94-21634. Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; Proposed Higher Quality and Reduced Size Requirements for Texas Grapefruit  

  • [Federal Register Volume 59, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 1994)]
    [Unknown Section]
    [Page 0]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 94-21634]
    
    
    [[Page Unknown]]
    
    [Federal Register: September 1, 1994]
    
    
                                                       VOL. 59, NO. 169
    
                                            Thursday, September 1, 1994
    
    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Agricultural Marketing Service
    
    7 CFR Part 906
    
    [Docket No. FV94-906-3-PR]
    
     
    
    Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in 
    Texas; Proposed Higher Quality and Reduced Size Requirements for Texas 
    Grapefruit
    
    AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Proposed rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: This proposed rule would increase the minimum quality 
    requirements for Texas grapefruit to Texas Choice, from the current 
    minimum grade requirement of U.S. No. 2. This proposed rule would also 
    temporarily relax the minimum size requirements for certain Texas 
    grapefruit for the entire 1994-95 season. This proposed rule is 
    designed to help the Texas citrus industry successfully market the 
    1994-95 season grapefruit crop.
    
    DATES: Comments must be received by September 16, 1994.
    
    ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
    concerning this proposed rule to: Docket Clerk, Fruit and Vegetable 
    Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. Box 96456, Room 2523-S, Washington, DC 20090-
    6456; FAX: 202-720-5698. Three copies of all written material shall be 
    submitted, and they will be made available for public inspection at the 
    office of the Docket Clerk during regular business hours. All comments 
    should reference the docket number, date, and page number of this issue 
    of the Federal Register.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles L. Rush, Marketing Order 
    Administration Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Division, AMS, USDA, P.O. 
    Box 96456, Room 2523-S, Washington, DC 20090-6456; telephone: 202-720-
    5127; or Belinda G. Garza, McAllen Marketing Field Office, USDA/AMS, 
    1313 East Hackberry, McAllen, Texas 78501; telephone: 210-682-2833.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule is issued under Marketing 
    Agreement and Marketing Order No. 906 (7 CFR Part 906) regulating the 
    handling of oranges and grapefruit grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley 
    in Texas, hereinafter referred to as the order. This order is effective 
    under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 
    U.S.C 601-674), hereinafter referred to as the Act.
        The Department of Agriculture (Department) is issuing this rule in 
    conformance with Executive Order 12866.
        This proposed rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
    Civil Justice Reform. This proposed rule is not intended to have 
    retroactive effect. This proposed rule would not preempt any State or 
    local laws, regulations, or policies, unless they present an 
    irreconcilable conflict with this rule.
        The Act provides that administrative proceedings must be exhausted 
    before parties may file suit in court. Under section 8c(15)(A) of the 
    Act, any handler subject to an order may file with the Secretary a 
    petition stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any 
    obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance 
    with law and requesting a modification of the order or to be exempted 
    therefrom. A handler is afforded the opportunity for a hearing on the 
    petition. After the hearing, the Secretary would rule on the petition. 
    The Act provides that the district court of the United States in any 
    district in which the handler is an inhabitant, or has his or her 
    principal place of business, has jurisdiction in equity to review the 
    Secretary's ruling on the petition, provided a bill in equity is filed 
    not later than 20 days after the date of the entry of the ruling.
        Pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act (RFA), the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing 
    Service (AMS) has considered the economic impact of this action on 
    small entities.
        The purpose of the RFA is to fit regulatory actions to the scale of 
    business subject to such actions in order that small businesses will 
    not be unduly or disproportionately burdened. Marketing orders issued 
    pursuant to the Act, and rules issued thereunder, are unique in that 
    they are brought about through group action of essentially small 
    entities acting on their own behalf. Thus, both statutes have small 
    entity orientation and compatibility.
        There are about 15 citrus handlers subject to regulation under the 
    order covering oranges and grapefruit grown in Texas, and about 750 
    producers of these citrus fruits in Texas. Small agricultural service 
    firms, which includes grapefruit handlers, have been defined by the 
    Small Business Administration (13 CFR 121.601) as those having annual 
    receipts are less than $5,000,000, and small agricultural producers are 
    defined as those whose annual receipts are less than $500,000. A 
    majority of these handlers and producers may be classified as small 
    entities.
        The Texas Valley Citrus Committee (committee) met on June 30, 1994, 
    and recommended the regulatory changes for Texas grapefruit. The 
    committee meets prior to and during each season to review the handling 
    regulations effective on a continuous basis for each citrus fruit 
    regulated under the order. Committee meetings are open to the public, 
    and interested persons may express their views at these meetings. The 
    Department reviews committee recommendations and information, as well 
    as information from other sources, and determines whether modification, 
    suspension, or termination of the handling regulations would tend to 
    effectuate the declared policy of the Act.
        Minimum grade and size requirements for fresh grapefruit grown in 
    Texas are in effect under Sec. 906.365 (7 CFR 906.365). This rule would 
    amend Sec. 906.365 by revising paragraph (a)(3) to delete authority for 
    shipping U.S. No. 2 grade grapefruit and by revising paragraph (a)(4) 
    to permit shipment of grapefruit measuring at least 3\5/16\ inches in 
    diameter (pack size 112) for the entire 1994-95 season ending July 31, 
    1995, provided such grapefruit grade at least U.S. No. 1.
    
    Revision of Minimum Quality Requirements
    
        Section 906.365 of the order's rules and regulations currently 
    provide that fresh shipments of grapefruit must grade, in descending 
    order of quality, U.S. Fancy, U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 1 Bright, U.S. No. 1 
    Bronze, or U.S. No. 2. The requirements for these grades are set forth 
    in the U.S. Standards for Grades of Grapefruit (Texas and States other 
    than Florida, California and Arizona) (7 CFR 51.620 through 51.653). In 
    addition, there are other qualities of grapefruit packed by the Texas 
    citrus industry defined in section 906.137, pertaining to handlers' use 
    of identifying marks utilized by the committee in promotional and 
    advertising projects. Section 906.137 provides that handlers may use 
    the identifying mark ``Texas Fancy'' only with respect to grapefruit 
    grading at least U.S. No. 1, but with no more than 40 percent of the 
    surface of the fruit, in aggregate, affected by discoloration. This 
    quality of fruit is slightly better than that grading U.S. No. 1, but 
    slightly less than that grading U.S. Fancy. Section 906.137 further 
    provides that handlers may use the identifying mark ``Texas Choice'' 
    only with respect to fruit grading at least U.S. No. 2, except that no 
    more than 60 percent of the surface of the fruit, in aggregate, may be 
    affected by discoloration. ``Texas Choice'' fruit is of a quality 
    slightly better than that of a U.S. No. 2 grade, which provides that up 
    to two-thirds of the fruit surface may be affected by discoloration.
        This proposed rule would amend section 906.365 to provide that the 
    minimum quality of grapefruit shipped to fresh market outlets would be 
    ``Texas Choice'', thereby eliminating the authority to ship U.S. No. 2 
    grade fruit beginning with 1994-95 season shipments.
        The committee recommended that the minimum quality requirements for 
    fresh market shipments of Texas-grown grapefruit be increased, as 
    specified. The committee reports that it expects that the proposed 
    higher minimum quality requirements will result in better grapefruit 
    being shipped to the fresh market, and that such fruit should receive 
    greater consumer support, increase consumer demand, and improve grower 
    returns. The consumer demand for such grapefruit should be 
    strengthened, because consumers prefer the higher quality grapefruit 
    which this proposed rule would require be shipped.
        Minimum grade requirements under the order are designed to provide 
    fresh markets with fruit of acceptable grade and maturity, thereby 
    maintaining consumer confidence in fresh Texas-grown grapefruit. This 
    helps create buyer confidence and contributes to stable marketing 
    conditions.
        The committee believes elimination of the U.S. No. 2 grade would 
    have other benefits as well. First, it would reduce the number of 
    different packs of grapefruit currently being offered by the Texas 
    citrus industry from seven to six. This reduction would enhance 
    standardization and reduce buyer confusion, which should benefit Texas 
    growers and shippers. Second, this action would make the Texas 
    grapefruit industry more competitive with other growing areas. The 
    Citrus Administrative Committee which administers Federal Marketing 
    Order No. 905, covering citrus grown in Florida, recently made a 
    similar recommendation to eliminate the shipment of U.S. No. 2 grade 
    grapefruit. The Texas industry believes it should do the same to remain 
    viable in this highly competitive business. Finally, the committee 
    believes that increasing the quality of grapefruit offerings from Texas 
    would complement its promotion and advertising activities undertaken 
    under authority of the order. These activities are designed to create 
    buyer preference for Texas-grown grapefruit, and increasing the quality 
    offered for shipment would enhance these efforts.
        This proposed increase in quality requirements should not have a 
    significant impact on available supplies of fresh Texas grapefruit. The 
    committee reports that in recent seasons, grapefruit grading U.S. No. 2 
    have comprised less than 1 percent of total fresh shipments. The 
    benefits of this proposed rule should therefore outweigh any costs 
    related to increasing the minimum quality requirements. Grapefruit not 
    meeting ``Texas Choice'' quality requirements could be utilized in 
    exempt outlets, such as processing, relief, charity, or home use.
    
    Temporary Relaxation of Minimum Size Requirements
    
        Section 906.365 also establishes minimum size requirements for 
    Texas grapefruit. During the period November 16 through January 31 each 
    season, grapefruit must be at least pack size 96, except that the 
    minimum diameter for the grapefruit in any lot is 3\9/16\ inches. At 
    other times, grapefruit that is pack size 112, except that the minimum 
    diameter for grapefruit in any lot is 3\5/16\ inches, may be shipped if 
    it grades at least U.S. No. 1. This proposed rule would provide that 
    pack size 112 grapefruit may be shipped throughout the entire 1994-95 
    season if such grapefruit grade at least U.S. No. 1. This relaxation is 
    the same as the relaxation which previously was issued for the period 
    beginning October 25, 1993, and ending July 31, 1994.
        This relaxation is expected to help the Texas citrus industry 
    successfully market its 1994-95 season grapefruit crop and have a 
    positive effect on producer returns. Permitting shipments of pack size 
    112 grapefruit grading at least U.S. No. 1 for the entire 1994-95 
    season will enable Texas grapefruit handlers to meet market needs and 
    compete with similar sized grapefruit expected to be shipped from 
    Florida. This proposal is based on the current and prospective crop and 
    market conditions for Texas grapefruit. Fresh Texas grapefruit 
    shipments are expected to begin in October of this season.
        This proposed rule reflects the committee's and the Department's 
    appraisal of the need to increase minimum quality and temporarily relax 
    minimum size requirements for fresh Texas-grown grapefruit, as 
    specified. The Department's view is that this proposed rule would have 
    a beneficial impact on Texas producers and handlers of fresh 
    grapefruit, since it would enable such producers and handlers to make 
    available the quality and sizes of grapefruit needed to meet consumer 
    needs consistent with 1994-95 season crop and market conditions.
        Based on the above, the Administrator of the AMS has determined 
    that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
    a substantial number of small entities.
        A comment period of 15 days is deemed appropriate because the 
    higher quality and relaxed size requirements for Texas grapefruit need 
    to be in effect when shipment of Texas' 1994-95 season fresh grapefruit 
    crop is expected to begin on or about October 15, 1994.
    
    List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 906
    
        Grapefruit, Marketing agreements, Oranges, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements.
    
        For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 7 CFR Part 906 is 
    proposed to be amended as follows:
    
    PART 906--ORANGES AND GRAPEFRUIT GROWN IN LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY 
    IN TEXAS
    
        1. The authority citation for 7 CFR part 906 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 7 U.S.C. 601-674.
    
        2. Section 906.365 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(3) and 
    (a)(4) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 906.365  Texas Orange and Grapefruit Regulation 34.
    
        (a) * * *
        (3) Such grapefruit grade U.S. Fancy, U.S. No. 1, U.S. No. 1 
    Bright, or U.S. No. 1 Bronze, or meet the quality requirements of 
    ``Texas Fancy'' or ``Texas Choice'' as defined in section 906.137 of 
    this part;
        (4) Such grapefruit are at least pack size 96, except that the 
    minimum diameter limit for pack size 96 grapefruit in any lot shall be 
    3\9/16\ inches: Provided, That any handler may handle grapefruit, 
    except during the period November 16 through January 31 each season, 
    which are smaller than pack size 96, if such grapefruit grade at least 
    U.S. No. 1 and they are at least pack size 112, except that the minimum 
    diameter limit for pack size 112 grapefruit in any lot shall be 3\5/16\ 
    inches: Provided further, That for the period beginning October 15, 
    1994, and ending July 31, 1995, any handler may handle grapefruit if 
    such grapefruit grade at least U.S. No. 1 and they are at least pack 
    size 112, except that the minimum diameter limit for pack size 112 
    grapefruit in any lot shall be 3\5/16\ inches in diameter.
    * * * * *
        Dated: August 25, 1994.
    Martha B. Ransom,
    Acting Deputy Director, Fruit and Vegetable Division.
    [FR Doc. 94-21634 Filed 8-31-94; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/01/1994
Department:
Agricultural Marketing Service
Entry Type:
Uncategorized Document
Action:
Proposed rule.
Document Number:
94-21634
Dates:
Comments must be received by September 16, 1994.
Pages:
0-0 (1 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Federal Register: September 1, 1994, Docket No. FV94-906-3-PR
CFR: (1)
7 CFR 906.365