Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida and Imported Grapefruit; Relaxation of the Minimum Size Requirement for Red Seedless Grapefruit

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule changing the regulations under the Florida citrus marketing order and the grapefruit import regulations. This rule relaxes the minimum size requirement for Florida red seedless grapefruit and for red seedless grapefruit imported into the United States from size 48 (3\9/16\ inches diameter) to size 56 (3\5/16\ inches diameter). The Citrus Administrative Committee (Committee), the agency that locally administers the marketing order for oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and tangelos grown in Florida, unanimously recommended this change. This change allows handlers and importers to ship size 56 red seedless grapefruit through November 8, 1998.