New rules placing grapefruit maturity standards into Chapter 20 as a result of the industry's maturity standards being removed from Chapter 601, FS. by the 2012 Legislature and allowing the industry more flexibility to deal with weather and disease ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF CITRUS

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
20-50.001: Purpose
20-50.002: Seedless Grapefruit for Fresh Use Maturity Standards
20-50.003: When Seedless Grapefruit Shall be Deemed Mature
20-50.004: Seeded Grapefruit for Fresh Use Maturity Standards
20-50.005: When Seeded Grapefruit Shall be Deemed Mature

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: New rules placing grapefruit maturity standards into Chapter 20, F.A.C., as a result of the industry’s maturity standards being removed from Chapter 601, FS. by the 2012 Legislature and allowing the industry more flexibility to deal with weather and disease emergencies as they affect citrus.

SUMMARY: New rules for grapefruit maturity standards.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: These rules, while new, are a result of the 2012 Legislature removing the maturity standards from statute thereby allowing their placement into Chapter 20 rules; as the statute wording has been brought directly into the rules, there will be no impact to the industry.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 601.10(7), 601.11 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 601.9910(1) FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: October 24, 2012, 9:00 a.m.

PLACE: Florida Department of Citrus, 605 East Main Street, Bartow, Florida 33830

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULES IS: Alice Wiggins, License & Regulation Specialist, P. O. Box 9010, Bartow, FL 33831 or [e-mail]

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULES IS:

GRAPEFRUIT MATURITY STANDARDS – FRESH

20-50.001 Purpose.

The purpose of this rule is to set forth the specific standards as to when grapefruit intended for fresh use are considered mature and specifies the maturity standards as to seedy and seedless grapefruit varieties.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2013.

Rulemaking Authority 601.10(7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.9910(1) FS. History–New 1-1-13.

20-50.002 Seedless Grapefruit for Fresh Use Maturity Standards.

(1) Color Break:

(a) Each fruit;

(b) After having been severed from the tree;

(c) Shows a break in color;

(d) With yellow color predominating on;

(e) Not less than 25 percent of the fruit’s surface in the aggregate.

(2) Brix:

(a) The total soluble solids of the juice shall not be less than 7.5 percent;

(b) The ratio of the total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid meets the requirements of Chapter 20-51, F.A.C.

(c) The juice content of each fruit is not less than the minimum requirements for the respective fruit size as set forth in Chapter 20-52, F.A.C.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2013.

Rulemaking Authority 601.10(7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.9910(1) FS. History–New 1-1-13.

20-50.003 When Seedless Grapefruit Shall be Deemed Mature.

(1) Except for the period January 1 through 31, seedless grapefruit meeting minimum color break ratio, and juice content requirements of Chapter 20-52, F.A.C. shall be deemed mature when the ratio of soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid is not less than six to one.

(2) Except for the period April 15 through July 31, seedless grapefruit meeting the minimum color break, soluble solids, and juice content requirements of Chapter 20-52, F.A.C. shall be deemed mature when the ratio of soluble solids to anhydrous acid is not less than six to one.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2013.

Rulemaking Authority 601.10(7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.9910(1) FS. History–New 1-1-13.

20-50.004 Seeded Grapefruit for Fresh Use Maturity Standards.

(1) Color Break:

(a) Each fruit;

(b) After having been severed from the tree;

(c) Shows a break in color;

(d) With yellow color predominating on;

(e) Not less than 25 percent of the fruit’s surface in the aggregate.

(2) Brix:

(a) The total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice is not less than 8 percent;

(b) The ratio of the total soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid meets the requirements of Chapter 20-51, F.A.C.;

(c) The juice content of each fruit is not less than the minimum requirements for respective fruit sizes set forth in Chapter 20-52, F.A.C.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2013.

Rulemaking Authority 601.10(7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.9910(1) FS. History–New 1-1-13.

20-50.005 When Seeded Grapefruit Shall be Deemed Mature.

(1) Except for the period January 1 through July 31, seeded grapefruit meeting minimum:

(a) Color break;

(b) Ratio;

(c) And juice content requirements of Chapter 20-52, F.A.C., shall be deemed mature when the total soluble solids (Brix) of the juice is not less than 7.5 percent.

(2) Except for the period April 15 through July 31, seeded grapefruit meeting minimum:

(a) Color break;

(b) Soluble solids;

(c) And juice content requirements of Chapter 20-52, F.A.C., shall be deemed mature when the ratio of soluble solids to anhydrous citric acid is not less than six to one.

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2013.

Rulemaking Authority 601.10(7), 601.11 FS. Law Implemented 601.9910(1) FS. History–New 1-1-13.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: William Roberts, Acting General Counsel

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Citrus Commission

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: May 16, 2012

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: June 1, 2012