What should I charge?

[journey11]

I think I will sell my extra Jumbo Pink Banana squash and Butternut squash curbside here at the house. There are too many for us to eat in a year. I'm not really certain what to charge for them though. I bought the kids a couple of carving pumpkins at the pumpkin patch for 40 cents a pound and the grocery store usually sells butternuts and other winter squash for 99 cents a pound on sale. Any idea what they might go for at a farmer's market? The banana squash are around 15-20 pounds each. I'm hoping with Thanksgiving around the corner, they'll sell quickly. I can say with confidence they make the most awesome pumpkin pies. You'd get probably 6-8 pies out of one.

Also, I have some Cushaw squash I could have sold to someone who had an ad in the Trader's Guide newspaper awhile back, but I think they don't look right for the pics of cushaws I've seen--those had skinnier, slightly curved necks. The stripes are there, but they are shaped more like a butternut. Has anyone seen a cushaw like that, or am I right to worry that they may be crossed up? I've not eaten cushaws before, so I can't really judge by the taste or appearance.

 

[seedcorn]

I'd say whatever u can get. Problem is that they are too large of squash for most families. 6-8 pies? Most people won't make that many or freeze for later use. We are in the minority as far as gardening and not eating from store bought. Most people that go to markets really go to see or remember past.

 

[baymule]

What about selling pies made from your squash? Home made pies for Thanksgiving made from organic, home raised squash. Is there a market there for that?

People might buy them to cook for them selves or for fall decorations. I say try to sell them first, at the same time ask people if they would like to pick out "their" squash for custom baked pies.

 

[TheSeedObsesser]

I would say maybe around 3 - 4 dollars a piece. That's going off of what heirloom squashes sell for at the local Walmart (an expensive place when it comes to produce) - these squashes were also being sold as ornamental, they wasn't expecting them to be eaten.

C.Mixta x C.Moschata crosses happen surprisingly often, especially if you have a lot of insects and bees working at the flowers. So it is very possible that you could have a butternut x cushaw cross there! I just tried my first cushaw from Walmart a few weeks ago, tasted like a combo or raw pumpkin and microwave popcorn (although I was eating salmon before I tried the squash, so might have ruined the flavor).

How much do your cushaws weigh? I might be interested in buying one providing that they don't weigh too much and you don't mind shipping. I would pay for both the cost of squash and shipping and could also give you an update on the flavor.

 

[digitS']

@seedcorn is right. The fun of the experience must be about half the reason for people to show up at a farmers' market. There are only a few who are looking for a box of cucumbers for pickles or something like that. Often, those people are expecting the price to be lower than at a supermarket if they buy a lot.

At a market, I'd say, "let 'em pay retail!" Big truck farms have everything mechanized and don't mess with all the bother. The vendors at the market are just one step up from field hands. They either get retail prices for whatever they grow, process and transport or they don't need to bother to show up.

Having said that, only smaller winter squash command the supermarket price. You aren't transporting them and their customers are fewer so the big squash had better look like a good deal for those willing to put some work into stocking up.

Just my thoughts on it.

Steve

 

[lesa]

Not sure what you could get, but those butternut will keep in the basement until spring. That gives you a lot of time to eat them!

 

[Hal]

I think I will sell my extra Jumbo Pink Banana squash and Butternut squash curbside here at the house. There are too many for us to eat in a year. I'm not really certain what to charge for them though. I bought the kids a couple of carving pumpkins at the pumpkin patch for 40 cents a pound and the grocery store usually sells butternuts and other winter squash for 99 cents a pound on sale. Any idea what they might go for at a farmer's market? The banana squash are around 15-20 pounds each. I'm hoping with Thanksgiving around the corner, they'll sell quickly. I can say with confidence they make the most awesome pumpkin pies. You'd get probably 6-8 pies out of one.

Also, I have some Cushaw squash I could have sold to someone who had an ad in the Trader's Guide newspaper awhile back, but I think they don't look right for the pics of cushaws I've seen--those had skinnier, slightly curved necks. The stripes are there, but they are shaped more like a butternut. Has anyone seen a cushaw like that, or am I right to worry that they may be crossed up? I've not eaten cushaws before, so I can't really judge by the taste or appearance.

There are all shapes of Cushaws and they can be anything from round to butternut shaped to trombone shaped even.

 

[ninnymary]

I like the pie idea although it would involve work on your part. I think pies over here cost around $20-25.

Mary

 

[Nyboy]

There is a woman here who is famous for her homemade pies. She makes and sells then out of her house, Been doing it over 20 years. She only makes 1 type at a time she post a big sign on front door what type of pie for that day. If you don't go early she mostly will be sold out. not sure but have feeling she been doing it so long board of health looks other way. She gets $25 a pie sometime more at holidays

 

[seedcorn]

Wow! Pies here $6-10/each.