The following is a current list of proposed, interim final rules, or final rules related to Fresh and Processed Fruit, Vegetable, Nut and Specialty Crop Grade Standards and Other Resources. All notices, except for final rules, are open for public comment until the deadline.

To submit feedback to notices open for public comment, please go to http://www.regulations.gov. We ask that your comments contain your full name and mailing address (street, city, state, zip code). Your comments must reference the Title and Document Number. All comments will be posted without change, including any personal information provided. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be included in the record and will be made available to the public on the Internet via http://www.regulations.gov. If your comments are not able to be transmitted via the document management system, please use the mailing address located in the notice.

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Final Notice – U.S. Standards for Grade of Frozen Maple Syrup

AMS has replaced the former grade classification requirement with new color and flavor descriptions, and revised Grade A requirement to be free from damage. AMS has also changed the spelling from “sirup” to the more commonly used term “syrup”. The purpose of these revisions is to foster, or assist in the development of new or expended markets, and improve the marketing of maple syrup in the U.S. and internationally. The final notice was published in the federal register on January 29, 2015 and will become effective March 2, 2015. [Notice and proposed Standard]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Onions (Other Than Bermuda-Granex-Grano and Creole Type) and U.S. Standards for Grades of Bermuda-Granex-Grano Type Onions. This Final Rule was published in the Federal Register October 23, 2014 and amends the similar varietal characteristic and one type requirements to allow Mixed colors of onions to be certified to a grade when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. Effective November 24, 2014. Document Number: AMS-FV-12-0013 [Notice and Standards]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Creole Onions. This Final Notice published in the Federal Register October 23, 2014 revises the grade standards for Creole Onions by eliminating the “unclassified” section from the standards. Also, it amends the similar varietal characteristic requirement to allow mixed colors of onions to be certified to grade when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. Effective November 21, 2014: Document Number: AMS-FV-13-0018 [Notice and Standards]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Okra This Notice published in the Federal Register on October 23, 2013, revised the grade standards for okra by eliminated the “Unclassified section from the standards. Effective November 22, 2013. Document Number: AMS-FV-11-0054; FV-13-331. [Notice and Standard]

U.S. Standards for Condition of Food Containers This Notice published in the Federal Register September 17, 2013, revised the standards to include revisions to existing tables, removal of operation characteristic (OC) curves and updating language in the standards that enables the standards to be applicable to most types of food containers and aligns the standards to reflect current industry practices. Document Number: AMS-FV-08-0027. Final rule is effective on October 17, 2013. [Notice and Standard]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Frozen Vegetables This Notice published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2013, revised the grade standards for frozen asparagus, frozen lima beans, frozen speckled butter beans, frozen cooked squash, frozen summer squash, frozen sweet potatoes, frozen turnip greens with turnips, and frozen mixed vegetables. Effective date August 29, 2013 Document Number: AMS-FV-09-0028; FV-13-328. [Notice and Grade Standard]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Eggplant This Notice published in the Federal Register January 3, 2013, amended the similar varietal characteristic requirement to allow the comingling of different types and colors of eggplant to be certified to a grade when specified. Effective date February 4, 2013 Document Number: AMS-FV-11-0052. [Notice and Grade Standard]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Grapefruit Juice This Notice published in the Federal Register on August 27, 2012, revised the standards for Grapefruit Juice to remove the parameters for maximum “free and suspended pulp’ to account for advances in industry processing technology. Effective date September 26, 2012 Document Number: AMS-FV-11-0050. [Notice and Grade Standard]

U.S. Standards for Grades of Processed Raisins This Notice published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2011, withdraws a proposal to revise the grade standards for processed raisins. Based on the petitioner’s request to withdraw their petition, the agency has decided not to proceed with this action. Document Number: AMS-FV-09-0067; FV-09-330. [Notice] (PDF)

U.S. Standard for Grade of Potatoes This Notice published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2011, amended the similar varietal characteristic requirement to allow mixed colors and/or types of potatoes to be certified to a grade when designated as a mixed or specialty pack. Other revisions included restrictive tolerances for permanent defects in the en route/at destination tolerances, removal of the definition for injury and clarification for scoring sprouts. Effective date June 3, 2011 Document Number: AMS-FV-08-0023. [Notice and Grade Standard]

Country of Origin Labeling of Packed Honey

This Notice published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2011, adopts an interim rule, with change, establishing new regulations addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement. Final rule is effective on February 3, 2011. Document Number: AMS-FV-08-0075; FV-08-330. [Notice and Comments Received] For more information on this new regulation, go here.