Melons Grown in South Texas; Change in Cantaloup Container Requirements

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule that changed the container requirements for cantaloups grown in South Texas under Marketing Order No. 979 by increasing the depth of cantaloup cartons from 10\3/8\ to 11\3/8\ inches. The South Texas Melon Committee (committee), the agency that locally administers the marketing order for melons grown in South Texas, unanimously recommended this change. That change allowed handlers to use deeper cartons in shipping larger cantaloups. The use of deeper cartons is expected to result in less damage during packing and shipment and foster buyer confidence. The interim final rule also corrected telephone area codes and removed out-of-date handler assessment information.