Grades and Requirements for Greenhouse Cucumbers
Application
148. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the grades and requirements set out in
sections 149 to 153 apply to 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 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 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 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 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) in the case of long seedless cucumbers, have the height of the
inner arc of curvature not exceed the diameter of the cucumber
when measured from a flat surface;
• (d) in the case of long seedless cucumbers, have a minimum
diameter of 41 mm (1 ⅝ inches);
• (e) have a minimum length
o (i) of 280 mm (11 inches), in the case of long seedless
cucumbers, and
o (ii) of 76 mm (3 inches), in the case of other types of
cucumbers, 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
o (i) 13 mm (½ inch) in diameter or, subject to paragraph (g), 63
mm (2 ½ inches) in length, in the case of long seedless
cucumbers, and
o (ii) 13 mm (½ inch) in diameter or 38 mm (1 ½ inches) in
length, in the case of other types of cucumbers;
• (g) if long seedless cucumbers are packaged and sold in batches of
one dozen per package, be labelled in addition to the grade with the
size designation
o (i) “Small”, if they have a minimum length of 280 mm (11
inches) and a maximum length of 317 mm (12 ½ inches),
o (ii) “Medium”, if they have a minimum length greater than 317
mm (12 ½ inches) and a maximum length of 368 mm (14 ½
inches),
o (iii) “Large”, if they have a minimum length greater than 368
mm (14 ½ inches) and a maximum length of 419 mm (16 ½
inches), and
o (iv) “Extra Large”, if they have a minimum length greater than
419 mm (16 ½ 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) and (d) and subparagraph
(1)(f)(i), “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 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) in the case of long seedless cucumbers, have the height of the
inner arc of curvature not exceed 76 mm (3 inches) when measured
from a flat surface;
• (d) have
o (i) in the case of long seedless cucumbers, a minimum length
of 254 mm (10 inches) and a minimum diameter of 38 mm (1
½ inches), and
o (ii) in the case of other types of cucumbers, 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
• (e) be free from any other damage or defect that seriously affects
the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the cucumbers.
(2) For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(d)(i), “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 cucumbers graded Canada Utility must
• (a) be clean and free from disease;
• (b) be free from decay; and
• (c) be free from any other damage or defect that seriously affects
the appearance, edibility or shipping quality of the cucumbers.
General Tolerances
154. (1) In the grading of greenhouse 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 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 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
o (i) 5%, by count, of the cucumbers in the lot have less than the
minimum diameter or are shorter than the minimum length,
o (ii) in the case of a lot of greenhouse cucumbers graded
Canada No. 1, 5%, by count, of the cucumbers in the lot
exceed the maximum length, and
o (iii) 10% of the packages in the lot contain a greater or lesser
number of cucumbers than the number labelled on them, or
contain cucumbers that exceed the maximum diameter or
length variation.
(2) In the grading of greenhouse 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 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 cucumbers in a
lot inspected at the time of shipping or repackaging, have
permanent defects.
(3) Condition defects apply against the grade of a lot of greenhouse
cucumbers only when the lot is inspected at the time of shipping or
repackaging.
