HAR §4-41-40. Standards for Hawaii-grown cucumber

(a) As used in this section: "Badly deformed" means the cucumber is so badly curved, constricted, or tapered, or otherwise so badly misshapen, that the appearance is seriously affected or excessive waste is caused in preparation for use. "Clean" means the cucumbers are practically free from dirt or other foreign material and no caked dirt is on the cucumbers. "Damage" means any of the following specific defects, or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which materially detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the cucumbers: (1) Hollowness, when the transverse area of the hollow space exceeds the area of a circle 3/16 inch in diameter; (2) Pulled ends, when the broken flesh outside of the stem attachment is more than one-eighth inch deep or aggregating an area more than one-fourth inch in diameter; (3) Scars, when heavy, rough, dark, or sunken and aggregating an area more than one-half inch in diameter, or when deep, or when superficial, light colored, and smooth and aggregating an area more than one and one- half inches in diameter; or §4-41- 41-61 (4) Yellowing, when any distinct yellow cast is present. "Diameter" means the greatest thickness of the cucumber measured at right angles to the longitudinal axis, exclusive of warts. "Fairly well colored" means not less than one-half of the surface of the cucumber is of medium green or darker color, and at least a light green color extends to the blossom end on one side of the cucumber. "Fairly well formed" means the cucumber may be moderately curved but not deeply constricted, not extremely tapered or pointed, and not otherwise misshapen. "Firm" means the cucumber yields only slightly to moderate pressure and is not shriveled. "Length" is the length of the cucumber, exclusive of the stem. "Moderately colored" means at least one-third of the surface of the cucumber is of a light green or darker color. "Overgrown" means the cucumber has passed slightly beyond the best stage for slicing. Seeds are tough and fibrous, and the pulp in the seed cavity is usually watery or jelly-like. "Serious damage" means any of the following specific defects, or an equally objectionable variation of any one of these defects, any other defect, or any combination of defects, which seriously detracts from the appearance, or the edible or shipping quality of the cucumbers: (1) Bruises, when soft and aggregating an area more than three-fourths inch in diameter; (2) Insect stings, when unhealed, or more than one-fourth inch in any dimension, or seriously affecting shape, or more than three stings present; (3) Pulled ends, when the broken flesh outside of the stem attachment is more than 3/16 inch deep or aggregating an area more than three- eighths inch in diameter; (4) Scars, when heavy, rough, dark, or sunken and aggregating an area more than one inch in diameter, or when excessively deep, or when superficial, light colored, and smooth and aggregating an area more than two inches in diameter; or (5) Yellowing, when a distinct yellow color is present. §4-41- 41-62 "Similar varietal characteristics" means the cucumbers are alike as to shape, color, and other general characteristics. "Well colored" means not less than three-fourths of the surface of the cucumber is of a medium green or darker color, and at least a light green color extends to the blossom end on one side of the cucumber. "Well formed" means the cucumber is practically straight and not more than very slightly constricted or more than moderately tapered or pointed. (b) Hawaii Fancy (Hawaii Grade AA) cucumber consists of Hawaii-grown cucumbers of similar varietal characteristics which are clean, well colored, well formed, not overgrown, fresh, and firm; and which are free from decay, breakdown, wormholes, clipped ends, insect stings, shriveling, and pulled ends and from damage caused by freezing, yellowing, scars, hollowness, broken skin, bruises, mosaic or other diseases, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, each cucumber shall be one and seven-eighths to two and one-half inches in diameter and not less than six inches nor more than eleven inches in length. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading, sizing, and handling, the following tolerances, based on count, are provided: (1) For defects, not more than a total of ten per cent of the cucumbers in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for cucumbers seriously damaged by any cause, including not more than three per cent for wormholes and one per cent for cucumbers affected by decay or breakdown; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of ten per cent of the cucumbers in any lot may vary from the size specified, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, may be below the minimum diameter and not more than five per cent may be below the minimum length. (c) Hawaii No. l (Hawaii Grade A) cucumber consists of Hawaii-grown cucumbers of similar varietal characteristics which are clean, fairly well colored, fairly well formed, not overgrown, fresh, and firm; and which are free from decay, breakdown, wormholes, clipped ends, insect stings, and shriveling and from damage caused by freezing, yellowing, scars, §4-41- 41-63 hollowness, pulled ends, broken skin, bruises, mosaic or other diseases, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, each cucumber shall be not less than one and seven-eighths and not more than two and one-half inches in diameter and not less than six inches nor more than eleven inches in length. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading, sizing, and handling, the following tolerances, based on count, are provided: (l) For defects, not more than a total of ten per cent of the cucumbers in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, shall be allowed for cucumbers seriously damaged by any cause, including not more than three per cent for wormholes and one per cent for cucumbers affected by decay or breakdown; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of ten per cent of the cucumbers in any lot may vary from the size specified, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, may be below the minimum diameter and not more than five per cent may be below the minimum length. (d) Hawaii No. 2 (Hawaii Grade B) cucumber consists of Hawaii-grown cucumbers of similar varietal characteristics which are clean, moderately colored, not badly deformed, not overgrown, fresh, and firm; and which are free from decay, breakdown, wormholes, and clipped ends, from damage caused by freezing, and from serious damage caused by yellowing, scars, bruises, pulled ends, broken skin, shriveling, mosaic or other diseases, insect stings, insects, or mechanical or other means. Unless otherwise specified, each cucumber shall be not less than one and one-half inches in diameter and not less than five inches in length. In order to allow for variations incident to proper grading, sizing, and handling, the following tolerances, based on count, are provided: (1) For defects, not more than a total of ten per cent of the cucumbers in any lot may fail to meet the requirements of this grade, provided not more than three-tenths of this amount, or three per cent, shall be allowed for cucumbers with wormholes and one per cent for cucumbers affected by decay or breakdown; and (2) For off-size, not more than a total of ten §4-41- 41-64 per cent of the cucumbers in any lot may vary from the size specified, provided not more than one-half of this amount, or five per cent, may be below the minimum diameter and not more than five per cent may be below the minimum length. (e) Long type cucumbers, such as the fertila, bambina, evergreen, and longfellow varieties, shall be exempt from all size requirements of this section. (f) Cucumbers in any container or lot may be classified with the optional size designation "small" when the cucumbers are four to seven inches in length and not less than one and one-half inches in diameter. The optional size designation shall be specified in connection with the grade; e.g. Hawaii No. 1, Small. [Eff 5/29/81; am and comp 8/18/83; am and comp 3/24/86] (Auth: HRS §147-4) (Imp: HRS §147-4)