Page 53 - Sonoma County Gazette - October 2017

Identifying Winter Squash
L.I.F.E. (Local Incentive for Food & Economy ) matches customers’ Calfresh
benefits spent at participating markets (EBT), dollar-for-dollar, up to a $10 or $20
maximum, depending on the market. Participating Markets marked with:
Go to farmersmarketlife.org for more information
SEASONAL MARKETS:
Bodega Bay Community Farmers’ Market ~ Sun. 10- 2p (May thru Oct) Bodega Bay Community Center, 2255 North Hwy 1, Bodega Bay, 707-875- 9609; bbcommunityassoc@comcast.net; facebook.com/ BodegaBayFarmersMarket/
Cloverdale Tuesday Farmers’ Market ~ Tues. 3 - 6p (Apr 4 thru Dec.19) 225 N. Cloverdale Blvd, marne@14feet.net cloverdaletuesdayfarmersmarket. com
Gualala Farmers’ Market ~ Sat 9:30- 12:30p, May thru October. Gualala Community Center, Hwy 1, Gualala. 707-884-3726 facebook.com/Gualala- Farmers-Market
Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Markets ~ Sat. 8:30a to noon & Wed 4p to 7p (Jun-Oct) West Plaza Parking Lot N & Vine St. 707-824-8717/ 707 529- 4884, Healdsburgfarmersmarket.org, manager@healdsburgfarmersmarket. org
Occidental Bohemian Farmers’ Market Fri 4-dusk (Jun-Oct) 3611 Bohemian Hwy. 707-874-8478 facebook.com/occidentalfarmersmarket
Petaluma Walnut Park Farmers’ Market ~ Sat 2-5:30p (May-
Nov. 18)Petaluma Blvd South at D Street 415-999-5635 info@ communityfarmersmarkets.com communityfarmersmarkets.com facebook.com/PetalumaFarmersMarket/
Sonoma Golden Park ~ Sat. 9-12p (May- Oct) 19996 7th St. East Sonoma Master Gardeners available. sonomagardenpark.org
West End Farmers’ Market ~ Sunday 9:30-noon. (Apr -Nov26) #9 4th St. Railroad Square Santa Rosa 707-477-8422 wefm.com
Windsor Farmers’ Market ~ Sun. 10a - 1p & Thur 5-8p (Apr-Dec.) Windsor Town Green, 701 McClelland Dr at Market St, Windsor 707-838-2947 windsorfarmersmarket.com; www.facebook.com/windsorcertified/
Year Round Farm-Fresh Food
Oakmont Certified Farmers’ Market ~ Saturday 9a – noon, in the parking lot at White Oak and Oakmont Drive 707-538-7023
The Petaluma East Side Farmers’ Market Tuesday 10a - 1:30p, Year Round, Lucchesi Park, 320 N McDowell Blvd, Pet. communityfarmersmarkets.com; 415-999-5635 info@communityfarmersmarkets.com
Santa Rosa Community Farmers' Market at the Vets Bldg ~ Wednesday 9a - 1p and Saturday 8:30a-1p Veteran’s Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa 415-999-5635 info@communityfarmersmarkets.com
Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers’ Market ~ Wednesday and Saturday 8:30a - 1p. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. thesantarosafarmersmarket.com 707-522-8629
Sebastopol Farmers' Market ~ Sunday 10a -1:30p Sebastopol Plaza Downtown Across from Whole Foods Market sebastopolfarmmarket.org 707- 522-9305 facebook.com/Sebastopol-Farm-Market-115479670123
Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers’ Market ~ Friday 9a - 12:30p, in the Arnold Field parking lot at 241 First St West, Sonoma 707-538-7023 svcfm.org
By Kelly Smith
With October’s arrival we welcome squash season. For this month’s article as I
researched squash I realized there are so many options; from pumpkin to delicata to butternut to spaghetti squash. It seems a comprehensive list of varieties for winter squash to look for at the farmers’ markets while you are shopping.
Kabocha This winter squash type also known as Japanese pumpkin. This has a number of varieties such as Cutie, Emiguri, Ajihei, Miyako and Ebisu. Kabocha has a dark green colored skin and has a shape similar to a pumpkin. The peel is hard and inside it is orange-yellow.
Acorn In color and texture, it is similar to kabocha, but its shape is elongated. Acorn squash is known by different names as Des Moines squash or pepper squash. The ridges are distinct and even though it is a winter squash, it has similarities to the summer squash variety.
Delicata The Delicata squash has a tender skin and probably this is the reason behind the name. It has a creamy color skin with green striped lines along the ridges. Because of the delicate skin this is hard to store for a long time. Also known as Bohemian squash, peanut squash and sweet potato squash, this used in cooking and resembles the summer squash, even though it is eaten as a winter one.
Butternut This vegetable is associated with pumpkin as it tastes like it. The interior is orange and the outer cover looks rough yellow, which darkens as it grows. Sweet in taste is great in soups.
Hubbard Great used as pie stuffing or in soups and has a wide range of vibrant rind colors like orange and gray, and within it is yellow. This winter squash can have a durability of around 6-months if stored well. It weighs between 8 to 20 pounds and owing to its huge quantity, it is sold in cut pieces.
Ambercup Looking like a little pumpkin with dark orange skin as well as flesh. It can be roasted by cutting into cubes and being a winter squash is storable for a long time. The flesh is not mushy and has a sweet taste.
Calabaza The Calabaza squash is also known as the West Indian pumpkin and this is cultivated in America and West Indies. However, due to its hard skin, it is transported to different places as it can be stored for longer than the ones with thinner skin.
Sweet Dumpling This small squash has a skin coated with cream color and the ridges are dark green. It looks like a pumpkin but is pressed on the top which gives it a distinct shape. The flesh greenish to orange in color, has slightly sweet taste and is also soft. This squash is good for baking as it is small in size and can be cooked whole
Sunburst The Sunburst squash or patty pan squash are small and look ornamental with their flowery structure. The sunburst patty pan comes in bright sunny color as the name suggests and having a buttery taste, it fits into any summer dish. Patty pan squash is also found in light green color which is also known as white squash.
CarnivalThe Carnival squash tastes like butternut squash and sweet potato and is eaten by removing the peel. The hard skin of this winter squash is deep green in color with light green and orange marks. This vegetable is used in soups or consumed by baking or steaming.
Spaghetti The name comes from the fact that this squash splits into strands like that of spaghetti. This cylindrical shiny yellow squash weighs from 4 to 8 pounds and is used in pasta or savored by adding herbs and butter. Great option if you are looking to a low carbohydrate diet.
Turban Glistening yellow inside and bright colored peel ranging from green to white to orange, this squash has a typical shape which helped it in acquiring this name. This squash has a big cap which can be removed in order to make it into a pot to hold soup and the like.
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