Greenhouse Cucumber
Grading and Packing Manual

This manual is a summary of the regulations which apply to the grading, packing and marking of greenhouse cucumbers in the Province of Ontario. It is supplied by the Food Inspection Branch to assist in the marketing of greenhouse cucumbers cucumbers in Ontario.

Regulation 378/90 under the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act is the source of this information.

This edition, while accurate, is prepared for convenience only. For complete reference, please refer to the official volumes of the Farm Products Grades and Sales Act.

Contents:

| Grades | Packing Level Tolerances | Markings | Packages |
| Bilingual and Metric Requirements | OMAFRA Contact |

Grades

The grades and grade names for greenhouse cucumbers are Canada No. 1, and Canada No. 2. All greenhouse cucumbers sold in Ontario must be properly packed to the grade standards and marked accordingly.

The following table identifies the requirements of the Canada No. 1 and Canada No.2 grades.

Grade Factors

Canada No. 1

Canada No. 2

Properly Packed

When packaged, the greenhouse cucumbers must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.

 When packaged, the greenhouse cucumbers must not be slack, overpressed or otherwise in a condition likely to result in permanent damage during handling or in transit.

Variety

Each package must contain cucumbers of similar varietal characteristics and type. Seedless types cannot be mixed with regular types.

 Each package must contain cucumbers of similar varietal characteristics and type. Seedless types cannot be mixed with regular types.

Condition

Greenhouse cucumbers must be fresh, sound, firm and be free from:

  1. decay or breakdown (any soft mushy condition).
  2. freezing injury (any watersoaked, glazed areas).
  3. wilted or limp specimens which are rubbery or yield to pressure.
  4. Shrivelled, advanced puckering or wrinkled specimens.
  5. overmature or yellow (aging) specimens.

Greenhouse cucumbers must be fresh, sound, firm and be free from:

  1. decay or breakdown (any soft mushy condition).
  2. freezing injury (any watersoaked, glazed areas).
  3. wilted or limp specimens which are rubbery or yield to pressure.
  4. Shrivelled, advanced puckering or wrinkled specimens.
  5. overmature or yellow (aging) specimens.

Hollow Heart

Greenhouse cucumbers must be free from any hollow internal openings in the seed cavity.

 Greenhouse cucumbers must be free from any hollow internal openings in the seed cavity.

Disease

Must be free from disease which includes gummy stem blight, anthracnose, blight, mosaic and bacterial spot.

 Must be free from disease which includes gummy stem blight, anthracnose, blight, mosaic and bacterial spot.

Sun Scald

Greenhouse cucumbers must be from sun scald.

 Greenhouse cucumbers must be from sun scald.

Mechanical Injury

Must be free from any mechanical injury which has punctured the skin.

 Must be free from any mechanical injury which has punctured the skin.

Diameter

Seedless type must be a minimum diameter of 1 5/8 inches (41mm) measured 5 inches (127mm) from the stem end and not vary more than ½ inch (13mm) except for 1 cucumber where packed in a container.

Regular type has no diameter requirement except that cucumbers may not vary more than ½ inch(13mm) except for 1 cucumber where packed in a container.

Seedless type must be a minimum diameter of 1 ½ inches (38mm) measured ½ half the length from the stem end.

Regular type has no requirement.

Length

Seedless type must be a minimum length of 11inches (280mm) and not vary more than 2½ inch (63mm) except for 1 cucumber where packed in a container.

When packed one dozen per carton be labelled in addition to the grade with the size designation:

  1. "Small" 11 to 12.5 inches (280 to 317mm).
  2. "Medium" 12.5 to 14.5 inches (317 to 368mm).
  3. "Large" 14.5 to 16.5 inches (368 to 419mm).
  4. "Extra Large" over 16.5 inches (419mm).

Regular type must be a minimum length of 6 inches (152mm) and not vary more than 1½ inches (38mm) except for 1 cucumber where packed in a container.

Seedless type must be a minimum length of 10 inches (254mm).

Regular type must be a minimum length of 4.5 inches (114mm).

Colour

Each cucumber must have good characteristic colour over at least 85% of the surface.

Each cucumber must have good characteristic colour over at least 75% of the surface.

Shape

In the case of long seedless cucumbers, each cucumber must be fairly straight with the height of the inner arc of the curvature not exceeding more that the diameter of the cucumber when measured from a flat surface. Cucumbers must not be more than slightly tapered at either end.

In the case of long seedless cucumbers, each cucumber must not be materially curved, constricted , pointed or otherwise misshapen. The height of the inner arc of curvature must not exceed 3 inches (76mm) when measured from a flat surface.

Cleanliness

Cucumbers must be clean e.i. free from dirt, spray residue or foreign matter which contrasts with the background colour.

Cucumbers must be fairly clean e.i. free from dirt, spray residue or foreign matter that is thickly smeared and exceeds 1 inch (25mm) in diameter on seedless cucumbers, ½ inch (13mm) on regular type cucumbers or thinly smeared areas exceeding 5% of the surface area of the cucumber.

Scarring

Cucumbers must be free from scars that:

  1. affect the shape of the cucumber.
  2. are rough.
  3. affect an aggregate area exceeding 1 ¼ inch (32mm) on seedless cucumbers or ¾ inch (19mm) on regular cucumbers.

Cucumbers must be free from scars that:

  1. seriously affect the shape of the cucumber.
  2. are overly rough.
  3. affect an agregate area exceeding 10% of the surface of the cucumber.

Insect Injury

Cucumbers must be free from injury which penetrates the flesh, or affects an aggregate area exceeding ¾ inch (19mm) on seedless cucumbers and 3/8 inch (10mm) on regular type cucumber.

Cucumbers must be free from injury which penetrates the flesh, or affects an aggregate area exceeding 5% of the surface.

Pulled Ends

Cucumbers must be free from any breaking of the flesh outside of the stem attachment exceeding 3/8 inch (10mm) or any breaking of the flesh exceeding 1/8 inch (3mm) in depth.

Cucumbers must be free from any breaking of the flesh outside of the stem attachment exceeding ½ inch (13mm) or any breaking of the flesh exceeding ¼ inch (6mm) in depth.

Count

Exact count of cucumbers is required e.i the number of cucumbers in a container must correspond exactly with the count shown on the container.

Exact count of cucumbers is not required but must be correct if use.

Other Damage

Must be free of any other damage or defect not described which materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of thecucumber.

Must be free of any other damage or defect not described which seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of thecucumber.

 

Packing Level Tolerances

The following tolerances by count apply to any package or lot of greenhouse cucumbers before the package or lot would fail to meet the grade requirements at the packing level:

    1. 5% of the greenhouse cucumbers by count may be below the minimum diameter or length.
    2. 5% of the Canada No. 1 greenhouse cucumbers by count may be above the maximum length.
    3. 10% of the packages of greenhouse cucumbers may exceed the maximum diameter and length variation.
    4. 1% of the greenhouse cucumbers by count may be affected by decay.
    5. 5% of the greenhouse cucumbers by count may be affected by permanent defects.

Additional Destination Tolerances

In addition to those tolerances permitted at packing level, another 5 % of the greenhouse cucumbers by count in the lot may have permanent grade defects.

Note: Condition defects shall apply against the grade only at packing level.

Markings

All packages of greenhouse cucumbers must be marked with the following:

    1. Name and Address of Packer.
    2. Grade.
    3. Size designation on the cartons of seedless cucumbers
    4. Country or Canadian Province of origin in the form of " Product of ".
    5. The word "Greenhouse Cucumbers" where the product is not visible.

    Note:
    1. The grade and origin markings must be immediately adjacent to one another and of the same size print.
    2. All required markings must be at least 1/8 inch in height on tags, 3/16 inch in height on bags and capacity ¼ inch in height on all other packages (cartons, bushels, baskets etc.).
    3. All markings must be legible, of a permanent nature, and of a reasonable size proportional to the package or label.

Packages

Greenhouse cucumbers may be packed in the following containers:

  1. Baskets of 4, 6, 11 quart or 4 litre capacity.
  2. Half bushel hamper of 16 quart capacity.
  3. Half bushel box or carton of 1110 cu. inch (18.2 litre) capacity.
  4. Bushel hamper of 32 quart capacity.
  5. Bushel box or carton of 2220 cu. in (36.4 litre) capacity.
  6. Cartons for seedless type cucumbers.
    • Small: 13.5 in. x 12.5 in. x 4.5 in.
    • Medium: 15 in. x 12.5 in. x 4.5 in.
    • Large: 17 in. x 12.5 in. x 4.5 in.
    • Extra Large: 19 in. 12.5 in. x 4.5 in.
  • Cartons for regular type cucumbers.
    Crate: 16 1/8 in. x 11.5 in. x 4.5 in.
    Carton:
    • Special 14 in. x 9.5 in. x 4.5 or 5 in.
      1 Dozen 14.75 in. x 6 3/8 in. x 3.75 in.
      2 Dozen 16.5 in. x 9 in. x 6.75 in.
      King 16.5 in. x 8.5 in. x 6.25 in.
      Queen 14.75 in. x 8.5 in. x 16.25 in.
      Prince 13.25 in. x 8.25 in. x 6.25 in.
      Super King
      16 in. x 11 in. x 9.5 in.

Bilingual and Metric Requirements

All markings on packages of greenhouse cucumbers should be printed in equal prominence in both English and French as there is a possibility of export from Ontario. Names and Addresses are required only once.

Federal law requires that all net quantity markings be printed in Imperial measure (pounds, quarts. etc.) with the equivalent Metric measure of the same size.

For further information on bilingual or metric marking requirements or for shipments out of Ontario, contact your local Inspector with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Contact

Foods of Plant Origin
1 Stone Road West, 5th Floor North West
Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2



For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
Local: (519) 826-4047
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca
Author: OMAFRA Staff
Creation Date: 19 February 2003
Last Reviewed: 16 January 2004