Seasons/Availability
Butternut Squash is available year round.
Current Facts
The exceptional butternut is the most widely grown winter squash. Versatile and diverse, squash has no rival in the kitchen when it comes to its culinary flexibility. A member of the cucurbitaceae family, this large group includes not only squash, but also gourds and pumpkins. Versatile squash grows from bite-size to large enough to feed a fleet of men. Reports document an eight-hundred pound pumpkin recently grew in an apparently very large vegetable patch.
Description/Taste
Producing a delicious rich golden-yellow flesh with excellent texture, the classic butternut squash is one of the most popular varieties. Butternuts are a smooth long-necked bowling pin- or bell-shaped squash encased with a pinkish-tan hard rind. Having a relatively small seed cavity in its bulbous end, its tender flesh offers a superb creamy flavor. This old favorite offers fine eating and consistent flavor. Yielding more meat than most other squashes, butternuts weigh two to five pounds.
Nutritional Value
All squashes provide vitamin A and vitamin C, some of the B vitamins, and are a good source of fiber. One cup of cooked squash has about 100 calories. Deep-colored squashes have the most beta carotene. Eating five servings a day of fruits and vegetables lowers the chances of getting cancer. A recent study documents that nine or ten servings daily of fruits and vegetables, combined with three servings of low-fat dairy products, effectively lowers blood pressure.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Squash was once a traditional fall and winter vegetable and served hot, made winter meals special with its warm delicious soothing flavor. The promotion of healthier eating has moved this vegetable to a higher culinary rating and is now a frequently served year-round food. Today, both winter and summer squashes are popular in American cuisine.
Geography/History
Native to the Western Hemisphere, butternut squash is a member of the gourd family and is of the genus Cucurbita moschata. In the United States, Florida is the largest squash-producing state with California ranking a close second. Georgia and New Jersey are also major producers. Texas, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Oregon and South Carolina also contribute to the squash supply. This nutritious vegetable has earned a higher culinary rating in American diets due to the promotion of healthier eating habits.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
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