Cucumbers

I. DEFINITION OF PRODUCE

This standard applies to cucumbers grown from varieties (cultivars) of Cucumis sativus L. to be supplied fresh to the consumer, cucumbers for processing and gherkins being excluded.

II. PROVISIONS CONCERNING QUALITY

The purpose of the standard is to define the quality requirements for cucumbers after preparation and packaging.

A. Minimum requirements

In all classes, subject to the special provisions for each class and the tolerances allowed, cucumbers must be:

• intact,
• sound; produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption is excluded,
• fresh in appearance,
• firm,
• clean, practically free of any visible foreign matter,
• practically free from pests,
• practically free from damage caused by pests,
• free of bitter taste (subject to the special provisions for classes II and III under the heading 'Tolerances'),
• free of abnormal external moisture,
• free of foreign smell and/or taste.

Cucumbers must be sufficiently developed but their seeds must be soft.

The condition of the produce must be such as to enable it:

• to withstand transport and handling, and
• to arrive in satisfactory condition at the place of destination.

B. Classification

Cucumbers are classed into the four classes defined below:

(i) 'Extra' class

Cucumbers in this class must be of superior quality. They must have all the characteristics of the variety.

They must:

• be well developed
• be well shaped and practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of length of the cucumber)
• have a typical colouring for the variety
• be free of defects, including all deformations and particularly those caused by seed formation.

(ii) Class I

Cucumbers in this class must be of good quality. They must:

• be reasonably developed
• be reasonably well shaped and practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of the length of cucumber).

The following defects are allowed:

• a slight deformation, but excluding that caused by seed formation
• a slight defect in colouring, especially the light coloured part of the cucumber where it touched the ground during growth
• slight skin blemishes due to rubbing and handling or low temperatures, provided that such blemishes have healed and do not affect the keeping quality.

(iii) Class II:

This class includes cucumbers which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the minimum requirements specified above. However, they may have the following defects:

• deformations other than serious seed development,
• defects in colouring up to one-third of the surface; in the case of cucumbers grown under protection, considerable defects in colouring in the affected part are not allowed,
• healed cracks,
• slight damage caused by rubbing and handling which does not seriously affect the keeping quality and appearance.

All the defects listed above are allowed for straight and slightly crooked cucumbers.

On the other hand, crooked cucumbers are allowed only if they have no more than slight defects in colouring and have no defects or deformation other than crookedness.

Slightly crooked cucumbers may have a maximum height of the arc of 20 mm per 10 cm of length of the cucumber.

Crooked cucumbers may have a greater arc and must be packed separately.

(iv) Class III (1):

This class includes cucumbers which do not qualify for inclusion in the higher classes but satisfy the requirements specified for Class II. However, crooked cucumbers may have all the defects allowed in Class II for straight and slightly crooked cucumbers and they must be packed separately.

III. PROVISIONS CONCERNING SIZING

Sizing is determined by the weight of the cucumber.

(i) Cucumbers grown in the open must weigh 180 g or more. Cucumbers grown under protection must weigh 250 g or more.

(ii) Moreover, 'Extra' Class and Class I cucumbers grown under protection weighing:

• 500 g or more must be not less than 30 cm long,
• between 250 and 500 g must be not less than 25 cm long.

(iii) Sizing is compulsory for classes 'Extra' and I.

The difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest cucumbers in the same package must not exceed:

• 100 grams where the lightest piece weighs between 180 and 400 grams,
• 150 grams where the lightest piece weighs 400 grams or more.

(iv) The provisions concerning sizing are not applicable to 'short cucumbers'.

IV. PROVISIONS CONCERNING TOLERANCES

Tolerances in respect of quality and size are allowed in each package for produce not satisfying the requirements for the class indicated.

A. Quality tolerances:

(i) 'Extra' Class:
5 % by number of cucumbers not satisfying the requirements for the class but meeting the requirements for Class I, or exceptionally coming within the tolerances for that class.

(ii) Class I:
10 % by number of cucumbers not satisfying the requirements for the class but meeting the requirements for Class II, or exceptionally coming within the tolerances for that class.

(iii) Class II:
10 % by number of cucumbers satisfying neither the requirements for the class nor the minimum requirements, to the exclusion of produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption. Within this tolerance a maximum of 2 % by number of cucumbers may have tips with a bitter taste.

(iv) Class III:
15 % by number of cucumbers satisfying neither the requirements for the class nor the minimum requirements, to the exclusion of produce affected by rotting or deterioration such as to make it unfit for consumption. Within this tolerance a maximum of 4 % by number of cucumbers may have tips with a bitter taste.

B. Size tolerances:

For all classes: 10 % by number of cucumbers not satisfying the size requirements. However, this tolerance is applicable to produce which differs by not more than 10 % from the size and weight limits specified.

V. PROVISIONS CONCERNING PRESENTATION

A. Uniformity:

The contents of each package must be uniform and contain only cucumbers of the same origin, variety or type, quality and size (where required). For cucumbers in Class III, uniformity may be limited to origin and variety or type.

The visible part of each package must be representative of the entire contents.

B. Packaging:

The cucumbers must be packed in such a way as to protect them properly.

The cucumbers must be packed sufficiently tightly as to avoide damage during transport.

The materials used inside the package must be new, clean and of a quality such as to avoid causing any external or internal damage to the produce. The use of materials and particularly of paper or stamps bearing trade specifications is allowed provided that the printing or labelling has been done with a non-toxic ink or glue.

The packages must be free of any foreign matter.

VI. PROVISIONS CONCERNING MARKING

Each package must bear the following particulars in letters grouped on the same side, legibly and indelibly marked and visible from the outside:

A. Identification:

1.2 // Packer and/or Despatcher // Name and address or officially issued or accepted code mark.

B. Nature of produce:

• 'Cucumbers' if the contents are not visible from the outside,
• 'under protection', where appropriate, or an equivalent expression,
• 'short cucumbers' or 'mini-cucumbers', as appropriate.

C. Origin of produce:

Country of origin and, optionally, district where grown, or national, regional or local trade name.

D. Commercial specifications:

- Class and, as appropriate, for Classes II and III, 'crooked cucumbers',

- Size (if the produce is sized) expressed in minimum and maximum weight of the cucumbers,

- Number of units (optional).

E. Official crate marking (optional)

(1) Additional class within the meaning of Article 2 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1035/72. The use of this quality class or some of its specifications is subject to a decision to be taken on the basis of Article 4 (1) of the same Regulation.