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Produce Briefs...
Ramps
The wild ramp, AKA wild leek, botanical name Allium tricoccum, is a flowering perennial plant that grows in clusters. It is a member of the Allium family along with onions and leeks
Calamondin Limes
The Calamondin lime is a cross between a sour, loose skinned mandarin and a kumquat, therefore technically making it an orangequat.
Salanova Lettuces
Salanova® lettuce is a full-sized variety developed for the baby lettuce market. Botanically these varieties are scientifically known as Lactuca sativa.
Description/Taste
Chayote squash is small to medium in size, averaging 10-20 centimeters in length, and has a pear-like shape with deep linear indentations, folds, or puckers that run vertically along the fruit's skin that meet at its flower end. The pale green rind is thin, smooth, firm, and edible but is often discarded because of its tough nature. The creamy white flesh is crisp to starchy and becomes succulent to cottony as it matures, and the central core contains one small, edible seed. Chayote squash is crunchy and very mild with a slightly sweet taste and light notes of cucumber. The Chayote fruit is just one of the edible elements of the plant, and its tendrils, flowers, and roots are also consumed.
Seasons/Availability
Chayote squash is available year-round, with peak season in the fall and occasionally in the late spring.
Current Facts
Chayote squash, botanically classified as Sechium edule, is the fruit of a tropical, perennial, and prolific vine that can grow up to fifteen meters in length and is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family along with pumpkins and gourds. Although the most commercially known varieties are lime green and pear-shaped, Chayote squash varieties come in different colors, shapes, and textures with a shared common denominator of the flesh's color and the fruit's flavor. Chayote squash is used around the world in many different cultures and is predominately used as a carrier to soak up accompanying ingredients. It has adopted many other common names including Vegetable pear and Mirliton in North America, Sayote and Green Gold in the Philippines, Christophene in the Caribbean and France, Pipinella in Italy, Pipinola in Hawaii, and originally Chayotli by the Aztecs.
Nutritional Value
Chayote squash contains vitamin C, vitamin B-6, folate, dietary fiber, and potassium.
Applications
Chayote squash is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as grilling, stir-frying, boiling, steaming, and baking. When young, they can be sliced or shredded in salads and slaws along with ingredients such as citrus, cabbage, arugula, and fresh herbs. They can also be pickled and preserved. When ripe, Chayote squash can be peeled, sliced, and added to soups, stews, curries, and casseroles. Fully mature Chayote can be boiled and mashed or slow roasted and served like a potato as an accompaniment to main courses featuring grilled meats and fish. When slicing into the raw fruit, it is recommended to wear gloves as the squash secretes a sticky, nontoxic residue which may cause some irritation to sensitive skin. Chayote pairs well with chile peppers, cream-based sauces, bacon, curry, mole, garlic, onions, both soft and hard cheeses, melon, cumin, coriander, oregano, cilantro, lemon or lime juice, almonds, and coconut milk. They will keep up to four weeks when wrapped in a paper towel, placed in a plastic bag, and stored in the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Chayote squash is widely used around the world in a variety of culinary applications. Cajun cuisine popularly uses Chayote squash to make stuffed chayotes or pirogues, which translates to mean "dugout canoes." In Louisiana, Chayote squash has long been a popular backyard fruit and growth of it dates back to 1867. In Latin America, Chayote is commonly used like pumpkin and is made into a sweet pie. Chayote is also used in the Philippines to make chop suey, stir-fries, and soups. In addition to culinary uses, the vines are utilized in the West Indies to make sturdy, woven ropes.
Geography/History
Chayote squash is native to Mesoamerica, specifically central Mexico. It was one of the earliest cultivated plants within the New World, though there is no definitive archaeological evidence to prove just how long Chayote squash has been in existence. Today Chayote squash can be found at specialty grocers and farmers markets in North, Central, and South America, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Craft and Commerce (Sekscobra Inc.) | San Diego CA | 619-962-5935 |
| The Art Institute of California - San Diego | San Diego CA | 858-598-1200 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Galaxy Taco | La Jolla CA | 858-228-5655 |
| Paradise Point Resort Barefoot | San Diego CA | 858-490-6363 |
| Firefly Beach | San Diego CA | 619-222-6440 |
| Parakeet cafe | La Jolla CA | 619-578-1040 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-657-6473 |
| Miguel's Cocina Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-437-4237 |
| K&L Neighborhood Eateries | San Diego CA | 619-964-3778 |
| Miguel's Old Town | San Diego CA | 619-298-9840 |
| Covo La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-246-6721 |
| Sbicca | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1001 |
| Miguel's Cocina Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2401 |
| Miguel's Cocina Carlsbad | Carlsbad CA | 760-759-1843 |
| Miguel's 4S Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-924-9200 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-543-2764 |
| Ballast Point Restaurant - Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-298-2337 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
| El Jardin Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-356-5444 |
| Addison Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-350-7600 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Chayote Squash. One
is easiest, three is harder.Recently Spotted
People have spotted Chayote Squash using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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Asian Food Center
Near Shoreline, Washington, United States About 144 days ago, 4/30/18 Spotter's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Asian Food Center. Heinen's Rocky River Near North Olmsted, Ohio, United States About 172 days ago, 4/02/18 
Leucadia Farmer's Market
Carranza Fruit Farm
Near Encinitas, California, United StatesAbout 208 days ago, 2/25/18 Spotter's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Leucadia Farmer's Market. 
Leucadia farmers market
Santiago Farms
Near Rancho Santa Fe, California, United StatesAbout 250 days ago, 1/14/18 Spotter's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Leucadia farmers market . 
Mercado Hidalgo
Fruteria Paraiso
Near Tijuana, Baja California, MexicoMercado Hidalgo 38, Tijuana 684-8583 About 498 days ago, 5/11/17 Spotter's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Mercado Hidalgo. Mercado Hidalgo
Fruteria Paraiso
Near Tijuana, Baja California, MexicoMercado Hidalgo 38, Tijuana 684-8583 About 498 days ago, 5/11/17 Spotter's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Mercado Hidalgo. Penn-Dutch supermarket Near Dania Beach, Florida, United States About 625 days ago, 1/04/17 Walmart on Marsh and Frankford in Dallas, TX Near Addison, Texas, United States About 686 days ago, 11/04/16 Wal-Mart Lake Havasu City, AZ Near Lake Havasu City, Arizona, United States About 727 days ago, 9/24/16 |
