cucumber

" Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, is native of Asia and Africa, where it has been consumed for 3,000 years. Cucumbers are both a leading commercial crop and a popular home garden vegetable. Commercial cucumber production includes processing types for pickling and fresh market types for slicing. China produces 62 percent of the world's cucumbers and ranking first (2nd to 4th are: Turkey, Iran and USA). Fresh prices are generally higher January through April (because of limited domestic supplies and higher production costs) and lowest in June when supplies are available from many areas. The farm price (f.o.b. shipping-point) generally accounts for about 25 percent of the retail value for fresh cucumbers. According to the USDA 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, 85 percent of fresh cucumbers are consumed at home. This may reflect limited uses for fresh cucumbers in fast food establishments and on mainstream restaurant menus. "