Nov 1, 2023USDA proposes revising pecan standards
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing changing U.S. in-shell and shelled pecan standards. The changes are designed to reflect current industry descriptions and practices, according to a news release.
The proposed revisions would replace the current grades with U.S. Extra Fancy, U.S. Fancy, U.S. Choice and U.S. Standard grades, according to the release.
The two current grades for pecans in the shell are U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 2. The six current grades for shelled pecans are U.S. No. 1 Halves, U.S. No. 1 Halves and Pieces, U.S. No. 1 Pieces, U.S. Commercial Halves, U.S. Commercial Halves and Pieces, and U.S. Commercial Pieces.
AMS also proposes updating terminology, definitions, and defect scoring guides in the standards.
Written comments must be received by Dec. 11, 2023. Comments can be submitted online at regulations.gov, faxed to (540) 361-1199, or mailed to the USDA, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, 100 Riverside Parkway, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 22406.
More information on the proposed changes is available here. Copies of the proposed U.S Standards for Grades for Pecans in the Shell and U.S. Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans are available here.
Copies of the current standards are available at ams.usda.gov/nuts. For further information, contact Olivia Banks at (540) 361-1120 or Olivia.Banks@usda.gov. The notice of the proposed revisions was published in the Federal Register on Oct. 11.
