Domestic Dates Produced or Packed in Riverside County, California; Temporary Relaxation of Size Requirements for Deglet Noor Dates

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This proposal invites comments on revisions to the size requirements currently prescribed for the Deglet Noor variety of dates under the California date marketing order. The marketing order regulates the handling of domestic dates produced or packed in Riverside County, California, and is administered locally by the California Date Administrative Committee (committee). This rule would increase the current tolerance for individual, whole Deglet Noor dates weighing less than 6.5 grams (the prescribed minimum) from 10 to 15 percent. The rule would be in effect through October 31, 1997. The relaxation is necessary because dates from the 1996-97 crop are smaller in size and weight than normal. The decrease in size and weight is due to extremely high temperatures experienced last spring in the production area. This relaxation was recommended by the committee to make a larger quantity of the 1996-97 crop available for sale domestically and in Canada and is expected to benefit producers, handlers, and consumers.