[Federal Register: April 27, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 82)]
[Notices]
[Page 21116-21117]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[FV-01-329]
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Onions
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to create new
United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Onions. USDA has received
a petition from a trade association to create grade standards for
frozen onions that will include a description of the product, style,
sample unit size, grades, ascertaining the grade by sample, and
ascertaining the grade by lot. This proposal will provide a common
language for trade, a means of measuring value in the marketing of
frozen onions, and provide guidance in the effective utilization of
frozen onions.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 26, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to: Chere L. Shorter,
Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, STOP 0247,1400
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-0247; fax (202) 690-
1087; or e-mail chere.shorter@usda.gov.
Comments should reference the date and page 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 and on the Internet.
The draft of the United States Standards for Grades of Frozen
Onions available either through the address cited above or by accessing
AMS's Home Page on the Internet at: www.ams.usda.gov/standards/
frozveg.htm. Any comments received, regarding this proposed standard
will also be posted on that site.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chere L. Shorter at (202) 720-5021 or
e-mail at chere.shorter@usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, 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 makes copies of official standards
available upon request. The United States Standards for Grades of
Fruits and Vegetables no longer appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations but are maintained by USDA/AMS/Fruit and Vegetable
Programs.
AMS is proposing to establish the U.S. Standards for Grades of
Frozen Onions using the procedures that appear in Part 36 Title 7 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR Part 36).
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), a trade association for
frozen fruits and vegetables, requested that USDA develop a standard
for frozen onions to be used by the industry. The petition provided
information on style, sample size and description to AMS to develop the
standard. AMS received samples of various styles to collect information
on grades of frozen onions and how to ascertain the grade of a sample
and of a lot.
AMS prepared a discussion draft of the frozen onions standard, and
distributed copies for input to AFFI. Input from the trade
association's members was used to develop the proposed standard.
Based on the results of the information gathered, AMS is proposing
to establish a standard for frozen onions following the standard format
for U.S. Grade Standards using ``individual attributes.'' Specifically,
USDA is proposing to provide for the ``individual attributes''
procedure for product grading with sample sizes, acceptable quality
levels (AQL's), tolerances and acceptance numbers (number of allowable
defects); with single letter grade designations. AMS is proposing to
define ``frozen onions'' and establish ``strips'', ``diced'', whole''
and ``minced'' as the style designations. The proposal also defines the
quality factors, acceptable quality levels (AQL), and tolerances (TOL)
for defects that affect frozen onions and determine sample unit sizes
for this commodity.
This proposal would establish the grade levels ``A'', ``B'' and
``Substandard''. The proposed AQLs, tolerances, and acceptance numbers
for each quality factor as defined for each grade level would also be
established.
The grade of a sample unit of frozen onions will be ascertained by
considering the factors of varietal characteristics, flavor, odor,
color, defects, and character. This proposal will provide a common
language for trade, a means of measuring value in the marketing of
frozen onions, and provide guidance in the effective utilization of
frozen onions. The official grade of a lot of frozen onions covered by
these standards will be determined by the procedures set forth in the
Regulations Governing Inspection and Certification of Processed
Products Thereof, and Certain Other Processed Foods Products (Sec. 52.1
to 52.83).
[[Page 21117]]
This notice provides for a 60 day comment period for interested
parties to comment on changes to the standards.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627
Dated: April 20, 2001.
Robert C. Keeney,
Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10525 Filed 4-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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