Dried Prunes Produced in California; Undersized Regulation for the 2002-03 Crop Year

This rule changes the undersized regulation for dried prunes received by handlers from producers and dehydrators under Marketing Order No. 993 for the 2002-03 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 the undersized prunes in such outlets as livestock feed. The Committee estimated that this rule will reduce the excess of dried prunes by approximately 3,800 tons while leaving sufficient prunes to fill foreign and domestic trade demand.