Consumer Tips       Greenhouse Cucumbers Buying and Storing Ripe Ontario greenhouse cucumbers should be long, thin and firm. They are individually sealed in plastic to protect their delicate dark green exterior and help retain their natural moisture. Their exterior color should be a deep vivid green and they should feel heavy for their size. Greenhouse cucumbers can be stored in their original plastic at cool room temperature, or in the refrigerator crisper.When selecting a cucumber choose one that is firm and spot-free. Preparation Greenhouse cucumbers need not be peeled, and there are no seeds to remove. The skin contains a lot of the nutrients. Cucumbers are almost always eaten raw, by themselves, in salads or as a sandwich vegetable. They can be gently steeped in butter, stock or even cream, or cut in half, lengthwise, poached and filled with a savory mixture of rice and herbs. Greenhouse cucumbers can be salted if desired. Greenhouse Techniques A greenhouse is designed to control most of the environment surrounding the plants. Computer controlled variables include the temperature, moisture level and nutrient elements. Optimization of these variables enhances productivity, flavor and quality. Most growers use hydroponics -- the growing of plants in inert media (e.g. rockwool, sand, gravel, etc.). This eliminates the traditional medium, soil. The most commonly used medium is Rockwool, an inert rock based growing medium with excellent water-holding capacity. It helps produce better quality crops with greater efficiency and provides a cleaner working environment. Most of Ontario greenhouse growers use "beneficial insects" instead of pesticides for pest management. The concept is simple: good bugs eat bad bugs. Strips of yellow sticky paper are set out to catch and count the pests, and predators or parasites are released accordingly. It is a virtually pesticide free way of keeping crops healthy. Nutrition Cucumbers are very low in calories. A cup of sliced cucumber contains 14 calories and is a source of Vitamin C. History The first experiments with greenhouse horticulture were by the ancient Romans. It wasn't until the Victorian period, when it became possible to properly control ventilation, heating and irrigation, that the industry began to grow. Greenhouse vegetable growing in Ontario became popular shortly after World War I. Greenhouse Tomatoes Never refrigerate tomatoes or you'll lose the lovely ripe smell and taste, not to mention important nutrients Buy Ontario Greenhouse Tomatoes at several stages of ripeness, so you can use them over several days. Keep Ontario Greenhouse Tomatoes on your counter and out of direct sunlight to finish ripening naturally. Lycopene Lycopene is an open-chain unsaturated carotenoid that imparts red colour to tomatoes. Lycopene is a proven antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which may damage the body's cells. The chemical form of lycopene found in tomatoes is converted by the temperature changes involved in processing to make it more easily absorbed by the body. In the body, lycopene is deposited in the liver, lungs, prostate gland, colon and skin. Its concentration in body tissues tends to be higher than all other carotenoids. Regular high consumption of fruits and vegetables is recommended as part of healthy eating. Epidemiological studies have shown that high intake of lycopene-containing vegetables is inversely associated with the incidence of certain types of cancer. For example, habitual intake of tomato products has been inversely associated with the risk of cancer of the digestive tract among Italians. In one six-year study by Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, the diets of more than 47,000 men were studied. Of 46 fruits and vegetables evaluated, only the tomato products (which contain large quantities of lycopene) showed a measurable relationship to reduce prostate cancer risk. As consumption of tomato products increased, levels of lycopene in the blood increased, and the risk for prostate cancer decreased. The study also showed that the heat processing of tomatoes and tomato products increases lycopene's bioavailability. Ongoing preliminary research suggests that lycopene is associated with reduced risk of macular degenerative disease, serum lipid oxidation and cancers of the lung, bladder, cervix and skin. Studies are underway to investigate other potential benefits of lycopene - including the H.J. Heinz Company sponsored research at the University of Toronto and at the American Health Foundation. These studies will focus on lycopene's possible role in the fight against cancers of the digestive tract, breast and prostate cancer. REF.: Stahl, W. and Sies, H. lycopene: a biologically important carotenoid for humans? Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 336: 1-9, 1996 Gerster, H. The potential role of lycopene for human health. J. Amer. Coll. Nutr. 16: 109-126, 1997 Home | Sales | Product Showcase | Location | Consumer Tips | Recipes Contact | Tour | Photo Gallery | Awards | Video Copyright © 2005 Double Diamond Acres. All rights reserved. Another web creation by JAZ Marketing & Design