United States Standards for Grades of Canned Apples

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[FV-96-327]

United States Standards for Grades of Canned Apples

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is soliciting

comments on its proposal to change the United States Standard for

Grades of Canned Applies. Specifically, AMS is proposing to lower the

recommended drained weight for canned apples packed in No. 10 cans.

This change would allow more equitable utilization of processed apples

across domestic growing regions and will help the apple industry to

meet it market needs.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before February 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to Randle A. Macon,

Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural

Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agricultural, Room 0709, South

Building; STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456; Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; faxed

to (202) 690-1087; or e-mailed to Randle__A__M[email protected].

Comments should reference the date and page number 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.

The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned Apples,

along with the proposed changes, are available either through the

afore-mentioned address or by accessing AMS's Home Page on the Internet

at the following address: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/frutcan.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Randle A. Macon at (202) 720-

4693.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing

Act of 1946, as amended, (7 U.S.C. 1622 (c)) 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 make copies of official standards available upon

request. The United States Standards for Grades of Canned Apples no

longer appear in the Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by

the Department of Agriculture (USDA).

AMS is proposing to change the United States Standards for Grades

of Canned Apples using the procedures it published in the August 13,

1997, Federal Register and that appear in Part 36 of Title 7 of the

Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).

AMS received petitions from Independent Food Processors Company of

Sunnyside, Washington; and Snokist Growers of Yakima, Washington,

requesting the revision of the United States Standards for Grades of

Canned Apples. The two petitioners represent a significant part of the

Pacific Northwest apple industry. The Pacific Northwest apple industry

provides almost half of the apples produced domestically.\1\

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ Source--USDA, NASS, ASB.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The petitions request that the recommend drained weight of 96

ounces for apples packed in No. 10 size cans, in the U.S. Standards for

Grades of Canned Apples, is difficult to obtain and puts Pacific

Northwest processors at an economic disadvantage in bidding for

government and non-government contracts. The reasons given for this

disparity are that the varietal types of apples and the growing

conditions in the Northwest region are different from other apple

producing regions around the country. The petitioners state that to

meet the standard when packing certain varieties of apples, the cans

are over-filled.

This condition may cause damage to the sliced apples which may

cause the slices to be graded as less than ``Grade A.'' To meet USDA

requirements for drained weight, some processors may be required to put

more product into the can, causing economic hardship, damage to the

product, and sometimes loss of the integrity of the can seal. If the

seal's integrity is lost during processing, the product's wholesomeness

is jeopardized.

The remedies recommended by the petitioners, though similar in

purpose, are different. Snokist Growers of Yakima, Washington,

recommends a reduction in the recommended drained weight for apples

packed in No. 10 size cans, from 96 ounces to 92 ounces. Independent

Food Processors Company of Sunnyside, Washington, recommends the

elimination of the recommended drained weight for apples packed in No.

10 size cans, from the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned Apples. If

that is not possible the petitioner recommends the incorporation of a

``fill weight program'' in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Canned

Apples to ensure that the ``recommended fill of container'' requirement

is met with a reduction in the recommended drained weight for apples

packed in No. 10 size cans, from 96 ounces to 85 ounces.

USDA has reviewed the petitions and data submitted, and has

gathered additional information from relevant government agencies and

industry sources including growers, processors, and buyers. Based on

this information, USDA has found that there may be a disparity between

the drained weights for canned apples from Pacific Northwest processors

and those from other sections of the country. Though a variation in

drained weights may exist, our review has shown that the difference is

not great enough to warrant the changes to the Standards recommended by

Independent Food Processors Company of Sunnyside, Washington.

Based on these findings, the USDA has agreed with the

recommendation from Snokist Growers of Yakima, Washington, and is

proposing to lower the recommended drained weight for apples packed No.

10 size cans, from 96 ounces to 92 ounces in the U.S. Standards for

Grades of Canned Apples. This change would allow a more equitable

marketing environment for the domestic canned apple industry.

[[Page 67327]]

A 60-day comment period is provided for interested persons to

comment on this change to the Standards.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.

Dated: December 18, 1997.

Robert C. Keeney,

Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.

[FR Doc. 97-33590 Filed 12-23-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-M