Produce Buddies Acorn Squash

Acorn Squash sold by the unit.

Squash has been a part of North American diets for a long time — more than 8,000 years, to be exact. First cultivated in Central America, it spread far and wide across the continent. Its many varieties are what food scientists call the Cucurbita family, which includes zucchini and pumpkin as well as butternut and, yes, acorn squash.

There are many reasons why acorn squash became so popular. One is its signature flavor. Somehow savory and sweet at the same time, acorn squash fares just as well in a side dish as it does in pies and cookies.

Acorn squash is a winter squash, meaning that it grows longer on the vine before harvest. This extra growing time lets the skin get hard and tough, giving it a longer storage life. You can store it for up to three months — or even longer as long as the conditions stay dry and cool, ideally between 50 and 60 F.