[Market-farming] Baby Squash

Sue Oberle sue at oberlebotanical.com
Thu May 21 16:25:34 EDT 2009


We sell a lot of baby squash. I like to keep the blossoms on, but they 
go down *FAST* on a hot day, so they are sometimes sold without. Seems 
worse to leave them on if they're punky & shriveled. In most cases 
though, the squash are under 4". Not even the best restaurant has taken 
exception to this.

We sell baby squash by the lb. (9.50/lb) but the blossoms alone are sold 
sold in clamshells by the pint or quart. They are easy to collect & 
sell; generally mid season through late (July-Sept).

I've taken squash "logs" to market reluctantly until about 2 yrs ago. 
Put them in crates & sold them as seconds for $1.50 each. They sell out 
so fast it scares me. Many people have no idea why we call them seconds.

I'd love to get my hands on someone who's really good w/ math (& wants 
to do an exercise like this)- 'cause I think that selling baby squash as 
opposed to regular,  nice 6-8" squash  is a good calculus problem. 
Assuming we sell out, do we really make more selling them as babies? Or 
is it better to let them get bigger & sell them for less since it 
happens so quickly?

Inquiring minds would love to know
Sue Oberle
*OBERLE BOTANICAL* at *Happy Heart Farm*
Fort Collins, Colorado
970.581.5672
sue at oberlebotanical dot com
http://www.oberlebotanical.com
http://www.happyheartfarmcsa.com


jay sleichter wrote:
> I grow 12 different varieties/colors of squash.  I have over 300 
> squash growing. This is more than last year.  I only sell squash 
> picked at its proper harvest size, not baseball bat size.  I have seen 
> alot of shows talking about "Baby" squash.  Does anybody sell baby 
> squash?  If so, I assume you would leave the blossom on.  Do you sell 
> these by the pint, quart, pound?  What sells the best, Do they sell, 
> are they worth it?   How much do you sell them for? When do they sell 
> best? Early in the year, midseason, fall?
>
> I would love to hear your thoughts.
>
> Jay
>
>
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