Inspections

This Federal Register interim final rule describes how California nectarine and peach shippers have decided to punt inspection requirements except for CA WELL MAT.
From the rule:

This rule eliminates grade, size, maturity, pack, container and inspection requirements for all California nectarines and peaches except those packed in containers labeled ``California Well Matured'' or ``CA WELL MAT''. This rule also makes seasonal adjustments to the handling requirements applicable to well matured fruit. Finally, this rule removes certain handler reporting requirements that are deemed no longer necessary. The marketing orders regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California and are administered locally by the Nectarine Administrative and Peach Commodity Committees (committees). This rule should reduce handler costs while enabling handlers to continue to meet the demands of their buyers.


TK: Shippers argue that the standards they must meet for buyers exceed grade inspection minimums anyway, so the expense of paying inspectors is not worth it for them. This likely will help those suppliers doing the best job with quality control in their packing houses.