Grade standard for TOV

In a Dec. 18 Federal Register rule, the USDA has established grade standards for tomatoes on the vine, with an effective date of Jan. 17. Here is some background quoted directly from today's rule:

On May 26, 2006, AMS published a notice in the Federal Register (71 FR 30367), that solicited comments on the proposed voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes on the Vine. The proposed standards contained sections pertaining to general information, grades, tolerances, application of tolerances, size classifications, definitions, and a table of metric conversions. The following grades and tolerances for each grade also appeared in the notice: U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2. In addition, ``Application of Tolerances'' section and ``Size classification'' section were listed. The standards also defined ``Damage,'' ``Serious damage,'' ``Tomatoes on the Vine,'' along with other specific basic requirements and defects. Additionally, AMS also sought any comments related to the proposed standards that may be necessary to better serve the industry. In response to the notice, AMS received six comments on the proposed standards. The comments are available by accessing the AMS, Fresh Products Branch Web site at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fpbdocketlist.htm. On February 16, 2007, AMS published a subsequent notice in the Federal Register (72 FR 7593-4), that solicited comments on the proposed voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes on the Vine based on comments received from the primary notice. A single comment was received on behalf of a trade group representing growers and packers, expressing the need for additional time to comment. The group requested an extension to the comment period to allow review of the proposed voluntary standards and consider comments. AMS published a reopening and extension of the comment period in the Federal Register (71 FR 34426), on June 22, 2007. The comment period for the extension ended on August 21, 2007. AMS received no additional comments from the industry on the proposed standards. The United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes on the Vine will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.


TK: That must frustrate the agency. They get a request to extend the comment period and then no one else comments. Here is a previously published USDA summary of the six comments that were received in the first comment period.