nodejs openshift cartridge - not reading custom environment variables

I am identifying my openshift nodejs app environment through system environment variables Ex: 'staging', 'production'. My custom environment variable name is OPENSHIFT_APP_ENV. I have set this in .bash_profile and ran source .bash_profile.

When I did printenv or echo $OPENSHIFT_APP_ENV in command line in my openshift app, I can see the values set properly.

But these variables are not read/set in my nodejs app. I am simply trying to read it as global.ENV = process.env.OPENSHIFT_APP_ENV || "development";

I feel that it should be simple setting issue, but could not get this working somehow. Any help will be appreciated.