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

P D G Produce Inc

Overview (6) (0) (8)

Business Type:

Broker, Shipper, Retailer

Location HQ:

Nogales, 85628 Arizona

Deciduous Fruit:

Grapes

Melons:

Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon

Cooking Vegetables:

Eggplant, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter

Salad Vegetables:

Peppers, Bell, Cucumbers, Tomatoes

George Perry & Sons Inc

Overview (5) (0) (7)

Business Type:

Broker, Grower, Shipper, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Manteca, 95336 California

Melons:

Watermelon

Cooking Vegetables:

Pumpkins, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter

Keith Connell Inc HQ

Overview (8) (0) (8)

Business Type:

Broker, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Kansas City, 64114-3243 Missouri

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Lemons, Limes, Oranges

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples

Procacci Brothers Sales Corporation

Overview (20) (0) (17)

Business Type:

Broker, Importer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Philadelphia, 19148 Pennsylvania

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Strawberries

Citrus:

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

West Lake Fresh

Overview (7) (7) (8)

Business Type:

Broker, Exporter, Shipper, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Watsonville, 95076 California

Berries:

Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples

Salad Vegetables:

Peppers, Bell

Cooking Vegetables:

Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter, Green Beans

Rocky Produce Inc

Overview (14) (0) (22)

Business Type:

Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Detroit, 48209 Michigan

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Strawberries

Deciduous Fruit:

Pomegranates

Melons:

Cantaloupe

Stone Fruit:

Apricots

Tropical Fruit:

Carambola

Cooking Vegetables:

Celery Root, Leeks

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

Ben Litowich & Son Inc HQ

Overview (10) (0) (2)

Business Type:

Broker, Exporter, Shipper, Importer, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Lighthouse Point, 33064 Florida

Berries:

Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries

Citrus:

Grapefruit, Limes, Oranges

Melons:

Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Watermelon

Tropical Fruit:

Avocados

Miedema Produce Inc HQ

Overview (8) (0) (13)

Business Type:

Grower, Shipper, Packaging

Location HQ:

Hudsonville, 49426 Michigan

Berries:

Blueberries

Cooking Vegetables:

Asparagus, Cabbage, Onions, Bulb, Parsnips, Squash, Summer, Squash, Winter, Turnips

Salad Vegetables:

Peppers, Bell, Carrots

F C Bloxom Co HQ

Overview (14) (11) (14)

Business Type:

Exporter, Wholesaler

Location HQ:

Seattle, 98134 Washington

Deciduous Fruit:

Apples, Pears

Cooking Vegetables:

Beans, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery Root, Corn, Eggplant

Squash, Summer

Squash, Summer

Commodity Overview

PLUs

Varieties

Facts

Sales Strategies

Dynamic Displays

Food Service

In the Backroom

Equivalents

Become a Member Today