Notice2026-06971
Revising U.S. Standards for Grades of Mushrooms
Primary source
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Published
April 10, 2026
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 Mushrooms. The proposed changes would add a grade for portabella mushrooms, remove size from the criteria for each grade and create a separate section for size, and revise the tolerances for defects, consistent with modern production and handling practices. In addition, AMS proposes to update terminology, definitions, and defect scoring guides.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 69 (Friday, April 10, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 69 (Friday, April 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 18390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-06971]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Doc. No. AMS-SC-25-0056, SC-25-328]
Revising U.S. Standards for Grades of Mushrooms
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice 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
Mushrooms. The proposed changes would add a grade for portabella
mushrooms, remove size from the criteria for each grade and create a
separate section for size, and revise the tolerances for defects,
consistent with modern production and handling practices. In addition,
AMS proposes to update terminology, definitions, and defect scoring
guides.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments by mail to
the USDA, Specialty Crops Inspection Division, 100 Riverside Parkway,
Suite 101, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22406; via fax to (540) 361-1199;
or online at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Comments should reference the
date and page numbers of this issue of the Federal Register. Comments
will be posted without change, including any personal information
provided. All comments received within the comment period will become
part of the public record maintained by the Agency and will be made
available to the public via <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Buss at the address above, or
by phone at (540) 361-1120; or fax at (540) 361-1199; or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9adbf4fee8ffedb4d8efe9e9daefe9fefbb4fdf5ec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bbfad5dfc9decc95f9cec8c8fbcec8dfda95dcd4cd">[email protected]</span></a>. Copies of the proposed U.S. Standards for Grades
of Mushrooms are available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. Copies of
the current U.S. Standards for Grades of Mushrooms are available at
<a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/vegetables">https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/vegetables</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1622(c)) directs and authorizes the Secretary of
Agriculture ``[t]o 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 U.S. Standards for
Grades of Fruits and Vegetables that no longer appear in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) are maintained by AMS at <a href="http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards">http://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards</a>. AMS is proposing revisions to the
U.S. Standards for Grades of Mushrooms using the procedures that appear
in part 36 of title 7 of the CFR (7 CFR part 36).
Background
On April 2, 2020, the American Mushroom Institute (AMI), a trade
association representing growers, retailers, and shippers from the
United States, petitioned AMS to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades
of Mushrooms. From 2020 to 2024, AMS worked closely with AMI to provide
guidance and discuss the proposal, including relevant revisions. In its
petition, AMI stated that USDA standards for mushrooms do not conform
to current industry practices, and no standards for ``Baby Bella'' or
``Portabella'' mushroom varieties exist. AMI also requested new
definitions to cover defects that are not currently defined in the
mushroom standards. AMS reviewed and incorporated recommendations from
AMI's petition and subsequent feedback into this proposal, which
reflects a collaborative effort between AMS and industry. The proposed
updates to the standards, identified below, affect definitions, grades,
size, and defects of mushrooms.
AMS thus proposes to revise the U.S. Standards for Grades of
Mushrooms as follows:
<bullet> Add a new ``General'' section (as section 51.3385) to
describe the types of mushrooms covered by the standards and
redesignate existing sections 51.3385 through 51.3398 as sections
51.3386 through 51.3399.
<bullet> Clarify that the standards apply to all mushrooms of the
Agaricus bisporus species. Brown colored button mushrooms (commonly
called crimini), cremini (alternative spelling), baby, and baby bella
will be added to the standards, as well as common portabella type
mushrooms, including portobello (alternative spelling), ports, and
giant crimini. No standard for portabella type mushrooms has been
published prior to this notice.
<bullet> Remove size and tolerance specifications from the criteria
for each grade and create separate sections for that information.
<bullet> Allow some degree of open space before open veils would be
considered damage in mushrooms other than portabella mushrooms, while
also recognizing that open veils are a characteristic of and are not
considered damage in portabella type mushrooms.
<bullet> Revise the ``at shipping point'' and ``en route or at
destination'' tolerances by adding a tolerance for button mushrooms
damaged by open veils and portabella type mushrooms.
<bullet> Modify and update definitions to reflect current industry
practices and terminology. Add specifications for ``bruising,'' ``cuts
or mechanical defects,'' ``extraneous material,'' ``feathering,''
``open veils,'' and ``spots'' as types of damage.
<bullet> Establish different package tolerance limits based on the
size of the packaging. The ``Application of Tolerances'' section of the
standards identifies the maximum limit of defects and off-size
mushrooms that are allowed in an individual package of mushrooms.
<bullet> Add language to permit mixed specialty packs of white and
brown mushrooms. When lots are not intentionally packed as mixed/
specialty packs, a dissimilar colored mushroom is considered a defect.
The proposed revisions recognize mixed color specialty packs and better
reflect current marketing trends.
A 60-day period is provided for interested persons to submit
comments on the proposed grade standards. Copies of the proposed
revised U.S. Standards for Grades of Mushrooms are available at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. After the 60-day comment period, AMS will 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. 2026-06971 Filed 4-9-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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