{"abstract":"This rule revises the United States Standards for Grades of Apples. These standards are issued under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The rule will provide for the mixed varieties and change the color requirements for apples by reducing the number of apple varieties required to meet specific minimum color requirements. It also deletes the provision that apples be \"carefully hand-picked.\" The \"U.S. No. 1 Early grade\" and the \"Unclassified\" section will be deleted. Size specifications will be changed to allow Red Delicious and Golden Delicious varieties to meet either a minimum diameter or a minimum weight (currently these varieties must meet a minimum diameter designation). Changes will also be made to the application of tolerances for the purpose of allowing greater tolerances for defects in individual packages which contain 10 pounds or less, provided that the averages for the lot as a whole are met. The marking requirements will be changed by adding variety and grade to required markings on containers. The term \"brown surface discoloration\" will be added to the provisions which contain the requirements for the various grades of apples. The classification of \"Bitter pit\" and \"Jonathan spot\" will be clarified. The definition of \"fairly tight\" will be revised. Also, the U.S. Condition Standards for Export will be revised by removing the tolerance for slight scald and by changing the individual container tolerances in these requirements from one defective apple to three defective apples, provided the averages for the lot as a whole are met. In addition, the rule will provide metric equivalents for dimensions given in terms of U.S. customary units and contains conforming and editorial changes. The purpose for this revision is to update and revise the standards to more accurately represent today's marketing practices.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE","name":"Agriculture Department","id":12,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agriculture-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/12","parent_id":null,"slug":"agriculture-department"},{"raw_name":"Agricultural Marketing Service","name":"Agricultural Marketing Service","id":9,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/agricultural-marketing-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/9","parent_id":12,"slug":"agricultural-marketing-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2002/11/19/02-29034.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":51,"title":7}],"citation":"67 FR 69660","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"December 19, 2002.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. FV-98-303"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"02-29034","effective_on":null,"end_page":69668,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2002/11/19/02-29034.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2002/11/19/02-29034/apples-grade-standards","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/02-29034?publication_date=2002-11-19","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2002-11-19/02-29034/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":9,"page_views":{"count":601,"last_updated":"2026-04-03 12:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2002-11-19/pdf/02-29034.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2002-11-19","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2002/11/19/02-29034.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2011-11-12T07:56:02Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":69660,"subtype":null,"title":"Apples; Grade Standards","toc_doc":"Apples; grade standards","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Agricultural commodities","Food grades and standards","Fruits","Nuts","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Trees","Vegetables"],"type":"Rule","volume":67}