Squash, Summer

Squash, Summer

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.

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
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

landmcompanies

L&M Companies Inc

Overview (3)   (0)   (0)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper, Importer, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Nogales, 85621 Arizona
Deciduous Fruit:
Grapes
Melons:
Cantaloupe, Honeydew
Tropical Fruit:
Avocados
Cooking Vegetables:
Eggplant, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter
Salad Vegetables:
Peppers, Bell, Cucumbers, Romaine
united_fruit_and_produce

United Fruit & Produce Co Inc

Overview (6)   (0)   (4)  
Business Type:
Broker, Shipper, Importer, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
St Louis, 63102 Missouri
Berries:
Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Clementines / Mandarins / Tangerines
COV-Logo-Color (002)

Covilli Brand Organics

Overview (7)   (0)   (1)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Nogales, 85621 Arizona
Cooking Vegetables:
Brussels Sprouts, Kale
Organic Produce:
Organic Apples, Organic Beans, Organic Brussels Sprouts, Organic Cucumbers, Organic Eggplant, Organic Lemons, Organic Limes, Organic Onions, Green
thomas_fresh_logo_0

Thomas Fresh

Overview (3)   (0)   (0)  
Business Type:
Exporter, Grower, Shipper, Importer, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Surrey, V3Z 3X2 British Columbia
Berries:
Raspberries, Strawberries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Clementines / Mandarins / Tangerines
Deciduous Fruit:
Asian Pears, Figs, Pears
freshpoint_sysco

FreshPoint Connecticut LLC

Overview (5)   (0)   (8)  
Business Type:
Broker, Importer, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Hartford, 06114 Connecticut
Berries:
Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges
Deciduous Fruit:
Apples
canam_peppers_sig_logo

CAN-AM Pepper Company LP

Overview (2)   (0)   (1)  
Business Type:
Grower, Shipper, Importer, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Aylmer, N5H 2R5 Ontario
Citrus:
Limes
Melons:
Watermelon
Tropical Fruit:
Mangoes, Pineapple
Salad Vegetables:
Peppers, Bell, Pickling Cucumbers
Cooking Vegetables:
Pumpkins, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter
producecenter

Produce Center Inc

Overview (3)   (0)   (5)  
Business Type:
Broker, Exporter, Shipper
Location HQ:
Salinas, 93902 California
Berries:
Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries, Specialty Berries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges
wwwhammonds-producecom-logo-1476292740

Hammonds Produce

Overview (2)   (0)   (0)  
Business Type:
Broker, Grower, Shipper
Location HQ:
Forest Park, 30297 Georgia
Berries:
Strawberries
Melons:
Watermelon
Cooking Vegetables:
Corn, Pumpkins, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter
Salad Vegetables:
Tomatoes
55051_351766064914818_456850031_o

Inyoni Organic Farm

Overview (1)   (0)   (0)  
Business Type:
Grower
Location HQ:
Naples, 34120 Florida
Cooking Vegetables:
Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Onions, Bulb, Potatoes, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter
Salad Vegetables:
Peppers, Bell, Broccoli, Cucumbers
farmwey logo green vector-01

Farm-Wey Produce Inc

Overview (7)   (0)   (2)  
Business Type:
Broker, Shipper, Retailer, Wholesaler
Location HQ:
Lakeland, 33813 Florida
Berries:
Strawberries
Citrus:
Grapefruit, Limes, Oranges, Clementines / Mandarins / Tangerines
Melons:
Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon
Tropical Fruit:
Avocados, Coconuts








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