The months that are best for harvesting acorn squash—a winter squash with yellow flesh and distinctive ridges on its outside—are September and October. Therefore, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that September 7th of every year is National Acorn Squash Day. This type of squash is easy to cook and can be made into a variety of different dishes.

It’s also a squash that’s rich in dietary fiber, potassium, and beta-carotene. Because this squash has a long shelf life, this holiday is not only a good day to enjoy one, but it’s also a good day to begin stocking up on them so you have acorn squash available to you all winter long.

Fun Facts About Acorn Squash

We feel that we have quite a bit of acorn squash knowledge that we’ve just been waiting to share, and now we finally get our chance. Below are some facts about these fruits that we think are pretty cool.

• A half-cup of acorn squash contains 9% of your recommended daily dose of Vitamin A.
• Acorn squash is a great source of Vitamin C, B-6, folate, and niacin.
• Every cup of acorn squash contains approximately 26% of your recommended daily dose for potassium and 22% of your recommended dose of magnesium.
• Every half-cup serving of acorn squash has five grams of dietary fiber.
• Squash aren’t vegetables—they are actually fruits!
• Squash has been cultivated by Native Americans for over 10,000 years.

Observing Acorn Squash Day

Even though it may be difficult to find acorn squash in some supermarkets this early in September, it’s usually pretty easy to find them at your local farmer’s market. You might just have to look for it. Once you’ve acquired your squash, you can then decide what you want to make with it.

Some people make soup out of it, while others might steam it and stuff it with rice. It all depends on your personal taste how you prepare it. Just be sure that when you do buy and begin cooking with acorn squash, you use the hashtag #AcornSquashDay to spread the word about the late summer holiday.