Dried Prunes Produced in California; Undersized Regulation for the 2000-2001 Crop Year

This rule changes the undersized prune regulation for dried prunes received by handlers from producers and dehydrators under Marketing Order No. 993 for the 2000-2001 crop year. The marketing order regulates the handling of dried prunes produced in California and is administered locally by the Prune Marketing Committee (Committee). This rule removes the smallest, least desirable of the marketable size dried prunes produced in California from human consumption outlets, and allows handlers to dispose of undersized prunes in such outlets as livestock feed. The Committee estimated that this rule will reduce the excess of dried prunes expected at the end of the 1999-2000 crop year by approximately 5,100 tons, leaving sufficient prunes to fulfill foreign and domestic trade demand.