Courgette PDF Print E-mail
The zucchini or the courgette is one of the two varieties of Cucurbita pepo, an annual herbaceous plant in the cucurbitaceae family native from the New World, whose fruit is used as food. At the present, it is also extensively cultivated throughout Europe as summer squash, whose fruit is consumed immature.
It is a trailing plant that can reach up to 10 metres in length, with grooved stems and a rough appearance, and has lobe and heart shaped twining pubescent leaves. The large yellow flowers are unisex; the masculine ones whose stamens are soldered together in a pillar shape and in both sexes the calyx is united to the corolla.
The fruit is oblong and varies quite a bit in size, depending on the variety. The outer shell is smooth and hard and also varies in colour. The varieties that are planted in may and June have white / green coloured skin, while those planted in March have dark skin.
As with all Cucurbitaceas  C.pepo is easily hybrid with other like species that is one of the causes for frequent confusion between them in which some, like Cucurbita maxima and Cucurbita moschata are cultivated equally for their fruit.  There exists a wide range of varieties in different colours and sizes; the largest reaching a weight of
18 – 36 kg.

CourgetteNumerical Values


Andalusia contributes 92% of zucchini production in Spain with more than 260,000 tons, of which 237,000 tons are concentrated in Almeria.

The reference zucchini is the dark green type and the province of Almeria has seen how it has become an important product in international markets. The weight of zucchini in Andalusia is such that it represents 35% of the European production of this product, although the Andalusian exportations of this product suppose more than 60% of the common commerce.

Nutritional Values


Zucchini is rich in Vitamin C, possesses diverse B family vitamins and contains Vitamin A and folate. It’s rich in potassium and poor in sodium. Its point of interest stems from its properties that help maintain adequate blood pressure and contains photochemichal compositions like flavonoids, that contain a strong anti-oxidant character.
 
The flavonoids contribute to the oxidation aggression that the organism suffers, responsible for many illnesses including ageing itself.
 
En cumplimiento de la Ley de Protección de Datos de Carácter Personal le informamos que sus datos serán incorporados a un fichero electrónico registrado en la AEPD, del que es titular la Organización Interprofesional de Frutas y Hortalizas de Andalucía (HORTYFRUTA). Podrá ejercer sus derechos de acceso, rectificación, cancelación y oposición poniéndose en contacto con el teléfono 950269161 o enviando un correo electrónico a info@hortyfruta.es.