Extend Coverage To Include Fresh and Frozen Fruits and Vegetables That Are Oil-Blanched, Including Frozen French Fried Potato Products; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Rule Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)

SUMMARY: This document reopens the period for filing written comments

on a proposed rule published on July 12, 1994, that would extend PACA

coverage to include fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables that are

oil-blanched, including frozen french fried potato products.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 12, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments

concerning this reopened action. Comments should be addressed to USDA,

AMS, F&V Division, PACA Branch, Room 2095-S. Building, P.O. Box 96456,

14th & Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20090-6456.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J.R. Frazier, Assistant Chief, PACA

Branch, Room 2095-So., Fruit and Vegetable Division, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

20250, Phone (202) 720-4180, FAX (202) 690-4413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rule was published in the July

12, 1994 issue of the Federal Register (59 FR 35487). The proposed rule

would amend the definition of fresh fruit and vegetables set forth in 7

CFR 46.2(u) of the Regulations issued pursuant to the Perishable

Agricultural Commodities Act (7 U.S.C. 499o). This document extends

PACA coverage to include frozen fruits and vegetables that are oil-

blanched, especially frozen french fried potato products. Under

previous regulations, suppliers of these commodities suffered

considerable financial losses because oil-blanched products were

excluded from the PACA. Reopening the comment period grants dealers in

frozen oil-blanched products the same rights afforded dealers whose

frozen product is water blanched.

On August 10, 1994, the Agency received a request from the Food

Marketing Institute, International Foodservice Distributors

Association, National-American Wholesale Grocers Association, National

Council of Chain Restaurants, National Grocers Association, and the

National Restaurant Association requesting a 90-day extension of the

comment period. The request stated they needed additional time to

develop their comments.

The Department has determined that a 30-day extension of the

comment period will provide adequate time for interested persons to

respond to this proposed rule. Accordingly, the comment period is

reopened to October 12, 1994.

Dated: September 6, 1994.

Robert C. Keeney,

Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.

[FR Doc. 94-22405 Filed 9-9-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-P