Grapes Grown in a Designated Area of Southeastern California; Revision to Container and Pack Requirements

This rule revises container and pack requirements prescribed under the California grape marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of grapes grown in a designated area of Southeastern California and is administered locally by the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee). This rule adds four new containers (38L, 38M, CP, and CP1) to the list of containers authorized for use by grape handlers regulated under the grape order, allows reusable plastic containers (RPCs) in shipping grapes, revises lot stamping requirements for RPCs, exempts master containers containing individual consumer packages from the minimum net weight requirements specified under the order, and revises marking and minimum net weight requirements for clarity. This rule is expected to help handlers compete more effectively in the marketplace, better meet the needs of buyers, and to improve producer returns.