Community Corner

Fresh At The Farmers' Market: Green and Golden Zucchinis

This versatile "vegetable" is in season at the local farmers' market throughout summer. Got a zucchini recipe to share? Leave a comment.

This week's featured product at the farmers' market is the zucchini. Cucumber-like in appearance, the zucchini is actually a summer squash or marrow that is harvested while immature. Zucchinis can be dark or light green, or even a deep yellow or orange color. The latter is a related hybrid known as "the golden zucchini."

According to the Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association (PCFMA), a zucchini left to mature on the vine would harden its skin and enlarge its seed cavity to form a gourd-like squash. The zucchini is also known as an "Italian squash," and in Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, The Netherlands and South Africa, the zucchini is called a "courgette," which comes from the French word for squash. Although treated like a vegetable, it is actually a fruit.

The zucchini has a delicate flavor and is often steamed, boiled, grilled, stuffed and baked, barbecued or fried, according to PCFMA. The flower blossoms may also be eaten in salads or stuffed. 

Zucchini should only be stored for up to three days. 

Find zucchini recipes like Ratatouille on the PCFMA website

Concord and Clayton Farmers' Market Schedules

Location: Todos Santos Plaza
Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. year-round.
Thursday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., April 25 to Oct. 24, 2013
Information: PCFMA.com

Location: Diablo Street, between Main and Center in Downtown Clayton
Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. May 11 to Oct. 26, 2013
Information: PCFMA.com

Location: Concord High School parking lot
Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round.
Information: CCFM.org

Do you have a zucchini recipe to share? Leave a comment below.


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