Source: USDA, 1/12/16

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting comments on proposed revisions to the U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans and U.S. Standards for Grades of Pecans in the Shell.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is seeking comments on modifying the shelled pecan standards to remove the term “midget” and replace it with “extra small.”  AMS is also proposing to remove from both standards references to plastic models of pecan kernels, and information on where the color standards may be examined.  These changes would modernize the terminology and information in the standards.

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

The notice for U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans and U.S. Standards for Grades of Pecans in the Shell will be published in the Jan. 12, 2016, Federal Register.  Comments may be submitted to www.regulations.gov by March 14, 2016.  For a copy of the current standards or more information, visit www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/nuts, or contact Lindsay H. Mitchell by phone: (540) 361-1127, e-mail:  Lindsay.Mitchell@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.