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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.
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 619-698-3500 |
| Fort Oak | San Diego CA | 619-795-6901 |
| InterContinental Banquet Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-543-2764 |
| Rabbit Hole | San Diego CA | 619-255-4653 |
| El Jardin Cantina | San Diego CA | 619-356-5444 |
| Miguel's Cocina Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-437-4237 |
| Miguel's Cocina Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2401 |
| Flying Pig Pub & Kitchen | Oceanside CA | 619-990-0158 |
| International Smoke Del Mar | San Diego CA | 702-683-7590 |
| Parakeet Cafe- Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-297-0235 |
| Born & Raised | San Diego CA | 619-550-5412 |
| K&L Neighborhood Eateries | San Diego CA | 619-964-3778 |
| Firefly Beach | San Diego CA | 619-222-6440 |
| Miguel's Cocina Carlsbad | Carlsbad CA | 760-759-1843 |
| Miho Faculty Club | La Jolla CA | 619-323-2866 |
| Eco Caters Organics | San Diego CA | 619-997-8792 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-657-6473 |
| Miguel's Old Town | San Diego CA | 619-298-9840 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Chayote Squash. One
is
easiest, three is harder.Recently Shared
People have shared Chayote Squash using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing 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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Santa Monica Farmers Market
Trevino Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesLompoc, CA About 11 days ago, 9/04/19 
Ortegas
Ortegas Market
Near Petaluma, California, United States946 Caulfield Lane C Petaluma CA 94952 707-766-8093 About 54 days ago, 7/23/19 
Lolita's Market
Lolita’s Market
Near Petaluma, California, United States451 Lakeville Street Petaluma CA 94952 707-766-8929 About 54 days ago, 7/23/19 
Rojas’s
Rojas Market #2
Near Petaluma, California, United States351 E Washington Street Petaluma CA 94952 707-769-9877 About 54 days ago, 7/23/19 
Mi Tierra
Supermercado Mi Tierra #6
Near San Rafael, California, United States175 Belvedere Street San Rafael CA 94901 415-460-9813 About 55 days ago, 7/22/19 
novato market
Navato Market
Near Novato, California, United States350 Rowland Blvd Novato CA 94947 415-898-5600 About 55 days ago, 7/22/19 
pasar anyar bogor
Near Bogor, Jawa Barat, IndonesiaAbout 56 days ago, 7/21/19 Sharer's comments : chayote squash at pasar anyar bogor 
Carniceria Casa Maria
Casa Maria
Near San Francisco, California, United States1201 S. Van Ness Ave San Francisco CA 94110 415-550-6892 About 63 days ago, 7/14/19 
Evergreen markets
Evergreen Market
Near San Francisco, California, United States2539 Mission Street San Francisco CA 94110 415-641-4506 About 64 days ago, 7/13/19 
Mi Rancho Market
Near Escondido, California, United StatesAbout 99 days ago, 6/08/19 
Giant Super
Near Aft Blk 182, SingaporeAbout 166 days ago, 4/02/19 
NTUC FairPrice
Near Aft Blk 182, SingaporeAbout 171 days ago, 3/28/19 
Whole Foods Market
Near La Jolla, California, United StatesAbout 186 days ago, 3/13/19 Sharer's comments : fresh 
Food Land Supermarket
Near National City, California, United StatesAbout 191 days ago, 3/08/19 Sharer's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Food Land Supermarket. 
Vinh Hung
Vinh Hung Supermarket
Near Fairbanks Ranch, California, United States10550 Camino Ruiz, San Diego, Ca, 92126 858-408-0480 About 201 days ago, 2/26/19 Sharer's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Vinh Hung. Oviedo farmers market Near Forest City, Florida, United States About 252 days ago, 1/06/19 Asian Food Center Near Shoreline, Washington, United States About 503 days ago, 4/30/18 Sharer's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Asian Food Center. Heinen's Rocky River Near North Olmsted, Ohio, United States About 531 days ago, 4/02/18 
Leucadia Farmer's Market
Carranza Fruit Farm
Near Encinitas, California, United StatesAbout 567 days ago, 2/25/18 Sharer's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Leucadia Farmer's Market. 
Leucadia farmers market
Santiago Farms
Near Rancho Santa Fe, California, United StatesAbout 609 days ago, 1/14/18 Sharer's comments : Chayote Squash spotted at Leucadia farmers market . |
