WSR 02-07-118

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE


[ Filed March 20, 2002, 10:35 a.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 01-21-003 and 02-03-128.

     Title of Rule: WAC 16-403-141 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum soluble solids, 16-403-142 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum firmness, 16-403-190 Tolerances, and 16-403-280 Adoption of United States standards as state standards.

     Purpose: WAC 16-403-141 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum soluble solids, changes soluble solids for Red Delicious and Delicious varieties of apples from 10% to 11%. WAC 16-403-142 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum firmness, establishes firmness standards of eleven pounds for Jonagold and Gala apple varieties. WAC 16-403-190 Tolerances, establishes a 10% firmness tolerance for Jonagold and Gala apple varieties. WAC 16-403-280 Adoption of United States standards as state standards, adds a reference to Gala and Jonagold apples made necessary by the proposed changes to WAC 16-403-141, 16-403-142, and 16-403-190.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapters 15.17 and 34.05 RCW.

     Statute Being Implemented: Chapter 15.17 RCW.

     Summary: 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.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The amendments are proposed in response to a request from the Washington State Horticulture Association.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Jim Quigley, Program Manager, Olympia, (360) 902-1833.

     Name of Proponent: Washington State Department of Agriculture, governmental.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects:

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-141 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum soluble solids, which change the soluble solids requirement for Red Delicious and Delicious varieties of apples from 10% to 11%, will require industry to market a sweeter more edible apple to the ultimate consumer during the early harvest periods.

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-142 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum firmness, which establish firmness standards of eleven pounds for Jonagold and Gala apple varieties, will provide the consumer with a higher degree of firmness and a crisper apple.

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-190 Tolerances, which establish a 10% firmness tolerance for Jonagold and Gala varieties of apples, will provide the consumer with a higher degree of firmness and a crisper apple.

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-280 Adoption of United States standards as state standards, adds a reference [to] Gala and Jonagold apples made necessary by the proposed changes to WAC 16-403-141, 16-403-142, and 16-403-190.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules:

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-141 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum soluble solids, change the soluble solids requirement for Red Delicious and Delicious varieties of apples from 10% to 11%.

•     The proposed amendments to WAC 16-403-142 Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum firmness, establish firmness standards of eleven pounds for Jonagold and Gala apple varieties.

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-190 Tolerances, establish a 10% firmness tolerance for Jonagold and Gala varieties of apples.

•     The proposed amendment to WAC 16-403-280 Adoption of United States standards as state standards, adds a reference [to] Gala and Jonagold apples made necessary by the proposed changes to WAC 16-403-141, 16-403-142, and 16-403-190.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. WSDA's Commodity Inspection Division conducted an economic impact survey of Washington state Delicious, Gala and Jonagold apple growers and shippers. Based upon the results of that survey, the department has concluded that any new compliance costs imposed by the proposed new rules are not "more than minor," therefore a small business economic impact statement is not required. Copies of the survey results may be obtained from Jim Quigley, Program Manager, Fruit and Vegetable Inspection, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560.

     RCW 34.05.328 applies to this rule adoption. The Washington State Department of Agriculture is not a listed agency in RCW 34.05.328 (5)(a)(i).

     Hearing Location: Yakima Ag. Center, 2nd Floor Conference Room, 21 North 1st Avenue, Yakima, on April 24, at 11:00 a.m.; at the WSU Tree Fruit Research Center, 1100 North Western Avenue, Wenatchee, on April 25, at 10:00 a.m.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Laurie Crose by April 20, 2002, TDD (360) 902-1996, or (360) 902-1976.

     Submit Written Comments to: Jim Quigley, F&V Inspection Program Manager, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, fax (360) 902-2085, by April 25, 2002.

     Date of Intended Adoption: May 22, 2002.

March 20, 2002

Robert W. Gore

Assistant Director

OTS-5249.2


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-12-079, filed 6/5/01, effective 7/6/01)

WAC 16-403-141   Red Delicious, Delicious, Golden Delicious -- Minimum soluble solids.   For harvest of the crop of the current growing season, apples of the Red Delicious and Delicious varieties cannot be shipped prior to October 1, unless they have at least ((ten)) eleven percent soluble solids as determined by refractometer. Apples of the Golden Delicious varieties, cannot be shipped prior to September 20 unless they have at least ten and one-half percent soluble solids as determined by refractometer.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.17 RCW. 01-12-079, § 16-403-141, filed 6/5/01, effective 7/6/01; 99-14-036, § 16-403-141, filed 6/29/99, effective 7/30/99; 86-14-026 (Order 1892), § 16-403-141, filed 6/25/86.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 2032, filed 4/11/90, effective 5/12/90)

WAC 16-403-142   Red Delicious, Delicious, ((and)) Golden Delicious, Gala, and Jonagold -- Minimum firmness.   At the time of shipment, Red Delicious, and Delicious varieties shall pressure test not less than twelve pounds: Provided, That those apples failing to pressure test twelve pounds may be considered as meeting the requirements of this section when the individual apple exhibits edible qualities and texture of flesh comparable to other apples of the same variety which pressure test twelve pounds or more.

     At the time of shipment, Golden Delicious variety shall pressure test not less than ten pounds: Provided, That those apples failing to pressure test ten pounds may be considered as meeting the requirements of this section when the individual apple exhibits edible qualities and texture of flesh comparable to other apples of the same variety which pressure test ten pounds or more.

     At time of shipment, Gala and Jonagold varieties of apples shall pressure test not less than eleven pounds.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.17 RCW. 90-09-032 (Order 2032), § 16-403-142, filed 4/11/90, effective 5/12/90; 89-14-031 (Order 2012), § 16-403-142, filed 6/28/89, effective 9/1/89; 88-14-128 (Order 1982), § 16-403-142, filed 7/6/88, effective 9/1/88.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 2012, filed 6/28/89, effective 9/1/89)

WAC 16-403-280   Adoption of United States standards as state standards.   In addition to the standards for apples prescribed in WAC 16-403-140 through 16-403-275, there are hereby adopted, as additional standards of the state of Washington for apples, the United States standards for grades of apples, effective September 1, 1964, as amended October 1, 1966, July 25, 1972, and March 25, 1976, adopted by the United States Department of Agriculture, as they apply to U.S. extra fancy, U.S. fancy, U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 1 hail, provided, the color requirements specified for U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 1 hail must be good shade of red color and the percentage of color required for U.S. No. 1 and U.S. No. 1 hail for Delicious shall be 25 percent good shade of red color and provided further, that all the United States grades as applied to Red Delicious, Delicious, ((and)) Golden Delicious, Gala, and Jonagold varieties shall meet the firmness requirements of WAC 16-403-142.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.17 RCW. 89-14-031 (Order 2012), § 16-403-280, filed 6/28/89, effective 9/1/89; 88-14-128 (Order 1982), § 16-403-280, filed 7/6/88, effective 9/1/88; Order 1374, § 16-403-280, filed 7/26/74, effective 9/1/74.]

OTS-5438.1


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 92-15-056, filed 7/13/92, effective 8/13/92)

WAC 16-403-190   Tolerances.   In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading and handling in each of the foregoing grades, the following tolerances are provided as specified:

     (1) Defects: Washington extra fancy, Washington fancy and Washington C grade.

     Ten percent of the apples in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of the grade, but not more than one-half of this amount, or 5 percent, shall be allowed for apples which are seriously damaged, including therein not more than one percent for apples affected by decay or internal breakdown.

     (2) When applying the foregoing tolerances to combination grades, no part of any tolerance shall be allowed to reduce, for the lot as a whole, the percent of apples of the higher grade required in the combination.

     Combinations requiring 80 percent of the higher grade for the lot shall have not less than 65 percent of the higher grade in individual samples.

     Combinations requiring 50 percent of the higher grade for the lot shall have not less than 40 percent of the higher grade in individual samples.

     (3) Size. When size is designated by the numerical count for a container, not more than 5 percent of the apples in the lot may vary more than 1/4 inch in diameter. When size is designated by minimum or maximum diameter or weight, not more than 5 percent of the apples in any lot may be smaller than the designated minimum and not more than 10 percent may be larger than the designated maximum.

     (4) Firmness. Not more than ten percent of the apples in any lot of Red Delicious, Delicious, ((and)) Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and Gala varieties shall fail to meet the firmness requirements as defined in WAC 16-403-142.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 15.17 RCW. 92-15-056, § 16-403-190, filed 7/13/92, effective 8/13/92; 90-09-032 (Order 2032), § 16-403-190, filed 4/11/90, effective 5/12/90; 89-14-031 (Order 2012), § 16-403-190, filed 6/28/89, effective 9/1/89; 88-14-128 (Order 1982), § 16-403-190, filed 7/6/88, effective 9/1/88; Order 1374, § 16-403-190, filed 7/26/74, effective 9/1/74.]

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