The U.S. Department of Agriculture is revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Italian Sprouting Broccoli.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is revising the standards to include provisions for certifying and grading broccoli crowns and florets. These and other changes were made to update the broccoli standards and better reflect the current marketing practices. These standards were last revised in 1943.

AMS works with industry representatives and others to establish or revise U.S. standards for nearly 240 agricultural products. Industry uses the standards in the marketplace to specify the quality of commodities. Standards facilitate commerce by providing a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of agricultural products.

The current standards can be viewed at http://www.ams.usda.gov/standards/stanfrfv.htm and the revision at http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/fvrulemaking.htm.

A description of the revision was published in the Oct. 3, 2006, Federal Register, and will become effective Nov. 3, 2006. Questions can be mailed to Cheri Emery, Standardization Section Head, Fresh Products Branch, Fruit and Vegetable Programs, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 1661 South Building, STOP 0240, Washington, D.C. 20250-0240, or be e-mail to Cheri.Emery@usda.gov.