PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 06-06-110.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The Washington state department of agriculture's (WSDA) fruit and vegetable inspection program is proposing to amend chapter 16-414 WAC, Washington standards for cherries and chapter 16-461 WAC, Inspection requirements for fruits and vegetables.
Hearing Location(s): WSU Tree Fruit Research Center, 1100 North Western Avenue, Wenatchee, WA, on May 23, 2006, at 1:00 a.m.; and at the WSDA Yakima Office, Second Floor Conference Room, 21 North First Avenue, Yakima, WA, on May 24, 2006, at 1:00 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 7, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Debbie Hacker, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, e-mail dhacker@agr.wa.gov, fax (360) 902-2085 by 5:00 p.m. on May 24, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact the WSDA receptionist by May 17, 2006, at TTY (360) 902-1996 or (360) 902-1996 [902-1976].
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: Amend WAC 16-414-005 by including Rainier cherries or other light sweet cherry varieties under the "Mature" soluble solids requirements; WAC 16-414-011 thereby including size requirements for the Rainier cherry or other light sweet cherry varieties; and, amend WAC 16-461-010 which will require Rainier or other light sweet cherry varieties to meet WAC 16-414-005 "Mature" and WAC 16-414-011(3) size requirements. Eliminate the container requirements (WAC 16-414-085) for shipping sweet cherries.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: These amendments will bring the Rainier cherry and other light sweet cherry varieties under state requirements for soluble solids "Mature" and establish a size requirement which is currently required under Federal Marketing Order 923. Removing the container requirements will allow growers/packers and shippers to pack and market various types of containers that may be requested or required by buyers and the consuming public.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 15.17 WAC, Standards of grades and packs; chapter 34.05 WAC, Administrative Procedure Act.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 15.17 WAC, Standards of grades and packs.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: The Washington State Horticultural Association (WSHA), grade and pack committee, private.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Jim Quigley, Olympia, (360) 902-1833.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. There is no economic impact associated with these rule amendments.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The Washington state department of agriculture is not a listed agency in RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i).
April 19, 2006
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director
OTS-8795.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-12-037, filed 5/25/05,
effective 6/25/05)
WAC 16-414-005
What definitions are important to this
chapter?
"Clean" means cherries are practically free from
dirt, dust, spray residue, or other foreign material. For
example, clean means the product is practically free from
leaves, fruit spurs, bark, twigs, dirt or foreign material.
"Condition defects" means defects that may develop or change during shipment or storage. Condition defects include, but are not limited to, decayed or soft cherries and such other factors as pitting, shriveling, sunken areas, brown discoloration and bruising that, because of its location appears to have occurred after packing.
"Damage" means any injury or specific defect described in WAC 16-414-045 or any equally objectionable variation of those defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible quality or marketing quality of the fruit.
"Department" means the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA).
"Diameter" means the greatest dimension measured at right angles to a line from the stem to the blossom end of the cherry.
"Director" means the director of the Washington state department of agriculture or the director's designee.
"Face packed" means the cherries in the top layer of any container are placed so the stem ends are pointing downward toward the bottom of the container.
"Fairly well colored" means that at least ninety-five percent of the surface of the cherry shows characteristic color for mature cherries of the variety.
"Firm" means the cherries:
(1) Possess a firm, fleshy texture;
(2) Retain their approximate original shape;
(3) Are not shriveled; and
(4) Do not show more than slight collapsed areas of flesh.
"Mature" means cherries have reached the stage of growth that will insure the proper completion of the ripening process. Rainier cherries or other varieties of "light colored sweet cherries" shall meet a minimum of seventeen percent soluble solids as determined from a composite sample by refractometer prior to packing, at time of packing, or at time of shipment; provided that individual lots shall not be combined with other lots to meet soluble solids requirements.
"Permanent defects" means defects that are not subject to change during shipping or storage. Permanent defects include, but are not limited to, factors of shape, scarring, skin breaks, injury caused by hail or insects, and mechanical injury that, because of its location, appears to have occurred before shipment.
"Off-size" means a cherry whose diameter fails to meet a designated size when measured at right angles to a line from its stem to its blossom end.
"Serious damage" means any specific defect described in WAC 16-414-065 or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects that seriously detracts from the appearance, edible quality or marketing quality of cherries.
"Shipping point" means:
(1) The point of origin of the shipment in the producing area or at the port of loading; or
(2) The port of entry into the United States in the case of shipments from outside the continental United States.
"Similar varietal characteristics" means the cherries in any container are similar in color and shape.
"Well formed" means a cherry has the normal shape characteristic of the variety. Mature well-developed doubles are considered well formed if the halves are approximately evenly formed with a variation of no more than 2/64 of an inch.
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.17 and 34.05 RCW. 05-12-037, § 16-414-005, filed 5/25/05, effective 6/25/05.]
(2) The maximum diameter of the cherries in any lot may be specified according to the facts.
(3) For the Rainier variety and similar varieties commonly referred to as "light colored sweet cherries," at least ninety percent, by count, of the cherries in any lot shall measure not less than 61/64 inch in diameter and not more than five percent, by count, may be less than 57/64 inch in diameter.
(4) When containers of cherries are marked with a row count/row size designation, the row count/row size marked must comply with the corresponding minimum diameter size as shown in the following table:
| If containers of cherries are marked with the following row count/row size designations: | Then minimum diameter size of the cherries in inches must be: | |
| 8 | 84/64 | |
| 8 1/2 | 79/64 | |
| 9 | 75/64 | |
| 9 1/2 | 71/64 | |
| 10 | 67/64 | |
| 10 1/2 | 64/64 | |
| 11 | 61/64 | |
| 11 1/2 | 57/64 | |
| 12 | 54/64 | |
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.17 and 34.05 RCW. 05-12-037, § 16-414-011, filed 5/25/05, effective 6/25/05.]
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 16-414-085 | What requirements apply to containers used to ship sweet cherries? |
OTS-8796.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 99-14-036, filed 6/29/99,
effective 7/30/99)
WAC 16-461-010
Inspection certificate and/or permit
required.
(1) No person shall ship, transport, accept for
shipment, or accept delivery of, any commercial lot of the
following agricultural products without an inspection and the
issuance of a certificate and/or a permit by the plant
services division of the department of agriculture allowing
such shipment, movement or delivery:
(a) Apricots - in closed or open containers for fresh market.
(b) Italian prunes - in closed or open containers for fresh market.
(c) Peaches - in closed or open containers for fresh market.
(d) Cherries - in closed or open containers for fresh market: Provided, That no permit shall be issued on cherries infested with live cherry fruit fly larvae.
(e) Apples - in closed or open containers for fresh market: Provided, That apples may be shipped or transported if accompanied by a certificate of compliance issued by the shipper or packer of apples having the approval of the director to issue the certificates of compliance.
Apples of the Red Delicious and Delicious varieties must be certified as to quality and condition and must meet all the requirements of chapter 16-403 WAC, Standards for Apples Marketed Within Washington. Apples of the Red Delicious and Delicious varieties not allowed to enter channels of commerce within twenty-one days following the original date of inspection as indicated by a state lot stamp, will require recertification for meeting the minimum firmness requirement as stated in WAC 16-403-142.
(f) Pears - in closed or open containers for fresh market: Provided, That pears may be shipped or transported if accompanied by a certificate of compliance issued by the shipper or packer of pears having the approval of the director to issue the certificates of compliance.
(g) Asparagus - in closed or open containers for fresh market: Provided, That asparagus may be shipped or transported if accompanied by certificates of compliance issued by the shipper or packer of the asparagus, having the approval of the director to issue the certificates of compliance.
(h) Apples in containers or bulk, for processing: Provided, That apples for processing may be shipped or transported if accompanied by a certificate of compliance issued by the shipper of apples having the approval of the director to issue the certificates of compliance: Provided further, That apples for processing entering intrastate commerce shall not require a permit.
(i) Pears in containers or bulk, for processing: Provided, That pears for processing may be shipped or transported if accompanied by a certificate of compliance issued by the shipper of pears having the approval of the director to issue the certificates of compliance: Provided further, That pears for processing entering intrastate commerce shall not require a permit.
(2) Exemptions - fruits and vegetables listed in WAC 16-461-010 shall be exempted from requirements for inspection and issuance of a certificate or permit:
(a) When the product is being transported from the premises where grown or produced to a horticultural facility other than wholesale or retail for the purpose of storing, grading, packing, packaging, labelling, or processing; prior to entering commercial channels for resale;
(b) When transportation is between horticultural facilities other than those facilities which sell at wholesale or retail level, for the purposes set forth in (a) of this subsection;
(c) When sold or transported to a fruit/produce stand within the zone of production, not to exceed daily quantities of two thousand pounds net weight of a single commodity nor six thousand pounds net weight of any combination of commodities other than cherries, listed in subsection (1) of this section, when on a single conveyance, provided that such exempt sales by the producer within a farmer's market shall not be restricted to the zone of production;
(d) When daily quantities do not exceed one hundred pounds net weight of dark or light sweet varieties of sweet cherries which are sold for home use and not for resale, and the containers are marked "not for resale" in letters at least one-half inch in height.
(3)(a) Any shipper or packer of apples, apricots, cherries, pears, peaches, prunes, or asparagus may petition the director for authority to issue certificates of compliance for each season. The director may issue certificate of compliance agreements, granting such authority, on such terms and conditions as he may deem appropriate. The authority shall be limited to the issuance of certificates of compliance for apples, apricots, cherries, pears, peaches, prunes, and asparagus under the applicant's direct control or being handled at the shipper's or packer's facilities.
(b) The certificate of compliance shall be issued at time of shipment by the shipper or packer authorized to do so: Provided, That the apples, pears, cherries, and asparagus about to be shipped or transported are in full compliance with the requirements of chapter 15.17 RCW, regulations adopted thereunder and administrative directives of the director: Provided further, That apricots, cherries, peaches, prunes, or pears about to be shipped or transported are in full compliance with an existing federal marketing order requiring quality and condition certification and Washington state lot identification or federal-state lot identification;
Cherries of the dark sweet varieties shall be certified as to quality, condition, and size and shall meet all of the requirements of chapter 16-414 WAC, Cherries. Cherries of the Rainier variety or other varieties of "light colored sweet cherries" shall meet only requirements of WAC 16-414-005 "mature" and WAC 16-414-011(3) size requirement.
(c) The director's approval to issue certificates of compliance may be suspended, revoked, or denied for cause, subject to RCW 34.05.422(3) and that cause shall be the shipper's or packer's failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (3)(b) of this section, or for the shipper's or packer's actions which impede the department's abilities to ascertain full compliance with requirements of chapter 15.17 RCW or rules adopted thereunder, or for violation of the terms of the certificate of compliance agreement. The period of any suspension shall be determined by the director and shall be commensurate with the seriousness of the violation.
(d) Any shipper or packer whose authority to issue certificates of compliance has been suspended, revoked, or denied by the director shall be subject to those provisions of chapter 15.17 RCW and the regulations requiring the issuance of a shipping permit by the director before apples, apricots, cherries, pears, peaches, prunes, and asparagus may be shipped or transported.
(e) Certificates of compliance shall be on forms approved and issued by the director of agriculture.
(f) Any shipper or packer authorized to issue certificates of compliance shall deposit with the director of agriculture at the regular base fee equivalent to that charged by the director for a shipping permit, for each certificate of compliance issued by the authorized shipper or packer. The base fees shall be deposited with the director of agriculture in the same manner as fees for shipping permits.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.17 RCW. 99-14-036, § 16-461-010, filed 6/29/99, effective 7/30/99; 95-13-038, § 16-461-010, filed 6/14/95, effective 7/15/95; 92-18-103, § 16-461-010, filed 9/2/92, effective 10/3/92; 92-06-085, § 16-461-010, filed 3/4/92, effective 4/4/92; 83-06-050 (Order 1788), § 16-461-010, filed 3/1/83; Order 1523, § 16-461-010, filed 4/20/77; Order 1324, § 16-461-010, filed 8/3/73; Order 1122, § 16-461-010, filed 5/5/72, effective 6/5/72; Order 1122, § 16-461-010, filed 8/23/71; Order 1122, § 16-461-010, filed 5/29/70, effective 7/1/70; Order 1122, § 16-461-010, filed 8/14/69, effective 9/14/69; Order 1098, § 16-461-010, filed 8/30/68, effective 9/30/68; Order 968, filed 3/26/65.]
Reviser's note: The spelling error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.