USDA Reviewing Sweet Pepper Grade Proposal

WASHINGTON - Mar 10/05 - SNS -- The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking comments on a petition to change the U.S. grading standards for sweet peppers.

The proposal is to report decay affecting the stems under the serious damage tolerance in all grades; to allow mixed color and/or types when designated as specialty packs; and to remove the requirement to re-designate lots of sweet peppers as “Mixed Color” in the grade statement when peppers fail to meet the color requirement. These proposed changes will update the standards so that their usefulness is maintained as they are applied in today’s marketing practices.

AMS works with industry representatives and others to establish or revise U.S. standards for nearly 240 agricultural products. Industry uses these standards in the marketplace to specify the quality of commodities. These standards facilitate commerce by providing a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of agricultural products.

The proposed standards can be viewed at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm. The proposal and request for comments will appear in the Mar. 11 Federal Register. Comments must be received by May 10 and should be sent to David L. Priester, AMS Fruit & Vegetable Programs, USDA Stop 0240, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250. Comments may be e-mailed to FPBDocketClerk@usda.gov. Copies of the notice are also available from the same address.