Proposed Rule2025-17481
Revising U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 11, 2025
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentAgricultural Marketing Service
Abstract
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons by adding the term "seedless lemons." In addition, AMS proposes to incorporate marking requirements for lemons meeting the seedless definition.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 174 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 174 (Thursday, September 11, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 43947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17481]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 174 / Thursday, September 11, 2025 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 43947]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
7 CFR 51
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-24-0068]
Revising U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notification and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of
Agriculture (USDA) proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of
Lemons by adding the term ``seedless lemons.'' In addition, AMS
proposes to incorporate marking requirements for lemons meeting the
seedless definition.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 10, 2025.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments to the
Standardization Branch, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, Specialty
Crops Program, Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, National Training and Development Center; 100 Riverside
Parkway, Suite 101; Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406; fax: (540) 361-
1199, or via the internet at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Comments
should reference the docket number and the date and page numbers of
this issue of the Federal Register. All comments submitted in response
to this notification will become a part of the public record and be
made available to the public, including any personal information
submitted with your comment, at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Buss, at the address above, by
phone (231) 260-5913; fax (540) 361-1199; or email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4829262c3a2d3f662a3d3b3b083d3b2c29662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b2a252f392e3c65293e38380b3e382f2a652c243d">[email protected]</span></a>. Copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades
of Lemons are available at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. Copies of the
current U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons are available at <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/fruits">https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/fruits</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621-1627), as amended, directs and authorizes
the Secretary of Agriculture ``to develop and improve standards of
quality, condition, quantity, grade, and packaging, and recommend and
demonstrate such standards in order to encourage uniformity and
consistency in commercial practices.''
AMS is committed to carrying out this authority in a manner that
facilitates the marketing of agricultural commodities and makes copies
of official standards available upon request. The United States
Standards for Grades of Fruits and Vegetables that no longer appear in
the Code of Federal Regulations but are maintained by USDA, AMS,
Specialty Crops Program at the following website: <a href="http://www.ams.usda.gov">http://www.ams.usda.gov</a>. AMS is proposing revisions to the U.S. Standards for
Grades of Lemons using the procedures that appear in part 36 of title 7
of the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR part 36).
Background
On March 25, 2024, California Citrus Mutual, a voluntary non-profit
trade association for California's citrus growers, petitioned the USDA
to revise the lemon standard to incorporate a seedless lemon definition
and marking requirements. The petitioner represents 95 percent of the
lemon producers nationwide. In its petition, California Citrus Mutual
explained that advancements in the domestic lemon industry led to the
development of seedless lemon varietals. AMS worked closely with
California Citrus Mutual throughout the development of the proposed
revisions, soliciting their comments and suggestions about the
standards through discussion drafts and presentations. These proposed
revisions seek to establish a definition for seedless lemons and
marking requirements to maintain consistency in the industry.
AMS is proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons
to add a definition for the term ``seedless lemons'' stating that
``when marked `seedless,' a 100-count composite sample shall have not
more than 6 fruit (or 6 percent) containing seeds (irrespective of
number or development per fruit). Seeds would include fully developed
and undeveloped seeds (or pips).'' Written this way, any undeveloped
seeds would be counted against that piece of fruit. The percentage of
lemons with seeds is based on the number of fruit with seeds, rather
than the number of seeds within a lemon. This new definition would not
be applied to affect grade. In addition, marking requirements for
lemons meeting this seedless definition would be incorporated into the
standard and would also not affect grade. The marking requirements
would require that ``when lots are marked `seedless,' the term
`seedless' shall be legibly marked on at least 95 percent of the
containers, including consumer units.'' These proposed marking
requirements seek to provide buyers and consumers with clear
information on the product being bought and sold between parties.
Without marking requirements, it would be difficult to differentiate a
lot of seedless lemons from a lot of lemons with seeds to know when the
proposed definition would apply.
The proposed revisions to these grade standards would provide a
common language for trade, better reflect the current marketing of
fruits and vegetables, and provide uniformity on the buying and selling
of seedless lemons.
A 60-day period is provided for interested persons to submit
comments on the proposed grade standards. Copies of the proposed
revised standards are available on the internet at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. After the 60-day comment period, AMS would proceed
in accordance with 7 CFR 36.3(a)(1-3).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627.
Erin Morris,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-17481 Filed 9-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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