Grapes Grown in a Designated Area of Southeastern California and Imported Table Grapes; Revision in Minimum Grade, Container, and Pack Requirements

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule which revised the minimum grade requirements for grapes grown in southeastern California and for grapes imported into the United States for a portion of the 1998 shipping season. The interim final rule also revised container and pack requirements prescribed for California grapes for a limited time. In combination, the revisions allowed California grape handlers to market consumer packages of grapes more economically by increasing the range of allowable bunch sizes for a portion of the 1998 season. Master containers of consumer grape packages were allowed to be marketed if the grape clusters/bunches in the packages consisted of at least 2 berry clusters and the clusters/ bunches were not greater than 19 ounces in weight. The increased bunch size range also applied to imported grapes. This action was in the interest of handlers, producers, importers, and consumers.