Squash, Summer

Commodity Overview

Squash is a popular seasonal item but keep it in your promotional plan year-round as it is popular with health-conscious shoppers. Offer multiple varieties of squash to your consumers. Clearly label each variety and offer some information on the taste and uses of each type of squash.

Produce Availability

Colors Information:
Domestic:
Import:
Export:
All:

PLUs

3140 cucuzza
4773 patty pan/summer
4774 red kuri
4775 scallopini
4782 yellow, straightneck
4784 yellow, crookneck
4086 yellow zucchini/gold bar
4067 zucchini
3418 zucchini, round

Varieties

Cucuzzo Squash

Yellow Crookneck Squash

Yellow Straightneck Squash

Zucchini Squash

8 Ball Squash

Retail Price Data is based on USDA Specialty Crops Market News surveys. Data collection ends on the report date and encompasses ad pricing good from the Saturday before the report release date through the following Friday. Weekly data - from over 400 retailers, comprising more than 30,000 individual stores with online weekly advertised features - covers over 250 produce items. Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

USDA Specialty Crops Market News publishes FOB and Movement data on a daily and weekly basis. Pricing and volume information is aggregated by commodity and published weekly, subject to any source-data adjustments. Commodity data is further processed based on origin (domestic vs imports) and type (regular vs. organic). Registered (logged-in) users, can access weekly reports and additional market information.

Facts

Squash offers a variety of health benefits. Summer squash is high in vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system and fight cancer. Many winter squashes are a good source of vitamin A, which helps protect eyes and skin. Butternut squash contains potassium, which is important for keeping bones healthy.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the following nutrient content descriptors for summer squash: fat-free, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, low in calories, and high in vitamin C. Descriptors approved for spaghetti squash are: low-fat, saturated fat-free, very low sodium, cholesterol free and low in sodium. Descriptors approved for crookneck squash are: fat-free, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free and low in calories.

Sales Strategies

Squash’s many uses make it a perfect cross-merchandising partner, so promote it with soup stock, stir-fry vegetables and spaghetti sauce for spaghetti squash, grilling seasonings and flour and seasonings for fried squash.
Some type of squash is available year-round, so keep an eye on the calendar and offer promotion throughout the year.
Spring: Promote spaghetti squash to health-conscious consumers as a replacement for carb-laden noodles.
Summer: Zucchini and yellow squash are symbols of summer. Promote them during summertime grilling promotions.
Offer samples of different varieties of squash to familiarize consumers with the many flavors available to them.

Dynamic Displays

Offer multiple varieties of squash to your consumers. Clearly label each variety and offer some information on the taste and uses of each type of squash.
Avoid stacking squash more than four layers deep to keep from crushing the squash on the bottom layer. Be careful when stacking to create a display that won’t tumble onto the floor when consumers remove squash.
Use squash’s multiple colors to create a color break among other cooking vegetables.
Display zucchini and yellow squash with other vegetables popular in the summertime as they are often associated with summer.

Food Service

Yellow squash has a high water content. Before using it in a cooked dish, blanch the whole squash or add salt to shredded, sliced or julienne squash.
Create a cold squash soup to offer during the summer.
Yellow squash can be a substitute for eggplant or carrots.
Steam zucchini and yellow squash and serve as a colorful side dish.

In the Backroom

Shipping
summer squash 42-lb. bushel and 11⁄9-bushel containers 35-lb. cartons/crates 30-lb. 3⁄4-bushel cartons/crates 26-lb. cartons/lugs (California, Mexico) 21-lb. 1⁄2- or 5⁄9- containers 10-lb. 8-quart baskets/cartons

Grades
summer squash U.S. No. 1 U.S. No. 2

Handling
*Temperature: soft, 41 to 50 F, 5 to 10 C; *Relative humidity: soft, 95%; *Mist: summer, lightly; *Typical shelf life: soft, 7 to 14 days; *Ethylene-sensitive (Do not store or transport ethylene-sensitive items with commodities that produce ethylene.) *Soft squash is highly sensitive to freezing injury. (Likely to suffer injury by one light freezing.) *Susceptible to chilling injury (Damage sometimes is not apparent until the produce is returned to a higher temperature.) *Summer squash can be held at 32 to 40 F, 0 to 4.4 C for periods of less than four days. Use immediately after removing from refrigeration. *Scallopini squash is more perishable. Refrigerate and use promptly. *Summer squash that has been frozen will turn to mush due to high water content.

Equivalents

1⁄3-1⁄2 lb. winter squash = about 1 serving 2-lb. peeled, trimmed squash = about 4 cups cooked or 4 servings 1-lb. summer squash = about 4 cups grated 1-lb. summer squash = about 2 cups salted and squeezed 1-lb. summer squash = about 31⁄2 cups sliced or chunked 1-lb. summer squash = about 11⁄4 cups mashed 1-lb. summer squash = about 3 to 4 servings

MVP Produce LLC

Overview (1) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Ruskin, 33570 Florida

Cooking Vegetables:

Cucuzzo Squash, Yellow Crookneck Squash, Yellow Straightneck Squash, Zucchini Squash, 8 Ball Squash, Green Acorn Squash, Banana Squash, Buttercup Squash, Butternut Squash, Carnival Squash

First Quality Produce

Overview (4) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Wholesaler, Processor, Foodservice

Location HQ:

Fresno, 93725 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges

A & Z Produce

Overview (3) (0) (10)

Business Type:

Broker, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

North Salt Lake, 84054 Utah

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Gold Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Koru Apples, Cosmic Crisp® Apples, Envy™ Apples, Jazz™ Apples

ASM OF MEXICO

Overview (1) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Broker, Exporter

Location HQ:

Culiacán Rosales, 80040 Sinaloa

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Gold Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries, Red Currants, Kiwiberries

RAM Produce Distributors LLC

Overview (7) (0) (9)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Detroit, 48217 Michigan

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, Strawberries

Citrus:

Limes, Oranges

Deciduous Fruit:

Figs

Tropical Fruit:

Avocados, Kiwifruit, Mangoes

National Produce Consultants LLC Powered by Foodbuy

Overview (22) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Management & Consulting, Other, Foodservice

Location HQ:

Allen, 75013-8098 Texas

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges

George Chiala Farms Inc

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Grower, Processor

Location HQ:

Morgan Hill, 95037-9516 California

Cooking Vegetables:

Cauliflower, Eggplant, Garlic, Herbs, Leeks, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter

Salad Vegetables:

Peppers, Bell, Broccoli, Carrots

Eden South Inc

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Broker

Location HQ:

Tampa, 33612 Florida

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Gold Raspberries, Red Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries, Red Currants, Kiwiberries

Marengo Foods Company LLC HQ

Overview (11) (0) (2)

Business Type:

Grower, Shipper, Processor

Location HQ:

San Juan, 78589-4299 Texas

Salad Vegetables:

Red Bell Peppers, Yellow Bell Peppers, Orange Bell Peppers, Green Bell Peppers, Red Cherry Tomatoes, Red Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine, Greenhouse/Hydroponic Tomatoes, Red Plum/Roma Tomatoes

Cooking Vegetables:

Zucchini Squash, Yellow Straightneck Squash