PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 16-403-141 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum soluble solids, change soluble solids for Red Delicious and Delicious varieties of apples from ten percent to eleven percent.
WAC 16-403-142 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum firmness, established firmness standards of eleven pounds for Jonagold and Gala apple varieties.
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: The change in the soluble solid requirements for Red Delicious and Delicious varieties of apples will require industry to market a sweeter more edible apple to the ultimate consumer during the early harvest periods. The establishment of pressure standards for Jonagold and Gala varieties of apples will provide the consumer with a higher degree of firmness and crisper apple.
Both of these changes will allow industry to deliver a more consistent quality of apple to the ultimate consumer.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: Develop rule with input from various industry associations.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by sending comments relating to development of these rules to Jim Quigley, Program Manager, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Program, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, (360) 902-1833, (360) 902-2085.
October 3, 2001
Robert W. Gore
Assistant Director