USDA terminates 10 U.S. consumer standards that impede effective marketing of specialty crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today announced the termination of 10 U.S. consumer standards that are obsolete and impede the effective marketing of specialty crops.

AMS is terminating the consumer standards for Italian sprouting broccoli, fresh carrots, celery stalks, husked corn on the cob, fresh kale, fresh spinach leaves, Brussels sprouts, fresh parsnips, fresh turnips and beet greens.

U.S. grade standards are voluntary and provide the specialty crop industry with a uniform language for describing the quality and condition of commodities in the marketplace. U.S. consumer standards are a type of U.S. grade standard designed for use at the final stage of the marketing chain for fresh produce.

The consumer standards that are being terminated contain conflicting and outdated marketing terms and have become a burden to the U.S. and global produce industry.

The notice of the terminations was published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2021 and becomes effective May 16, 2021.

For further information, contact David G. Horner at (540) 361-1120 or Dave.Horner@usda.gov.