Organic hard squash abundant
Organic hard squash are seeing a big harvest this year in Bakersfield, California, according to Brenda Haught of Bakersfield, CA-based Creekside Organics, saying, “For organic hard squash, overall this year the supply has been a bumper crop for everybody.”
Most notable in ample supply are the traditional top three varieties in squash: acorn, butternut and spaghetti. “It’s favourable weather conditions that have helped the supply but there are also more growers producing it and more local supplies organically than before,” says Haught. “There are producers all over the country and the storage conditions have been perfect. So there’s just been an abundance.”
Lower pricing this year
In turn, ample supply has led to softer prices—about 25 to 30 per cent lower than last year Haught estimates on certain varieties. “Typically, we see a spike in the market coming up here into December, January and February when the local supplies run out but I’m not sure that’s going to happen this year on butternut and spaghetti. The local supplies are so great they may not run out soon. And hard squash is one of those items that can store for a long time,” she says. Haught finds that supply is heavily coming out of the California, Pacific Northwest regions, and supplies are starting to come in from south of the boarder. “And even in the Midwest, our customers there who typically buy from us, say there’s an abundance of local supply and until that’s sold out, they probably wouldn’t be supporting a California shipper,” Haught adds.
Varieties are hot
At the same time, Haught is seeing some squash varietals selling out—think Red Kuri, Kabocha or Delicatta. “I see demand for those varieties increasing but the big pullers such as spaghetti and butternut are going to be plentiful for the next couple of months,” she says.
