New rules placing fresh grapefruit minimum juice content 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 ...

 

DEPARTMENT OF CITRUS

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:
20-52.001: Purpose
20-52.002: Minimum Juice Content
20-52.003: Determination of Unusual or Abnormal Conditions
20-52.004: Establishment of Different Sizes

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: New rules placing fresh grapefruit minimum juice content 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 placing fresh grapefruit minimum juice content standards into Chapter 20, F.A.C.

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:

FRESH GRAPEFRUIT – MINIMUM JUICE CONTENT

20-52.001 Purpose.

The purpose of this rule is to set out in an easy to read chart the minimum juice content as they relate to grapefruit for fresh use in accordance with the time of year and size of the fruit.

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.

20-52.002 Minimum Juice Content.

(1) During the period of time beginning with August 1 of each year and ending with November 15 of the same year, both dates inclusive, the minimum juice content of the juice of the respective sizes of grapefruit is as follows:

 

Grapefruit Size a[1]	Grapefruit Shall Not Contain Less than the Corresponding Amount of Juice
14	400 Cubic Centimeters
18	350 Cubic Centimeters
23	305 Cubic Centimeters
27	275 Cubic Centimeters
32	245 Cubic Centimeters
36	230 Cubic Centimeters
40	210 Cubic Centimeters
48	185 Cubic Centimeters
56	170 Cubic Centimeters
64	165 Cubic Centimeters

 

(2) During that period of time beginning with November 16 of each year and ending with March 1 of the following year, both dates inclusive, the minimum juice content of respective size of grapefruit shall be as follows:

 

Grapefruit Size a[2]	Grapefruit Shall Not Contain Less than the Corresponding Amount of Juice
14	380 Cubic Centimeters
18	335 Cubic Centimeters
23	290 Cubic Centimeters
27	265 Cubic Centimeters
32	230 Cubic Centimeters
36	220 Cubic Centimeters
40	200Cubic Centimeters
48	180 Cubic Centimeters
56	165Cubic Centimeters
64	160 Cubic Centimeters

 

(3) During that period of time beginning with March 2 of each year and ending with July 31 of the same year, both dates inclusive, the minimum juice content of the juice of respective sizes of grapefruit shall be as follows:

 

Grapefruit Size a[3]	Grapefruit Shall Not Contain Less than the Corresponding Amount of Juice
14	360 Cubic Centimeters
18	320 Cubic Centimeters
23	275 Cubic Centimeters
27	250 Cubic Centimeters
32	220 Cubic Centimeters
36	210 Cubic Centimeters
40	190 Cubic Centimeters
48	170 Cubic Centimeters
56	155 Cubic Centimeters
64	150 Cubic Centimeters

 

a.[1] Each size being designated by the commercial number assigned to it based on the number of grapefruit of said size packed commercially in a standard 4/5 Florida packed box of grapefruit.

a.[2] Each size being designated by the commercial number assigned to it based on the number of grapefruit of said size packed commercially in a standard 4/5 Florida packed box of grapefruit.

a.[3] Each size being designated by the commercial number assigned to it based on the number of grapefruit of said size packed commercially in a standard 4/5 Florida packed box of grapefruit.

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.

20-52.003 Determination of Unusual or Abnormal Conditions.

If the Department of Citrus determines that unusual of abnormal conditions exist and a change in the juice requirements will be in the best interest of the citrus industry, it may, by resolution, decrease the required juice content of grapefruit, by varieties, during the period beginning November 16 and ending March 1 of the following year, both dates inclusive as provided in subsection 20-52.002(2), F.A.C., but in no event shall the required juice content during this period be less than the juice content required during this period be less than the juice content required during the period beginning March 2 of each year and ending July 31 of the same year, as provided in subsection 20-52.002(3), 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.

20-52.004 Establishment of Different Sizes.

(1) The Department may establish by regulation different sizes, including changes in diameter ranges for existing sizes, for grapefruit based on the number of grapefruit as packed commercially.

(2) At that time it shall also fix for each period the minimum juice content for the respective sizes so established, but in no event shall the juice content, during any period, be proportionately less than as set out in subsections 20-52.002(1), (2) and (3), 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.

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