The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published a proposed revision to the U.S. Standards for Grades of Lemons to create a definition for “seedless lemons.”
The proposal would:
- Allow up to 6 percent of fruit in a 100-count sample to contain seeds.
- Require the term “seedless” to be marked on at least 95 percent of containers in a lot.
- Leave all other grade requirements unchanged.
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) petitioned the USDA for this rule after extensive board discussion. The CCM board considered USDA precedents in other commodities and sought a balance between marketplace protection, grower flexibility and room for innovation.
The proposal is open for a 60-day public comment period. Members are encouraged to review the notice and submit comments at Regulations.gov under Docket No. AMS-SC-24-0068.
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