436 AMERICAN POTATO J O U R N A L [Vol. 32

HEWS ANt) REVIEWS

P O T A T O I M P O R T R E G U L A T I O N I S S U E D

A regulation which specifies minimum grade and size requirements applicable to Irish potatoes imported into the United States was issued November 8 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The import regu- lations are authorized by Section 608e of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act. A similar regulation on potato imports was in effect last season. The regulation will be effective from November 14, 1955 through June 30, 1956.

The importation of round white or red skin varieties is limited to the U. S. No. 1 or better grade, 2I~ inches minimum diameter and 4 inches maxinmm diameter. Long variety potatoes, such as the Russet Burbank variety, must meet the requirements of the U. S. No. 2 grade, Size A, 5 ounces minimum weight, or the U. S. No. 1 grade, Size A, 2 inches minimum diameter or 4 ounces minimum weight. In addition, all imported potatoes have to be "generally fairly clean." The regulation does not apply to certified seed potatoes. Also, any lot not in excess of 500 pounds of potatoes may be imported without regards to the regulation.

Most of the potatoes imported into the United States come fl'om Canada. The Canadian Fruit and Vegetable Inspection Service is desig- nated as an authorized inspection agency for shipments of Canadian potatoes, and Canadian potato standards may be used on the same basis as comparable United States grade standards.

USDA A N N O U N C E S G U I D E S F O R S P R I N G V E G E T A B L E S , S P R I N G M E L O N S , AND S P R I N G P O T A T O E S

Acreage-marketing guides for 1956 crop spring vegetables for fresh use, spring melons and EARLY COMMERCIAL SPRING POTATOES were issued November 3 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The Department recommended a total 1956 acreage for fresh spring vegetables 2 per cent below last year, a total acreage of spring melons equal to last year, and a 1956 acreage of EARLY COMMERCIAL SPRING POTATOES 13 per cent below last year.

The guides issued cover the 18 major spring vegetables and two spring melon crops that will be marketed in fresh form, principally during April, May, and June 1956, and 1956 early commercial spring potatoes.

The EARLY COMMERCIAL SPRING POTATO acreage guide for 1956, by States, amounts to a national total of 131,020 acres compared with 150,800 acres harvested in 1955. With average yields, the probable production from the guide acreages would be 39 million bushels.

The guides are part of an annual series. Guides for winter season fresh vegetables and E A R L Y C O M M E R C I A L W I N T E R S E A S O N P O T A T O E S w e r e

announced in August 1955. Guides for summer, fall, and processing vegetables, sweet-potatoes and SUMMER and PALL SEASON POTATOES will be issued in January, 1956. Issued seasonally prior to planting time, the guides are designed to assist vegetable growers in planning production. Action by growers on the Department's recommended acreages is voluntary.

1955] NEWS AND REVIEWS 437

The Department said that if production is in line with the guides for 1956, and if marketings follow a normal time pattern for the season, supplies should be adequate to meet all requirements.

A more detailed report, "1956 Acreage-Marketing Guides, Spring Vegetables for Fresh Market," will be available for distribution through the State Agricultural Extension Services in spring vegetable States within a short time.

1956 A C R E A G E - M A R K E T I N G G U I D E S E A R L Y C O M M E R C I A L S P R I N G P O T A T O E S

1956 Percentage Acreage Guide is of t955

State Guide Harvested Acreage (Acres) (Per cent)

Early Spring : Florida ................................................ 19,190 Texas .................................................... 250

Group total ................................ 19,440 Late Spring :

California .............................................. 56,400 Louisiana ............................................ 4,585 Mississippi .......................................... 500 Alabama .............................................. 19,935 Georgia ................................................ 590 South Carolina .................................... 6,500 Arizona ................................................ 3,720 Texas .................................................... 3,190 Oklahoma ............................................ 500 Arkansas ............................................. 1,270 Tennessee ............................................ 1,300 North Carolina .................................... 13,090

Group total ................................ 111,580 All States .................................................... 131,020

77 100

77

82 99 77 721 98

100 78 84

100 98

100 94

89 87

1Percentage of 1955 planted acreage.

Plant the suggested percentages of potatoes if you want to avoid another season of low pr ices .~Ed.

P O T A T O P E E L I N G S E R V I C E O N T H E I N C R E A S E , A C C O R D I N G T O U S D A S U R V E Y

Restaurants and institutions are the principal customers of potatoes being marketed in ready-to-cook form, according to a survey of the potato peeling industry made by the U. S. Department of Agriculture. In 1954, according to unofficial estimates, these outlets used a total of 64 million bushels of potatoes.