WildRiceCommodityRequirementsDocument(WR2) effective 07-28-2016.pdf

Agricultural Marketing Service

Commodity Procurement Staff P.O. Box 419205, Mailstop 8718

Kansas City, MO 64141-6205

USDA Commodity Requirements

Wild Rice

WR2

For use in Domestic Programs

Effective Date: July 28, 2016

USDA Commodity Requirements

WR2

Wild Rice For use in Domestic Programs

Table of Contents Part 1 Commodity Specifications

Section 1.1 Commodities

Section 1.2 Quality Assurance:

Part 2 Container and Packaging Requirements

Section 2.1 Commercial Packaging

Section 2.2 Unitization Requirements

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Part 1 Commodity Specifications

Section 1.1 Commodities

A. The wild rice delivered for use in USDA domestic food assistance programs shall meet the requirements as specified in the Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-20378

(March 30, 2016) for Wild Rice, and as clarified and supplemented below:

(1) Classification: In accordance with CID A-A-20378, Section 3. Classification:

Type I or II: Wild rice (Zizania palustris L. or Zizania aquatica)

Growing condition 1: Lake and/or river grown

Harvesting a: Hand harvested

Processing 1) or 2): Wood (hand) parched or Mechanically parched

Note: WILD Rice that is mechanically parched shall be parched using only wood.

(2) Broken kernels: The delivered wild rice shall contain no more than 10% broken kernels. Mill run wild rice is acceptable if the broken percentage is less than 10%.

Broken kernels shall be determined by the use of equipment and procedures prescribed in USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service instructions, or by any method which gives equivalent results.

(3) Age Requirement: In accordance with CID A-A-20378, Section 5.4. Age

Requirement:

The wild rice must be processed and packaged from the latest year’s crop and must be less than 12 months old prior to delivery.

Section 1.2 Quality Assurance:

A. Analytical Requirements: Replace CID A-A-20378, Section 7. Analytical Requirements with the following:

Testing of the wild rice shall be completed in accordance with customary commercial practices.

B. Quality Assurance: In accordance with CID A-A-20378, Section 10. Quality Assurance

Provisions, the following shall apply:

10.3. Manufacturer’s/distributor’s certification:

The manufacturer/distributor must certify via a Certificate of Conformance or other adequate documentation (in accordance with customary commercial practices) that the wild rice distributed meets or exceeds the requirements of this CID.

C. Contractors shall notify the Government immediately of lots that fail to meet contract requirements.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/CID%20Wild%20Rice.pdf

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Part 2 Container and Packaging Requirements

Section 2.1 Commercial Packaging

A. Contractors shall supply commercial brand products only and shall certify at the time of submission of an offer that the commercial product being delivered has a history of successful distribution and use in domestic commercial channels and is sold on the commercial market with an established level of consumer acceptance.

B. All containers and packaging shall be constructed to meet the requirements of the Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) for safe contact with the packaged product. The contractor shall obtain and maintain documentation from the container or packaging material manufacturer to verify that the containers and packaging materials used in this contract were in compliance with the Government’s regulatory requirements for safe contact with food products as required in the Master Solicitation for Commodity Procurement, Regulatory

Requirements for Commodities and Packaging.

C. Questions concerning the containers and materials should be directed to:

Senior Contracting Officer

Roy (Ray) Boyd

Telephone (816) 926 2612 or Email Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

D. If the contractor purchases packaging and container ingredients from a foreign country and/or the package and container is manufactured in a foreign country, the package and container SHALL NOT display country of origin labeling. Phrases including, but not limited to, “Made in [Name of Foreign Country.]” or “Product of [Name of Foreign

Country.]” are strictly prohibited.

Section 2.2 Unitization Requirements

Shipments shall comply with the following unitization requirements:

A. Unless otherwise specified by the Government, all shipments of packaged products shall be unitized (palletized and stretch wrapped).

B. Pallets shall be:

1) Constructed to facilitate the safe handling and transportation of the packaged product, as a unit, without loss or damage.

2) A Number 2, four-way, reversible flush stringer with no broken runners or slats.

3) Suitable for use in the shipment of food products.

C. Plastic stretch wrap shall be:

1) Constructed of a plastic film which is to be stretched a minimum of 50 percent beyond its original length when stretched around the pallet load.

2) Applied as tightly as possible around all tiers of the palletized shipping containers.

The shipping containers shall be held firmly in place by the stretch wrap.

mailto:Roy.Boyd@ams.usda.gov

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D. Pallet loads shall be:

1) Stacked in such a way as to minimize the amount that shipping containers overhang the edges of pallets.

2) Blocked and braced or otherwise loaded into the conveyance in a manner that prevents shifting during transit.

E. USDA does not participate in pallet exchange.