PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Reduce the amount of days for qualifying winter pears as being certified as "controlled atmosphere storage" from ninety to sixty days.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.17 RCW, Standards of grades and packs.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Provide to the consumer a better quality winter pear. Growers will realize a higher packout due to the lack of scuffing, belt burn, scald and shrivel because packers will be able to pack their winter pears earlier in the season. The earlier the packers can apply ethoxyquin and TBZ, the better the storage conditions are for the long pull. The delay in packing (ninety days) contributes to scald. Decay, scuffing and shrivel which equates to a lower packout for the grower, more condition problems for the packers and receivers and less returns to the winter pear growers.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: This is at the request of the Upper Wenatchee River Valley Pear Growers. The department will be working with industry associations, stakeholders and other interested parties in the development of this rule.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication. Any comments relating to the development of this rule must be received no later than August 2, 1999. Please direct all comments to Jim Quigley, Program Manager, Washington State Department of Agriculture, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program, P.O. Box 43560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1833, fax (360) 902-2085.
June 23, 1999
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director