Raisins Produced From Grapes Grown In California; Relaxations to Substandard and Maturity Dockage Systems

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting, as a final rule, without change, an interim final rule relaxing the substandard and maturity dockage systems for raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for California raisins (order). The order regulates the handling of raisins produced from grapes grown in California and is administered locally by the Raisin Administrative Committee (Committee). Relaxing the limits for the 1998 crop reduces the number of lots of raisins returned by handlers to producers or reconditioned by handlers at the producers' expense. This minimizes producers' reconditioning costs and facilitates 1998 crop deliveries.