USDA Reviewing Snap Bean Grade Proposal

WASHINGTON - Mar 10/05 - SNS -- The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking comments on a petition to change the U.S. Standards for Grades of Snap Beans.

AMS received a request from the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee to review all fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards and the possibility of developing other commodity grade standards to best serve the industry. Chartered by the agriculture secretary in August 2001, the committee makes recommendations on USDA programs to better meet the needs of the fruit and vegetable industry.

AMS is seeking comments on the possible modification of the grade standards to allow that percentages be determined by count and not weight. Comments are also requested on other revisions that may be necessary to update the standards to more closely reflect current cultural and marketing practices.

The 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 available from the same address. The standards and petition also can be viewed at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm.