 

amend the standards to (1) include redcolored walnuts and (2) remove the 

‘‘Unclassified’’ section. On March 23, 

2017, AMS published a ‘‘Reopening of 

the comment period’’ in the Federal 

Register (82 FR 14832). The extended 

comment period closed April 24, 2017. 

To view the eight posted comments, 

please visit http://www.regulations.gov. 

Six commenters supported the 

changes. One supporter was a trade 

association representing nearly 4,000 

family farms, nearly 60,000 jobs, and a 

$1.7 billion walnut industry. The other 

supporting commenters were from the 

general public. Two of the supporting 

individuals asked for clarification on 

the following: 

• Was there a health hazard in the 

past, preventing red walnuts from being 

certified to a U.S. grade? No. When the 

USDA Walnut Color Chart was 

developed in 1967, walnuts came in 

light to dark amber colors. Since then, 

red varieties of walnuts (e.g., Livermore) 

have been bred and seen increased 

demand. The standards are being 

updated to reflect the changing market. 

• Are red walnuts a type of English 

walnut? Yes. Red walnuts, such as the 

Livermore variety, are a Juglans Regia 

cultivar with a red seed coat. 

• What would prevent the industry 

from marketing dyed walnuts as true red 

walnuts? Marketing Order 984, which 

regulates walnuts grown in California, 

prohibits walnuts from being modified 

in any form (over 99 percent of U.S. 

walnuts are grown in California). In 

addition, the U.S. grade standards have 

no provision for artificial coloring and, 

therefore, walnuts could not be certified 

to grade if color was added. 

Two commenters, representing the 

general public, opposed the changes. 

One believed red walnuts should be free 

from regulations and the other believed 

it would affect the market negatively. 

The purpose of U.S. grade standards is 

to facilitate the marketing of agriculture 

in the United States and around the 

world. These revisions come at the 

request of the U.S. walnut industry. In 

addition, AMS believes these revisions 

would increase supply of red walnuts. 

Marketing Order 984 requires walnuts 

grown in California to be certified to a 

U.S. grade. Once red walnuts can be 

grade certified, they will become more 

available to domestic and global 

consumers. 

Based on the above information 

gathered, AMS is making the following 

revisions in the U.S. Standards for 

Grades of Shelled Walnuts: 

• § 51.2276 Color chart: Removed and 

reserved. The information in this 

section regarding the U.S.D.A. Walnut 

Color Chart is obsolete. 

• § 51.2277 U.S. No. 1(a): Revised to 

include red walnuts. 

• § 51.2278 U.S. Commercial (a): 

Revised to include red walnuts. 

• § 51.2279 Unclassified: Removed 

and reserved. AMS is removing this 

section in all standards as they are 

revised, as it is no longer considered 

necessary. 

• § 51.2281 Color classifications: The 

section is reorganized into subparts (a) 

and (b) to include red walnuts. 

• § 51.2282 Table II: Revised to 

include red walnuts. 

• § 51.2283 Off color: Revised to 

include red walnuts. 

In addition, AMS is making the 

following revisions in the U.S. 

Standards for Grades of Walnuts in the 

Shell: 

• § 51.2946 Color chart: Removed and 

reserved. This section is now redundant 

and no longer needed. 

• § 51.2948 U.S. No. 1(a), § 51.2949 

U.S. No. 2(a), and § 51.2950 U.S. No 

3(a): Subpart (1) was added to subpart 

(a) in each section to accommodate red 

walnuts. 

• § 51.2951 Unclassified: Removed 

and reserved. AMS is removing this 

section in all standards as they are 

revised, as it is no longer considered 

necessary. 

• § 51.2954 Tolerances for grade 

defects: Revised to include red walnuts. 

The U.S. Standards for Grades of 

Shelled Walnuts and the U.S. Standards 

for Grades of Walnuts in the Shell will 

be effective 30 days after publication of 

this rule in the Federal Register. 

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 51 

Food grades and standards, Fruits, 

Nuts, Reporting and recordkeeping 

requirements, Vegetables. 

For reasons set forth in the preamble, 

7 CFR part 51 is amended as follows: 

PART 51—[AMENDED] 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 51 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627. 

§ 51.2276 [Removed and reserved] 

■ 2. Section 51.2276 is removed and 

reserved. 

■ 3. In § 51.2277, paragraph (a) is 

revised to read as follows: 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 22, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 39657 

§ 51.2277 U.S. No. 1. 

* * * * * 

(a) Color shall be specified in 

connection with this grade in terms of 

‘‘extra light,’’ ‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or 

‘‘amber’’ from the USDA Walnut Color 

Chart or in terms of ‘‘red’’ color. The 

color classifications in the USDA 

Walnut Color Chart shall not apply to 

‘‘red’’ color. Furthermore, ‘‘red’’ color 

shall not be mixed with ‘‘extra light,’’ 

‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or ‘‘amber’’ 

colors. (See § 51.2281 and § 51.2282.) 

* * * * * 

■ 4. In § 51.2278, paragraph (a) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 51.2278 U.S. Commercial. 

* * * * * 

(a) Color of walnuts based on the 

USDA Walnut Color Chart shall be not 

darker than the ‘‘amber’’ classification. 

There are no color requirements for 

‘‘red’’ color. Color may be specified in 

connection with the grade in terms of 

one of the color classifications in the 

USDA Walnut Color Chart or ‘‘red’’ 

color. ‘‘Red’’ color shall not be mixed 

with ‘‘extra light,’’ ‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light 

amber,’’ or ‘‘amber’’ colors. (See 

§ 51.2281 and § 51.2282.) 

* * * * * 

§ 51.2279 [Removed and reserved] 

■ 5. Section 51.2279 is removed and 

reserved. 

■ 6. Revise § 51.2281 to read as follows: 

§ 51.2281 Color classifications. 

The following classifications are 

provided to describe the color of any lot: 

(a) ‘‘Extra light,’’ ‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light 

amber,’’ and ‘‘amber:’’ The portions of 

kernels in the lot shall be not darker 

than the darkest color permitted in the 

specified classification as shown on the 

USDA Walnut Color Chart. 

(b) ‘‘Red:’’ There are no color 

requirements. 

■ 7. In § 51.2282, Table II is amended by 

adding an entry for ‘‘Red’’ to the end of 

the table and by revising footnote 1 to 

read as follows: 

§ 51.2282 Tolerances for color. 

* * * * * 

TABLE II 

Color classification 

Tolerances for color 

Darker than 

extra light 1

Darker than 

light 1

Darker than 

light amber 1

Darker than 

amber 1

*******

Red ................................................................................................................... ........................ ........................ ........................ ........................

1See illustration of this term on USDA Walnut Color Chart. 

■ 8. Revise § 51.2283 to read as follows: 

§ 51.2283 Off color. 

The term ‘‘off color’’ is not a color 

classification, but shall be applied to 

any lot which fails to meet the 

requirements of the ‘‘amber’’ 

classification when applying the color 

classifications in the USDA Walnut 

Color Chart. Off color shall not be used 

for ‘‘red’’ color. 

§ 51.2946 [Removed and reserved] 

■ 9. Section 51.2946 is removed and 

reserved. 

■ 10. In § 51.2948, paragraph (a) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 51.2948 U.S. No. 1. 

* * * * * 

(a) Kernel color shall be specified in 

connection with this grade in terms of 

‘‘extra light,’’ ‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or 

‘‘amber’’ from the USDA Walnut Color 

Chart or in terms of ‘‘red’’ color. The 

color classifications in the USDA 

Walnut Color Chart shall not apply to 

‘‘red’’ color. Furthermore, ‘‘red’’ color 

shall not be mixed with ‘‘extra light,’’ 

‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or ‘‘amber’’ 

colors. When kernel color is based on 

the color classifications from the USDA 

Walnut Color Chart, at least 70 percent, 

by count, of the walnuts have kernels 

which are not darker than ‘‘light 

amber,’’ and which are free from grade 

defects: Provided, That at least foursevenths of the above amount, or 40 

percent of the walnuts have kernels 

which are not darker than ‘‘light.’’ 

Higher percentages of nuts with kernels 

not darker than ‘‘light amber’’ which are 

free from grade defects and/or higher 

percentages with kernels not darker 

than ‘‘light’’ which are free from grade 

defects, may be specified in accordance 

with the facts. (See § 51.2954.) 

* * * * * 

■ 11. In § 51.2949, paragraph (a) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 51.2949 U.S. No. 2. 

* * * * * 

(a) Kernel color shall be specified in 

connection with this grade in terms of 

‘‘extra light,’’ ‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or 

‘‘amber’’ from the USDA Walnut Color 

Chart or in terms of ‘‘red’’ color. The 

color classifications in the USDA 

Walnut Color Chart shall not apply to 

‘‘red’’ color. Furthermore, ‘‘red’’ color 

shall not be mixed with ‘‘extra light,’’ 

‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or ‘‘amber’’ 

colors. When kernel color is based on 

the color classifications from the USDA 

Walnut Color Chart, at least 60 percent, 

by count, of the walnuts have kernels 

which are not darker than ‘‘light 

amber,’’ and which are free from grade 

defects. Higher percentages of nuts with 

kernels not darker than ‘‘light amber’’ 

which are free from grade defects, and/ 

or percentages with kernels not darker 

than ‘‘light’’ which are free from grade 

defects, may be specified in accordance 

with the facts. (See § 51.2954.) 

* * * * * 

■ 12. In § 51.2950, paragraph (a) is 

revised to read as follows: 

§ 51.2950 U.S. No. 3. 

* * * * * 

(a) Kernel color may be specified in 

connection with this grade in terms of 

‘‘light amber’’ or ‘‘light’’ from the USDA 

Walnut Color Chart or in terms of ‘‘red’’ 

color. The color classifications in the 

USDA Walnut Color Chart shall not 

apply to ‘‘red’’ color. Furthermore, 

‘‘red’’ color shall not be mixed with 

‘‘extra light,’’ ‘‘light,’’ ‘‘light amber,’’ or 

‘‘amber’’ colors. When kernel color is 

based on the color classifications from 

the USDA Walnut Color Chart, there is 

no requirement in this grade for the 

percentage of walnuts having kernels 

which are ‘‘light amber’’ or ‘‘light.’’ 

However, the percentage, by count, of 

nuts with kernels not darker than ‘‘light 

amber’’ which are free from grade 

defects and/or the percentage with 

kernels not darker than ‘‘light’’ which 

are free from grade defects, may be 

specified in accordance with the facts. 

(See § 51.2954.) 

* * * * * 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
39658 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 161 / Tuesday, August 22, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

§ 51.2951 [Removed and reserved] 

■ 13. Section 51.2951 is removed and 

reserved. 

■ 14. In § 51.2954, the table is revised to 

read as follows: 

§ 51.2954 Tolerances for grade defects. 

* * * * * 

TOLERANCES FOR GRADE DEFECTS

Grade External (shell) defects Internal (kernel) defects Kernel color based on USDA 

Walnut Color Chart 

Kernel color 

based on red 

U.S. No. 1 ...... 10%, by count, for splits. 5%, 

by count, for other shell 

defects, including not more 

than 3% seriously damaged.

10% total, by count, including not more than 

6% which are damaged by mold or insects or seriously damaged by other 

means, of which not more than 5⁄6 or 5% 

may be damaged by insects, but no part 

of any tolerance shall be allowed for walnuts containing live insects.

No tolerance to reduce the 

required 70% of ‘‘light 

amber’’ kernels or the required 40% of ‘‘light’’ kernels or any larger percentage of ‘‘light amber’’ or 

‘‘light’’ kernels specified.

U.S. No. 2 ...... 10%, by count, for splits. 

10%, by count, for other 

shell defects, including not 

more than 5% serious 

damage by adhering hulls.

15% total, by count, including not more than 

8% which are damaged by mold or insects or seriously damaged by other 

means, of which not more than 5/8 or 5% 

may be damaged by insects, but no part 

of any tolerance shall be allowed for walnuts containing live insects.

No tolerance to reduce the 

required 60% or any specified larger percentage of 

‘‘light amber’’ kernels, or 

any specified percentage 

of ‘‘light’’ kernels.

U.S. No. 3 ...... Same as above tolerance for 

U.S. No. 2.

Same as above tolerance for U.S. No. 2 ..... No tolerance to reduce any 

percentage of ‘‘light 

amber’’ or ‘‘light’’ kernel 

specified.

Dated: August 16, 2017. 

Bruce Summers, 

Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–17641 Filed 8–21–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

7 CFR Part 52 

[Document Number AMS–FV–08–0076; SC– 

17–330] 

United States Standards for Grades of 

Frozen Onions 

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, 

USDA. 

ACTION: Final notification. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing 

Service (AMS) of the Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) is establishing 

voluntary United States Standards for 

Grades of Frozen Onions. The grade 

standards provide a common language 

for trade, a means of measuring value in 

the marketing of frozen onions, and 

guidance on the effective use of frozen 

onions. 

DATES: Effective Date: September 21, 

2017. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Contact Brian E. Griffin, Agricultural 

Marketing Specialist, Specialty Crops 

Inspection Division, Specialty Crops 

Program, Agricultural Marketing 

Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 

1536, South Building; STOP 0240, 

Washington, DC 20250; telephone (202) 

720–5021; fax (202) 690–1527; or, email 

brian.griffin@ams.usda.gov. Copies of 

the new U.S. Standards for Grades of 

Frozen Onions are available at http://

www.regulations.gov or http://

www.ams.usda.gov/. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act 

of 1946 (Act) (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 grade 

standards available upon request. The 

United States Standards for Grades of 

Fruits and Vegetables unrelated to 

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 at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/gradesstandards. 

AMS is establishing the U.S. 

Standards for Grades of Frozen Onions 

using the procedures in part 36, Title 7 

of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 

CFR part 36). 

Background: The American Frozen 

Food Institute (AFFI) petitioned AMS to 

develop new grade standards for frozen 

onions. AFFI is a national trade 

association representing the interests of 

U.S. frozen food processors and their 

suppliers in all frozen food sectors, 

including processors and packers of 

frozen onions. AFFI’s more than 500 

member companies represent 

approximately 90 percent of all frozen 

food processed annually in the United 

States. The AFFI petition provided 

information on product styles, sample 

sizes, and a product description for use 

in the grade standards. 

AMS asked the petitioner for various 

styles of samples in order to determine 

grades of frozen onions. AMS 

distributed several discussion drafts of 

proposed standards to AFFI, instituted 

changes to the drafts once agreement 

was reached, then published several 

Federal Register documents in order to 

receive comments from all interested 

parties (see 66 FR 21116, 68 FR 11801, 

68 FR 27010, 76 FR 31575, 81 FR 84506, 

and 82 FR 12424). 

Comments 

In the most recent comments 

published November 23, 2016, in 81 FR 

84506, and extended comment period 

published March 3, 2017, in 82 FR 

12424, AMS received 19 comments. All 

comments received were from the 

general public. Three commenters stated 

they did not feel there was a need for 

Government grades of frozen onions. 

AMS developed the proposed U.S. 

Standards for Grades of Frozen Onions 

at the request of, and in cooperation 

with, the frozen food industry. The U.S. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES