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 Long Seedless Cucumbers
Application
148. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the grades and requirements set out in sections 149 to 153 apply to greenhouse long seedless 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 greenhouse mini cucumbers or to greenhouse long seedless 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
149. The grades and grade names for greenhouse long seedless cucumbers are Canada No. 1, Canada No. 2, and Canada Utility.
Requirements for All Grades
150. In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the general tolerances set out in section 154, greenhouse long seedless 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
151. (1) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 150, greenhouse long seedless 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 exceed the diameter of the cucumber when measured from a flat surface;
- (d) have a minimum diameter of 41 mm (1 ⅝ inches);
- (e) have a minimum length of 280 mm (11 inches);
- (f) if prepackaged, with the exception of one cucumber, not vary by more than 13 mm (½ inch) in diameter or, subject to paragraph (g), 63 mm (2 ½ inches) in length;
- (g) if packaged and sold in batches of one dozen or more per package, be labelled in addition to the grade with the size designation
- (i) "Small", if they have a minimum length of 254 mm (10 inches) and a maximum length of 305 mm (12 inches),
- (ii) "Medium", if they have a minimum length greater than 305 mm (12 inches) and a maximum length of 356 mm (14 inches),
- (iii) "Large", if they have a minimum length greater than 356 mm (14 inches) and a maximum length of 406 mm (16 inches), and
- (iv) "Extra Large", if they have a minimum length greater than 406 mm (16 inches); and
- (h) 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)(c), (d) and (f), "diameter" means the diameter as measured from a point that is 127 mm (5 inches) from the stem end of a cucumber. (diamètre)
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
152. (1) In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 150, greenhouse long seedless cucumbers graded Canada No. 2 must
- (a) have a good characteristic green colour over at least 75% of the surface of each cucumber;
- (b) subject to paragraph (c), be not materially curved, constricted, pointed or otherwise misshapen;
- (c) have the height of the inner arc of curvature not exceed 76 mm (3 inches) when measured from a flat surface;
- (d) have a minimum diameter of 25 mm (1 inch), and
- (e) 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.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(d), "diameter" means the diameter as measured from a point that is one-half the length of the cucumber from the stem end. (diamètre)
Canada Utility Grade Requirements
153. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in section 150, greenhouse long seedless 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
154. (1) In the grading of greenhouse long seedless cucumbers into Canada No. 1 and Canada No. 2 grades, the requirements set out in sections 151 and 152, as applicable, are considered to be met where
- (a) not more than 5%, by count, of the greenhouse long seedless 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 long seedless 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 long seedless cucumbers in the lot have less than the minimum diameter or are shorter than the minimum length, and
- (ii) in the case of a lot of greenhouse long seedless cucumbers graded Canada No. 1, 5%, by count, of the cucumbers in the lot exceed the maximum length, and
- (iii) 10% of the packages in the lot contain a greater or lesser number of greenhouse long seedless cucumbers than the number labelled on them, or contain cucumbers that exceed the length variation.
(2) In the grading of greenhouse long seedless cucumbers into Canada Utility grade, the requirements set out in section 153 are considered to be met where
- (a) not more than 5%, by count of the greenhouse long seedless 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 long seedless cucumbers in a lot inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or repackaging, have permanent defects.
(3) Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of greenhouse long seedless cucumbers only when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.