This document was part of the public consultation on the Proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables. Each phase of the consultation will focus on a group of fresh fruit or vegetables and will be open for a 60-day period.
The consultation for Phase 1 ran from October 29 to December 31, 2021.
Grades and Requirements for Greenhouse Mini Cucumbers New
Application
200. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the grades and requirements set out in sections 201 to 205 apply to greenhouse mini cucumber varieties grown from Cucumis sativus in artificial conditions under glass or other protective covering.
(2) The grades and requirements referred to in subsection (1) do not apply to cocktail or micro cucumbers or to greenhouse mini cucumbers for packaging in a hermetically sealed package, freezing, concentrating, pickling, or otherwise to assure preservation during transport, distribution and storage.
Grades and Grade Names
201. The grades and grade names for greenhouse mini cucumbers are Canada No. 1, Canada No. 2 and Canada Utility.
Requirements for All Grades
202. In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the general tolerances set out in section 206, greenhouse mini cucumbers of all grades must
- (a) be properly packaged;
- (b) have similar varietal characteristics; and
- (c) be fresh, sound and firm.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
203. (1) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 202, greenhouse mini cucumbers graded Canada No. 1 must
- (a) have a good characteristic green colour over at least 85% of the surface area of each cucumber;
- (b) subject to paragraph (c), be fairly straight and not more than slightly tapered at either end;
- (c) have the height of the inner arc of curvature not to exceed 19 mm (¾ inch);
- (d) have a minimum diameter of 19 mm (¾ inch);
- (e) have a minimum length of 76 mm (3 inches) or, if under 76 mm (3 inches) in length, the cucumbers conform to the length range indicated on the package or on a label attached to the package;
- (f) if prepackaged, with the exception of one cucumber, not vary by more than 13 mm (½ inch) in diameter or 38 mm (1 ½ inches) in length; and
- (g) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that materially affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the cucumbers.
(2) For the purposes of paragraphs (1)(d) and (f), "diameter" means the diameter as measured from a point that is one-half the length of the cucumber from the stem end. (diamètre)
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
204. (1) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 202, greenhouse mini cucumbers graded Canada No. 2 must
- (a) have a good characteristic green colour over at least 75% of the surface of each cucumber;
- (b) be not materially curved, constricted, pointed or otherwise misshapen;
- (c) have a minimum length of 76 mm (3 inches), or, if under 76 mm (3 inches) in length, the cucumbers conform to the length range indicated on the package or on a label attached to the package; and
- (d) be free from any other damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the cucumbers.
Canada Utility Grade Requirements
205. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 202, greenhouse mini cucumbers graded Canada Utility must be free from any other damage, defect or combination of damage and defects that seriously affects the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the cucumbers.
General Tolerances
206. (1) In the grading of greenhouse mini cucumbers into Canada No. 1 and Canada No. 2 grades, the requirements set out in sections 203 and 204, as applicable, are considered to be met where
- (a) not more than 5%, by count, of the greenhouse mini cucumbers in a lot inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging, have defects including not more than 1% that are affected by decay;
- (b) not more than 5%, by count, of the greenhouse mini cucumbers in a lot inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or repackaging, have permanent defects; and
- (c) in either of the cases referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), not more than
- (i) 5%, by count, of the greenhouse mini cucumbers in the lot have less than the minimum diameter or are shorter than the minimum length.
- (ii) 10% of the packages in the lot contain more than 1 cucumber that exceeds the length variation.
(2) In the grading of greenhouse mini cucumbers into Canada Utility grade, the requirements set out in section 205 are considered to be met where
- (a) not more than 5%, by count of the greenhouse mini cucumbers in a lot inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging, have defects including not more than 1% that are affected by decay;
- (b) not more than 5%, by count of the greenhouse mini cucumbers in a lot inspected at a time other than the time of shipping or repackaging, have permanent defects.
(3) Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of greenhouse mini cucumbers only when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.