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

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

Santa Sweets Inc

Overview (7) (11) (2)

Business Type:

Grower, Shipper

Location HQ:

Plant City, 33563 Florida

Cooking Vegetables:

Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter

Salad Vegetables:

Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Grape Tomatoes

Giumarra Companies HQ

Overview (24) (2) (7)

Business Type:

Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Los Angeles, 90086 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges, Clementines / Mandarins / Tangerines

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples, Asian Pears, Grapes

Better Produce Inc

Overview (5) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Broker, Grower, Shipper

Location HQ:

Santa Maria, 93458-5616 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries

Cooking Vegetables:

Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter, Snow Peas, Banana Wax Peppers

Organic Produce:

Organic Blackberries, Organic Peppers, Chili, Organic Raspberries

Volcano Produce Inc

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Retailer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Stevenson ranch, 91381 California

Tropical Fruit:

Bananas

Salad Vegetables:

Peppers, Bell, Cucumbers, Red Bell Peppers, Yellow Bell Peppers, Orange Bell Peppers, Green Bell Peppers, Red Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine

Specialties:

Gooseberries

Cooking Vegetables:

Zucchini Squash

Tomahawk Produce

Overview (3) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Broker, Exporter, Grower, Shipper

Location HQ:

Shell Beach, 93449 California

Cooking Vegetables:

Peas, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter, Green Beans, Snow Peas

Botsford & Goodfellow Inc

Overview (1) (11) (1)

Business Type:

Broker, Shipper, Retailer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Hermiston, 97838 Oregon

Melons:

Cantaloupe, Watermelon

Cooking Vegetables:

Artichokes, Cabbage, Corn, Herbs, Onions, Bulb, Parsnips, Peppers, Chili

Salad Vegetables:

Peppers, Bell

Latin Specialties LLC

Overview (4) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Broker, Grower, Shipper, Importer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Houston, 77022 Texas

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples, Pears, Pomegranates

Tropical Fruit:

Avocados, Bananas, Coconuts, Mangoes

Bally Produce Corp

Overview (3) (0) (1)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Maspeth, 11378 New York

Salad Vegetables:

Spinach

Cooking Vegetables:

Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter, Napa Cabbage

Specialties:

Bok Choy, Ginger Root

Veggies Inc

Overview (6) (0) (1)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Rio Rico, 85648 Arizona

Berries:

Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Grapes, Pears

Melons:

Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon

Stone Fruit:

Peaches

Tropical Fruit:

Mangoes

Cooking Vegetables:

Corn, Eggplant

Elegant Farmer Inc, The

Overview (2) (0) (0)

Business Type:

Grower, Retailer

Location HQ:

Mukwonago, 53149 Wisconsin

Berries:

Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples

Cooking Vegetables:

Pumpkins, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter

Squash, Summer

Squash, Summer

Commodity Overview

PLUs

Varieties

Facts

Sales Strategies

Dynamic Displays

Food Service

In the Backroom

Equivalents

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