Date January 30, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today it has modified the handling regulations prescribed under the federal marketing order for kiwifruit grown in California.
This action will revise the size and uniformity requirements for all varieties of the Actinidia chinensis species of kiwifruit regulated under the marketing order.
This modification is outlined in the rule published in the Federal Register on Jan. 30, 2023. The rule will take effect on March 1, 2023. Kiwifruit imported into the United States will also be eligible for the change in minimum size and shape standards, as required by section 608e of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1937.
This modification provides California kiwifruit producers with expanded opportunities to sell more kiwifruit to consumers who will then have more selection of variety and size. As recommended by the Kiwifruit Administrative Committee, the change relaxes the minimum size requirement for all varieties of Actinidia chinensis species kiwifruit to Size 49, defined in the requirements as a maximum of 64 pieces of fruit in an 8-pound sample. In addition, the rule will exempt all varieties of Actinidia chinensis species kiwifruit from the requirement that fruit packed in a container be fairly uniform in size.
More information about the marketing order is available on the 920 Kiwifruit webpage, the AMS Marketing Orders and Agreements webpage, or by contacting the Market Development Division at (202) 720-2491.
Authorized by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, marketing orders are industry-driven programs that help fruit, vegetable and specialty crop producers and handlers achieve marketing success by leveraging their own funds to design and execute programs that they would not be able to do individually. AMS provides oversight to fruit, vegetable and specialty crop marketing orders and agreements to ensure fiscal accountability and program integrity.
