WASHINGTON, Aug. 18, 2011 –– The U. S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is seeking comments on a proposed revision to the U.S. standards for grades of grapefruit juice.
The Florida Citrus Processors Association, noting advances in industry processing technology, petitioned USDA to revise the standards. The proposed standards are designed to give the grapefruit juice industry greater flexibility to meet market demands.
U.S. standards for nearly 240 agricultural products are established and revised through a collaborative process by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), industry representatives and others. Standards are used in the marketplace to specify the quality of commodities. They also provide a common language for trade and a means of measuring value for agricultural products.
Notice of the proposed new U.S. standards for grapefruit juice grades will be published in the Aug. 18, 2011, Federal Register. Comments must be received by Oct. 17, 2011. Written comments may be sent to Brian E. Griffin, Processed Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, Stop 0247, 1400 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-0247, or by fax to (202) 690-1527. Electronic comments may be submitted online at www.regulations.gov.
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