USDA revises standards for No. 1 potatoes

Revisions to the grading standards for No. 1 potatoes allow for mixed varieties of potatoes to be packaged together, as requested by grower/shippers and retailers.

In addition to allowing for mixed variety packaging, the rule also addresses the scoring guide for sprouts on potatoes.

It also clarifies definitions of damage and adds restrictive tolerances for permanent defects.

John Keeling, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the National Potato Council in Washington, D.C., said June 3 that the council was relatively comfortable with the revisions in the final rule.

The final rule on the revisions was published June 2 in the Federal Register (pdf!) and became effective June 3.