ZUCHINI & Summer Squash

Season: mid June - late September
Zucchini and Suimmer Squash can be grown from mid June to the end of September in WNY. We usually have it available at our market from the beginning of the season, through August. Sometimes we have a late planting available too. We grow regular green zucchini, as well as Gold Bar Zucchini, a beautiful yellow variety. 

RECIPE: Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash

Storage

Zucchini can be stored at room temperature for a day. For longer periods of time, keep it in your crisper drawer.

Long-term Storage: Slice in 1-inch pieces. Blanch for 3 minutes. Place in freezer-safe containers and freeze. Alternatively, freeze already prepared zucchini such as grilled.

Preparation

  •  Zucchini & Summer Squash can be eaten raw in salads or on vegetable trays. It is excellent with dip.
  • Zucchini & Summer Squash is excellent in stir-fry, steamed, fried or grilled. It is a good addition to a grilled meal and mixes well with other grilled vegetables. Because of its high water content, zucchini should not be overcooked as it will fall apart. Zucchini is also popular in soups.
  • Zucchini is often added to breads and muffins to make a healthy treat.
  • Try scooping out the insides and making boats! After steaming for 4 minutes, stuff with anything from couscous and sauteed veggies, to cooked sausage,onions, breadcrumbs, and cheese. Then bake at 400 for twenty minutes.

About Squash…

  • Summer squash is native to North America and can be mostly traced to Mexico as well as parts of Central America where they've been cultivated for thousands of years. 
  • Squashes were a staple of early American diets. Early explorers of North America took squash back to Europe where it was cultivated. Zucchini was first produced in Italy in the 1920s.
  • Most squash is either low in fat or fat-free, saturated fat-free, low sodium or sodium-free, cholesterol-free, low in calories and high in vitamin C.
  • All parts of squash plant are edible. Seeds can be eaten as-is or ground into paste. The leaves are often eaten as greens.
  • The squash is botanically a special type of berry.
  • 1 lb. = about 4 cups grated zucchini
  • Zucchini is fat free, saturated fat free, cholesterol free and low in sodium.
  • The flowers of the zucchini plant are also edible.