Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker).

As we provide the news for free, we are relying on revenues from our banners. So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.
Thanks!

Click here for a guide on disabling your adblocker.

Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news!

Subscribe I am already a subscriber

US (FL): USDA revises handling requirements for Florida tomatoes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced revisions to the handling requirements under the federal marketing order for tomatoes grown in Florida. The Florida Tomato Committee recommended this action to eliminate the standard weight certification requirement from the marketing order regulations. Other marketing order standards for grade, size, maturity, pack and container remain unchanged. 

The committee believes there is no longer enough benefit to require tomato handling operations to expend the cost and time required for standard weight certification of containers used for transporting tomatoes. In making its recommendation, the committee stated that providing the necessary labor to properly administer the certification program is expensive and time-consuming, and that tomato handlers outside the regulated area are not required to maintain the same standard weight certification.

The final rule for this action was published in the Federal Register on Nov. 4, 2019. The proposed rule for this action was published on April 16, 2019, and provided a 30-day public comment period.

More information about the marketing order regulating the handling of tomatoes produced in Florida is available on the 966 Florida Tomatoes page on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) website.

Source: USDA Agriculture Marketing Service

Publication date: