TinyVeggies™ Cucumber
Estimated Inventory, 50 ct : 0
This item was last sold on : 09/26/24
Grower
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are tiny and oblong-shaped, measuring approximately 2 to 3 centimeters in length. About the size of a quarter, Watermelon Gherkins grow on climbing vines and resemble miniature watermelons. Their skin has a lime green background dotted with light green speckles arranged in vertical lines. This variety is firm yet smooth on the outside and when cut open, reveals a cucumber-like appearance. Their flesh is pale green, soft, and aqueous. It contains multiple chambers of succulent gel pockets encasing small, slippery white seeds. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers have a scent similar to other cucumber varieties, as is their taste. This variety has a sweet, tangy flavor with notes of green melon. They become increasingly sour as the fruit matures.
Available year-round.
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are part of a proprietary line of specialty micro-vegetables grown by Fresh Origins farm in northern San Diego, California. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are botanically classified as Melothria scabra and are also known as Watermelon Gherkins, Cucamelons, Sandita, Sandia de Raton, and Mouse melons. The heirloom vegetable is a part of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also contains squash, pumpkins, gourds, and watermelons. The variety is not technically a cucumber but is given the description because of their similar flavor and texture. Fresh Origins developed their Tiny Veggies™ as an accompaniment to their microgreens line. Currently the company grows over 20 different vegetables in their Tiny Veggies™ line with an emphasis on visually appealing and flavorful varieties. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are most commonly enjoyed raw or pickled. Tiny Veggies™ are favored by chefs as an elevated crudité, garnish, and side dish.
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are a source of vitamins C, E, and K. These vitamins support immunity, collagen production, iron absorption, wound healing, blood clotting, and eye, heart, and bone health. This variety provides the body with lycopene, an antioxidant that improves blood sugar control and digestion as well as prevents free radical and UV ray damage. They contain fiber to further encourage digestion and blood sugar control and improve gut health. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are beneficial for electrolyte balance, muscle function, and nervous system function.
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers can be used in both raw and cooked applications. The entire fruit, including the skin and seeds, is edible. This variety is popularly used to make pickles, particularly when they’ve matured and developed seeds. They can also be added to salad, salsa, lettuce wraps, gazpacho, or bruschetta for a unique texture and taste. This fruit may be juiced to add flavor to cocktails or used whole as a martini garnish. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers can be sautéed in olive oil and garlic and served as a vegetable side dish or tossed into a stir-fry. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers pair well with tomatoes, chilies, citrus, garlic, fennel, radish, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pork belly, white fish, yogurt, mellow cheeses, vinegar, cilantro, basil, and mint. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers will keep up to ten days when stored in the refrigerator.
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers began to grow in popularity as a specialty ingredient in the early 2010s. The miniature fruit sparked interest at farmers markets and specialty shops around this time and challenged the creativity of chefs and cocktail mixologists. The naturally sour taste and crunch of the cucumber lends itself to pickling. Chefs were inspired to create delicious pickles with the Tiny Veggies™ that would be served alongside breads, charcuterie, and as garnishes in craft cocktails. In 2013, A. R. Valentien, located at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in San Diego, featured pickled Cucamelons in their take home gift for the Celebrate the Craft Event. The Lodge at Torrey Pines has been hosting the Celebrate the Craft event at their facilities since 2003. The event invites Chefs, vendors, and winemakers from San Diego to showcase their skills, celebrating culinary innovation and California’s agricultural abundance. Each year guests look forward to the house-made pickles and preserves created by the culinary team of A.R. Valentien.
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are native to Mexico and Central America. They grow in warm, tropical, and subtropical climates with full sun exposure, preferring temperatures around 75 degrees to sprout. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are a proprietary micro-vegetable grown by Fresh Origins Farms in San Marcos, California. Fresh Origins uses the mild, Southern California climate to grow their Tiny Veggies™ year-round. Fresh Origins farm was established in 1995 and has become the culinary industry’s leading producer of microgreens, petite greens, and edible flowers. The farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavors, and they also work closely with third party auditing programs to ensure the highest level of food safety at their farm and production areas. Today Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States and Canada, including Specialty Produce.
| Fresh Origins | Homepage |
Description/Taste
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are tiny and oblong-shaped, measuring approximately 2 to 3 centimeters in length. About the size of a quarter, Watermelon Gherkins grow on climbing vines and resemble miniature watermelons. Their skin has a lime green background dotted with light green speckles arranged in vertical lines. This variety is firm yet smooth on the outside and when cut open, reveals a cucumber-like appearance. Their flesh is pale green, soft, and aqueous. It contains multiple chambers of succulent gel pockets encasing small, slippery white seeds. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers have a scent similar to other cucumber varieties, as is their taste. This variety has a sweet, tangy flavor with notes of green melon. They become increasingly sour as the fruit matures.
Seasons/Availability
Available year-round.
Current Facts
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are part of a proprietary line of specialty micro-vegetables grown by Fresh Origins farm in northern San Diego, California. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are botanically classified as Melothria scabra and are also known as Watermelon Gherkins, Cucamelons, Sandita, Sandia de Raton, and Mouse melons. The heirloom vegetable is a part of the Cucurbitaceae family, which also contains squash, pumpkins, gourds, and watermelons. The variety is not technically a cucumber but is given the description because of their similar flavor and texture. Fresh Origins developed their Tiny Veggies™ as an accompaniment to their microgreens line. Currently the company grows over 20 different vegetables in their Tiny Veggies™ line with an emphasis on visually appealing and flavorful varieties. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are most commonly enjoyed raw or pickled. Tiny Veggies™ are favored by chefs as an elevated crudité, garnish, and side dish.
Nutritional Value
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are a source of vitamins C, E, and K. These vitamins support immunity, collagen production, iron absorption, wound healing, blood clotting, and eye, heart, and bone health. This variety provides the body with lycopene, an antioxidant that improves blood sugar control and digestion as well as prevents free radical and UV ray damage. They contain fiber to further encourage digestion and blood sugar control and improve gut health. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are beneficial for electrolyte balance, muscle function, and nervous system function.
Applications
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers can be used in both raw and cooked applications. The entire fruit, including the skin and seeds, is edible. This variety is popularly used to make pickles, particularly when they’ve matured and developed seeds. They can also be added to salad, salsa, lettuce wraps, gazpacho, or bruschetta for a unique texture and taste. This fruit may be juiced to add flavor to cocktails or used whole as a martini garnish. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers can be sautéed in olive oil and garlic and served as a vegetable side dish or tossed into a stir-fry. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers pair well with tomatoes, chilies, citrus, garlic, fennel, radish, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pork belly, white fish, yogurt, mellow cheeses, vinegar, cilantro, basil, and mint. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers will keep up to ten days when stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers began to grow in popularity as a specialty ingredient in the early 2010s. The miniature fruit sparked interest at farmers markets and specialty shops around this time and challenged the creativity of chefs and cocktail mixologists. The naturally sour taste and crunch of the cucumber lends itself to pickling. Chefs were inspired to create delicious pickles with the Tiny Veggies™ that would be served alongside breads, charcuterie, and as garnishes in craft cocktails. In 2013, A. R. Valentien, located at The Lodge at Torrey Pines in San Diego, featured pickled Cucamelons in their take home gift for the Celebrate the Craft Event. The Lodge at Torrey Pines has been hosting the Celebrate the Craft event at their facilities since 2003. The event invites Chefs, vendors, and winemakers from San Diego to showcase their skills, celebrating culinary innovation and California’s agricultural abundance. Each year guests look forward to the house-made pickles and preserves created by the culinary team of A.R. Valentien.
Geography/History
Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are native to Mexico and Central America. They grow in warm, tropical, and subtropical climates with full sun exposure, preferring temperatures around 75 degrees to sprout. Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers are a proprietary micro-vegetable grown by Fresh Origins Farms in San Marcos, California. Fresh Origins uses the mild, Southern California climate to grow their Tiny Veggies™ year-round. Fresh Origins farm was established in 1995 and has become the culinary industry’s leading producer of microgreens, petite greens, and edible flowers. The farm closely partners with chefs to create innovative varieties with unique flavors, and they also work closely with third party auditing programs to ensure the highest level of food safety at their farm and production areas. Today Tiny Veggies™ Cucumbers can be found through select distribution partners of Fresh Origins across the United States and Canada, including Specialty Produce.
Learn More...
