Supplies of squash are light at the moment. “The hard squash deal is just getting started out of Sonora. We’re lower in supply than we were this time last year,” says Lesley Sykes of The Sykes Co. “Things started late this year. There were rains during the planting time and it has delayed many growers in the area.”
Along with Sonora, Sinaloa has also been producing while California and New Jersey are at the tail ends of their crops.
Variety update
The Sykes Co. just began production with both butternut and acorn squash and expects to start bringing in spaghetti, kabocha and its line of organic squash this week. “Honeynut is a newer variety that we’re seeing more and more of, although it’s still very niche and yields are lower compared to some of the butternut varieties that have been around for a while,” says Sykes, noting that with so much variability in quality out there, it needs to communicate how its product and the growers behind it stand out in producing quality squash. “And hard (winter) squash continues to grow in popularity, particularly butternut and delicata which offer so much versatility and nutrition.”
As for demand, it’s been sluggish though Sykes is hoping to see a Thanksgiving pull. “Everything in the economy is higher right now and produce is no exception. Our flagship product, butternut, is in the $18-20 range and last year at this time it was going for $14,” says Sykes.
For more information:
Lesley Sykes
The Sykes Company
Tel: (+1) 520-281-2520
lesley@thesykesco.com
www.thesykesco.com