[Federal Register: June 10, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 111)]
[Notices]
[Page 39671]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10jn02-28]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
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[[Page 39671]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket Number: FV-02-336]
United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit Juice
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), prior to undertaking
research and other work associated with revising an official grade
standard, is soliciting comments on the petition to change the United
States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit Juice. AMS received a
petition from the Indian River Citrus League asking USDA to consider
replacing the current Grade ``A'' minimum standard with content of
proposed the Florida Department of Citrus ``Gold Standard''.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 9, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning this notice. Comments must be sent to Karen L. Kaufman,
Standardization Section, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable
Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Room 0709, South Building;
STOP 0247, Washington, DC 20250; Fax (202) 690-1527, e-mail
Karen.Kaufman@usda.gov. The United States Standards for Grades of
Grapefruit Juice is available either through the address cited above or
by accessing the AMS Home Page on the Internet at http://
www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppb.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
AMS received a petition from Indian River Citrus League requesting
the revision of the United States Standards for Grades of Grapefruit
Juice. The standards are established under the authority of the
Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627). The petitioner
represents growers on Florida's East Coast, along the Indian River
called the Indian River District. Only grapefruit grown in this area
can be labeled `Indian River Grapefruit'.
The petitioner is requesting that USDA replace the current Grade
``A'' minimum standards with the content of the ``Gold Standard'' as
proposed by the Florida Department of Citrus. The ``Gold Standard''
proposes that grapefruit juice have the following analytical
requirements: Brix: minimum 9.5 deg., and a maximum 10.7 deg.; Acid:
minimum 0.85, maximum 1.20; Brix/Acid Ratio: minimum 9.0:1, maximum
11.0:1; and Limonin (ppm): minimum 3.5, maximum 5.5; Naringin (ppm)
minimum 300, maximum 650.
The standard for grapefruit (unsweetened) juice is based on score
points for Grade ``A'' and ``B''. The quality factors scored are for
color, defects and flavor. Analytical factors for Grade ``A'' Brix:
minimum 9.0 deg.; Brix/Acid ratio: minimum 8.0:1, maximum 14.0:1; free
and suspended pulp (percent by volume): maximum 10 and recoverable oil
(percent by volume): .020.
The petitioner believes changing the standard will improve the
quality of grapefruit juice produced, therefore increasing overall
consumption.
Agricultural Marketing Service
Prior to undertaking detailed work to develop a proposed revised
standard AMS is soliciting for comment on the petition submitted by the
Indian River Citrus League to change the standard for Grades of
Grapefruit Juice. In particular, AMS would welcome comments and
information regarding the likely utility of a new grade standard for
grapefruit juice and the probable impact on consumers, processors, and
growers.
This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested
parties to comment on changes to the standard. Should AMS conclude that
there is a substantial interest in the proposal, the Agency will
develop a proposed new standard that will be published in the Federal
Register with a request for comments in accordance with 7 CFR Part 36.
Dated: June 4, 2002.
A.J. Yates,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 02-14454 Filed 6-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P