Grades and Requirements for Field Cucumbers
Application
142. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the grades and requirements set out in
sections 143 to 146 apply to cucumber varieties grown from Cucumis
sativus that are not grown in artificial conditions under glass or other
protective covering, except for their initial stages of growth.
(2) The grades and requirements referred to in subsection (1) do not apply
to 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
143. The grades and grade names for field cucumbers are Canada No. 1
and Canada No. 2.
Requirements for All Grades
144. In addition to the requirements for each grade and subject to the
general tolerances set out in section 147, field cucumbers of all grades
must
• (a) be properly packaged;
• (b) be fresh, sound and firm; and
• (c) be free from sunscald.
Canada No. 1 Grade Requirements
145. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 144, field 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) be practically straight, not more than very slightly constricted
and not more than moderately tapered or pointed;
• (c) have a maximum diameter of 70 mm (2 ¾ inches) and a
minimum length of 152 mm (6 inches);
• (d) if prepackaged, with the exception of one cucumber, not vary by
more than 19 mm (¾ inches) in diameter or 51 mm (2 inches) in
length;
• (e) be free from scars affecting more than 5% of the surface area of
a cucumber; and
• (f) be free from any other damage or defect or combination of
damage and defects that materially affects the appearance, edibility
or shipping quality of the cucumbers.
Canada No. 2 Grade Requirements
146. In addition to meeting the requirements for all grades set out in
section 144, field cucumbers graded Canada No. 2 must
• (a) have a good characteristic green colour over at least 75% of the
surface area of each cucumber;
• (b) be not more than moderately curved, not severely constricted,
and not extremely tapered or pointed or otherwise misshapen;
• (c) have a minimum length of 102 mm (4 inches);
• (d) be free from scars affecting more than 10% of the surface area
of a cucumber; 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.
General Tolerances
147. (1) In the grading of field cucumbers, the requirements set out in
sections 145 and 146, as applicable, are considered to be met if
• (a) not more than 10%, by count, of the cucumbers in a lot
inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging have defects,
including not more than
o (i) 1% that are affected by decay, and
o (ii) 5% that have the same defect other than decay;
• (b) not more than 10%, by count ,of the cucumbers in a lot
inspected at a time other than at the time of shipping or
repackaging have defects, including not more than 5% that have the
same permanent defect; and
• (c) in either of the cases referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), not
more than
o (i) 5%, by count, of the cucumbers in the lot exceed the
maximum diameter or are shorter than the minimum length;
and
o (ii) 10% of the packages contain cucumbers that exceed the
maximum diameter or length variation.
(2) Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of field cucumbers
only when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging.