USDA REVISES STANDARDS FOR SWEET POTATOES

USDA REVISES U.S. STANDARDS FOR GRADES OF SWEET POTATOES

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2005 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service is revising the U.S. Standards for Grades of Sweet Potatoes.

The revision will add a new grade, U.S. No. 1 Petite, which will allow for the packing and shipping of smaller size sweet potatoes under the U.S. standards. These standards were last revised in 1963.

A description of the revision will appear in the March 22 Federal Register and become effective April 21. Questions can be directed to David Priester, AMS Fruit and Vegetable Programs, USDA Stop 0240, 1400 Independence Ave., Washington, DC, 20250, or by sending an e-mail to David.priester@usda.gov.

The U.S. Standards for Grades of Sweet Potatoes is available through the address above or at ams.usda.gov/standards/vegfm .

AMS works with industry representatives and others to establish or revise U.S. standards for nearly 240 agricultural products. Industry uses the standards in the marketplace to specify the quality of commodities. Standards facilitate commerce by providing a common language for trade and a means of measuring value in the marketing of agricultural products.

AMS no. 040-05 Rufino Hurtado (202) 720-8998 mailto:george.chartier@usda.gov, Billy Cox (202) 720-8998, billy.cox@usda.gov

SOURCE: Agricultural Marketing Service at USDA