98-20322. United States Standards for Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 40695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20322]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 146 / Thursday, July 30, 1998 / 
Notices

[[Page 40695]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service
[FV-97-328N]


United States Standards for Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of 
Agriculture (USDA)is revising the United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Sweetpotatoes. Specifically, AMS is lowering the recommended 
minimum drained weight averages of canned sweetpotatoes packed in 
retail size cans by two percent.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 31, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen L. Kaufman, Processed Products 
Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, 
D.C. 20090-6456; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; or e-
mail [e-mail].
    The current United States Standards for Grades of Canned 
Sweetpotatoes, along with the changes, are available through the above 
addresses or by accessing the Internet at the following site: 
www.ams.usda.gov/standards/vegcan.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946, as amended, directs and authorizes the Secretary of 
Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of quality, condition, 
grade, and packaging and recommend and demonstrate such standards in 
order to encourage uniformity and consistency in commercial practices . 
. .'' The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is committed to carrying 
out this authority in a manner that facilitates the marketing of 
agricultural commodities. The United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Sweetpotatoes do not appear in the Code of Federal Regulations 
but are maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Copies of 
official standards are available upon request.
    AMS proposed to change the United States Standards for Grades of 
Canned Sweetpotatoes 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). Specifically, AMS proposed 
to lower the recommended drained weight for sweetpotatoes packed in 
retail size cans, including No. 10 size cans, by two percent. The 
drained weight criteria for the No. 300 can, a size pack which has been 
increasingly utilized in the industry, will also be added. These 
changes would allow a more equitable marketing environment for domestic 
sweetpotato processors.
    AMS received petitions from the Sweet Potato Council of the United 
States, and the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission and three 
processors requesting the revision of the United States Standards for 
Grades of Canned Sweetpotatoes.
    Changes in the varietal types of sweetpotatoes and the growing 
conditions in the growing regions have changed significantly since the 
current Recommended Minimum Drained Weight Averages (RMDWA's) were 
first proposed 21 years ago. The petitioners contended that a 
unilateral reduction in drained weight requirements in the grade 
standard was indicated due to the varietal characteristics of 
sweetpotatoes currently available for processing. Data supporting their 
petition was reviewed by AMS.
    AMS published a Notice in the January 15, 1998, Federal Register 
(63 FR 2357). AMS received nine comments, all in favor of the proposed 
changes to the standard. Three of these comments requested additional 
changes to be made to the standard that are unrelated to the proposed 
change. These will be addressed at a later date after receiving more 
information from the requestors.
    Accordingly, based on all the information we have reviewed, AMS is 
lowering the recommended minimum drained weight for sweetpotatoes 
packed in retail size cans, including No. 10 size cans, by two percent, 
and has added the recommended drained weight criteria for the No. 300 
can in the grade standards. The No. 300 size can is being added because 
of the increased usage of this can size. As the canning industry has 
been replacing production of the No. 303 container size with the No. 
300 can, it is appropriate to include the RMDWA for No. 300 cans along 
with the other drained weight changes in the standard.
    This change will become effective 30 days after date of publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register.

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

    Dated: July 23, 1998.
Robert C. Keeney,
Deputy Administrator, Fruit and Vegetable Programs.
[FR Doc. 98-20322 Filed 7-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P