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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Calabaza Squash |
| Scientific name | Cucurbita moschata |
| Family / Genus | Cucurbitaceae / — |
| Produce category | Cucurbit |
| Produce subcategory | Squash |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4769 |
| PLU — organic | 94769 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_1804 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 20.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| La Primera | 35% | A leading commercial hybrid known for high yield, uniformity, and adaptability. Produces large, round to oblate fruits with deep orange, sweet flesh. Excellent for fresh market and processing. |
| Pura Vida | 25% | Another popular commercial hybrid, valued for its strong disease resistance (especially to powdery mildew) and high productivity. Fruits are uniform, round to oblate, with good flavor and texture. |
| Taina | 10% | A traditional Puerto Rican variety, often open-pollinated. Fruits are variable in shape (round to pear-shaped) with deep orange, flavorful flesh. Highly valued in ethnic markets for its authentic tast |
| Cuban Calabaza (Generic Type) | 10% | Refers to various traditional, open-pollinated types grown in Cuba and parts of Florida. Fruits are typically large, round to oblate, often with mottled green or tan skin. Prized for soups, stews, and |
| Seminole Pumpkin | 8% | An heirloom variety native to Florida, known for its exceptional hardiness, disease resistance, and long storage capabilities. Produces small to medium pear-shaped fruits with sweet, dense orange fles |
| Verde Prieta | 7% | A commercial hybrid producing uniform, medium-sized fruits with dark green skin and bright orange flesh. Offers good yield and is well-suited for commercial production. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 1 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.5 uL/kg/hr typical (0.1–1) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 1 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Calabaza squash is non-climacteric and has very low ethylene production and sensitivity. Ethylene exposure can lead to accelerated senescence and quality loss over long storage periods.
Mixed-load compatibility
Non-ethylene producing, non-sensitive, avoid high moisture environments.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Stable to slightly increasing, driven by ethnic markets and culinary diversity
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.8 |
| Income elasticity | 0.5 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Pack sizes
- 30-40 lb cartons (bulk)
- Individual pieces (by weight)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T23:50:00.000Z.