Tomatoes Grown in Florida; Exemption of Specialty Packed Red Ripe Tomatoes From Container Requirements

The Department of Agriculture (Department) is adopting as a final rule, without change, the provisions of an interim final rule which exempted shipments of specialty packed red ripe tomatoes from the container net weight requirements in the Florida tomato handling regulation. This exemption was unanimously recommended by the Florida Tomato Committee (committee) which locally administers the marketing order. This rule continues that exemption and allows handlers to ship specialty packed red ripe tomatoes in containers with different net weights than those currently authorized under the order. This rule will continue to facilitate the movement of such tomatoes, further the development of this relatively new market, and is expected to improve returns to producers of Florida tomatoes.