Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/03/28/2013-07180/oranges-grapefruit-tangerines-and-tangelos-grown-in-florida-hearing-on-proposed-amendment-of
Timestamp: 2017-10-20 12:32:48
Document Index: 261817861

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Federal Register :: Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida; Hearing on Proposed Amendment of Marketing Order No. 905
78 FR 18899
18899-18902 (4 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-07180 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-07180
Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to receive evidence on proposed amendments to Marketing Order No. 905 (order), that regulates the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos (citrus) grown in Florida. Nine amendments are proposed by the Citrus Administrative Committee (committee), which is responsible for local administration of the order. These proposed amendments would: authorize regulation of new varieties and hybrids of citrus fruit, authorize the regulation of intrastate shipments of fruit, revise the process for redistricting the production area, change the term of office and tenure requirements for committee members, authorize mail balloting procedures for committee membership nominations, increase the capacity of financial reserve funds, authorize pack and container requirements for domestic shipments and authorize different regulations for different markets, eliminate the use of separate acceptance statements in the nomination process, and require handlers to register with the committee.
In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposes to make any such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform to any amendment that may result from the hearing. These proposed amendments are intended to update the order to reflect past changes in the industry and potential future changes, and to improve the operation and administration of the order.
The hearing dates are April 24, 2013, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and continuing on April 25, 2013, at 9:00 Start Printed Page 18900a.m., if necessary, in Winter Haven, Florida.
The hearing will be held at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 500 3rd Street NW., Winter Haven, Florida 33881.
The proposed amendments were recommended by the committee on July 17, 2012, and submitted to USDA on October 25, 2012. After reviewing the proposals and other information submitted by the committee, USDA made a determination to schedule this matter for hearing.
1. Amend the definitions of “fruit” and “variety” in § 905.4 and § 905.5 to update terminology and authorize regulation of additional varieties and hybrids of citrus.
2. Amend the definition of “handle or ship” in § 905.9 to authorize regulation of intrastate shipments.
3. Amend § 905.14 to revise the process for redistricting the production area.
4. Amend § 905.20 to change the term of office of committee members from one to two years, and change the tenure requirements for committee members from three to four years.
5. Amend § 905.22 to authorize mail balloting procedures for committee membership nominations.
6. Amend § 905.42 to authorize the committee to increase the capacity of its financial reserve funds from approximately six months of a fiscal period's expenses to approximately two years' fiscal period's expenses.
7. Amend § 905.52 to authorize pack and container requirements for domestic shipments and authorize different regulations for different markets.
8. Amend § 905.28 to eliminate the use of separate acceptance statements in the nomination process.
9. Amend § 905.7 to require handlers to register with the committee.
From the time the notice of hearing is issued and until the issuance of a final decision in this proceeding, USDA employees involved in the decisional process are prohibited from discussing the merits of the hearing issues on an ex parte basis with any person having an interest in the proceeding. The prohibition applies to employees in the following organizational units: Office of the Secretary of Agriculture; Office of the Administrator, AMS; Office of the General Counsel; and the Fruit and Vegetable Program, AMS. Procedural matters are not subject to the above prohibition and may be discussed at any time.
End List of Subjects Start Part Start Printed Page 18901
(d) C.grandis (L.); Osbeck, commonly called “pummelo”; and,
(e) “Citrus hybrids” that are hybrids between or among one or more of the four fruits (a) through (d) of this section and the following: trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliate), sour orange (C. aurantium), lemon (C. limon), lime (C. aurantifolia), citron (C. medica), kumquat (Fortunella, species), tangelo (C. reticulata x C. paradisi or C. grandis), tangor (C. reticulata x C. sinensis), and varieties of these species. In addition, citrus hybrids include: tangelo (C. reticulata x C. paradisi or C. grandis), tangor (C. reticulata x C. sinensis), and temple oranges, and varieties thereof.
(4) Fallglo tangerines
(f) Other varieties of citrus fruits specified in 905.4, including hybrids, as recommended and approved by the Secretary: Provided, That in order to add any hybrid variety of citrus fruit to be regulated under this provision, such variety must exhibit similar characteristics and be subject to cultural practices common to existing regulated varieties.
5. Revise § 905.9 to read as follows:
6. Revise § 905.14 to read as follows:
The committee may, with the approval of the Secretary, redefine the districts into which the production area is divided or reapportion or otherwise change the grower membership of districts, or both: Provided, That the membership shall consist of at least eight but not more than nine grower members, and any such change shall be based, insofar as practicable, upon the respective averages for the immediately preceding three fiscal periods of: (1) The number of bearing trees in each district; (2) the volume of fresh fruit produced in each district; (3) the total number of acres of citrus in each district; and (4) other relevant factors. Each redistricting or reapportionment shall be announced on or prior to March 1 preceding the effective fiscal period.
7. Revise § 905.20 to read as follows:
The term of office of members and alternate members shall begin on the first day of August of even-numbered years and continue for two years and until their successors are selected and have qualified. The consecutive terms of office of a member shall be limited to two terms. The terms of office of alternate members shall not be so limited. Members, their alternates, and their respective successors shall be nominated and selected by the Secretary as provided in § 905.22 and § 905.23.
8. In § 905.22 revise paragraphs (a)(1) and (b)(1) and add a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, nomination and election of members and alternate members to the committee may be conducted by mail, electronic Start Printed Page 18902mail, or other means according to rules and regulations recommended by the committee and approved by the Secretary.
9. In § 905.42 revise the first sentence of paragraph (a) to read as follows:
(a) If, at the end of a fiscal period, the assessments collected are in excess of expenses incurred, the committee, with the approval of the Secretary, may carry over such excess into subsequent fiscal periods as a reserve: Provided, That funds already in the reserve do not exceed approximately two fiscal period's expenses. * * *
10. In § 905.52 revise paragraphs (a)(4) and (a)(5) to read as follows:
(4) Establish, prescribe, and fix the size, capacity, weight, dimensions, marking (including labels and stamps), or pack of the container or containers which may be used in the packaging, transportation, sale, shipment, or other handling of fruit: Provided, That such regulation shall not authorize the use of any container or markings which are prohibited under Florida statutes and regulations effective thereunder.
(5) Provide that any or all requirements effective pursuant to paragraphs (a) (1), (2), (3), and (4) of this section applicable to the handling of fruit may be different for the handling of fruit within the production area, the handling of fruit for export, or for the handling of fruit between the production area and any point outside thereof within the United States: Provided, That such requirements shall not authorize the handling of fruit in any way that is prohibited under Florida statutes and regulations effective thereunder.
11. Revise § 905.28 to read as follows:
12. Revise § 905.7 to read as follows:
[FR Doc. 2013-07180 Filed 3-27-13; 8:45 am]