United States Standards for Grades of Frozen Field Peas and Frozen Black-Eye Peas

This interim final rule amends the existing U.S. grade standards for Frozen Field Peas and Frozen Black-Eye Peas and removes the color attributes requirements for frozen black-eye peas and frozen cream peas to have ``obvious green color''. This change allows producers of frozen field peas and frozen black-eye peas the option to pack black-eye peas and cream peas without the requirement that these peas have an ``obvious green color''. The requirement for obvious green colored peas has forced changes in current harvesting practices and required that food processors supplement their pack with imported peas, of similar varieties, in order to meet the ``Grade A'' color requirement. Removing the requirement for green color resolves this issue for the industry since crops are harvested later in the season under current harvesting practices. This revision enables the frozen food industry to produce frozen black-eye peas and frozen field peas more efficiently.