USDA Announces Revision of 41 U.S. Fruit and Vegetable Standards for Grade

Date
August 05, 2016

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced  revised U.S. Grade Standards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Fruits and Vegetables for Processing, Nuts, and Specialty Crops.

The revision eliminates the “Unclassified” section and removes a category that is not a grade and only shows that no grade has been applied to the lot.  The revisions bring the grade standards in line with current terminology and marketing practices, and provide the industry with increased flexibility.

The notice announcing the revision is in the August 4, 2016, Federal Register.  For a copy of the current standards or more information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/vegetables, or contact Olivia Vernon by phone: (540) 361-1127, e-mail: olivia.vernon@ams.usda.gov, or U.S. mail: Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, National Training and Development Center, Riverside Business Park, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Va. 22406.