Oranges and Grapefruit Grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas; Revision of Pack and Size Requirements

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, with minor modification, the provisions of an interim final rule revising pack requirements for grapefruit and certain types of oranges under the marketing order covering oranges and grapefruit grown in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas to allow larger sizes of fruit to be marketed in fresh channels. This rule also reduces current minimum size requirements for Texas grapefruit. These actions were recommended by the Texas Valley Citrus Committee (TVCC), the agency responsible for local administration of the marketing order. These changes will enable the industry to market a wider range of sizes of citrus fruit in fresh market channels, thereby meeting consumer demand, increasing sales, and improving returns to growers.