From the Blog
Squash - A Harvest Hero!
There are so many appealing things about squash: the deeply colored, marbled outer shell, the funky twisty shapes, the soft center. And nothing says harvest time quite like this perennial cornucopia favorite. Squash is an easy-to-store and easyto-cook harvest hero.
A North American Staple
Squash has been a mysterious traveler on the road from garden to table since its origins. The ease with which squash crosspollinates has given rise to the weird and wonderful varieties available today.
A relative to the cucumber and melon, it is native to the Americas, with a name originating from the Narragansett Indian word meaning “a green thing eaten raw”.
It is believed that squash was introduced to Europe in the 16th century by explorers returning from the New World. Early American settlers used this versatile vegetable in pies, soups, and even beer!
A friend of the gardener, squash is relatively hardy with large, easy to plant seeds that require little more than heat, sunlight, and some water.
Harvesting tip: harvest squash with approximately two inches of stem remaining to reduce the risk of decay in storage.
Winter Squash
There are two classifications of squash: winter and summer. Winter squash includes varieties such as acorn, buttercup, butternut, Hubbard, spaghetti, and turban.
Winter squash are characterized by their tough outer rind. They can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to six months, making this a perfect keeper for long winters.
Cooking with Squash
Squash lends itself beautifully to both sweet and savory recipes. A truly whole food, squash is almost entirely edible: blossoms, leaves, fruit, and even vines. Flowers can be stuffed with all kinds of goodies like soft cheese, meat, and rice.
For a quick side dish, grate an acorn or butternut squash, mix in an egg, a bit of flour, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and form into patties. Then sauté the patties for tasty squash fritters. Try slicing delicata squash and adding to stir-fry.
Squash is one of those all-time staple foods that deserves more respect than it often gets. While it might look weird, it’s really a heroic little vegetable brave enough to withstand hard Iowa winters.
Squash is a nutritional superfood loaded with beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, niacin, and iron. It’s a perfect vehicle for flavor, so grab some squash and start cooking! See how this underrated vegetable squashes the competition for taste.
New Pioneer Food Co-op
New Pi is a food co-operative, owned by over 35,000 members, home-grown in Iowa. We welcome everyone to our store, regardless of membership, and focus on local and sustainable food solutions. New Pi has strong roots in Iowa City’s local food community, and continues to partner with local growers, food, and sustainability organizations to enrich Linn and Johnson County communities.