Meet the Cucurbits: Farmers Market Guides to Cucumbers, Melons, and More

July 30, 2025

What is a cucurbit? Though the name Cucurbitaceae may not easily roll off the tongue, it helps to remember that this plant family includes cucumbers and other members of the gourd family, like melons and squash. 

There’s no shortage of variety among the cucurbits at the farmers market, from fragrant muskmelons, sweet zucchinis, and cooling cukes in the summer to hardy pumpkins and gourds in the winter. Field-grown summer cucurbits generally start showing up in the market stands in June and July, then they transition into winter squash in the fall. 

Though we eat some cucurbits like vegetables, such as roasted squash or pickled cucumbers, botanically, they are all considered fruits. Specifically, they are modified berries, having many seeds but also a tough outer skin. The fruits of cucurbit plants, which often grow on vines, are called “pepos.” Slice into a cucurbit, and you’ll often find that it has crispy, watery flesh with a seed cavity in the center (though some, like watermelons, have seeds distributed throughout). 

Check out our guides to some common cucurbit categories below. This August, stop by the orange Seasonal Spotlight tent at Foodwise farmers markets for recipes, cooking tips, and free samples to discover a variety of ways to enjoy cucurbits, and celebrate them at our Cucurbit Carnival on August 30.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers come in all shapes and sizes, from the compact Lemon to the long Armenian, lending a crisp and refreshing taste to salads and other dishes.

Guide to come soon

Melons

Cantaloupes, Honeydews, and Ambrosia…melons abound in the summer. Although often grouped together, most sweet melons fall into two broad categories: watermelons and muskmelons.

A Farmers Market Guide to Melons 

Summer Squash

More than just the common zucchini, summer squash varieties come in different shapes, sizes, and shades of yellow and green, some of which you can only find at the farmers market.

Zucchini and Beyond: A Farmers Market Guide to Summer Squash 

Winter Squash

As we head into fall, these members of the gourd family, such as pumpkins, kabochas, and butternuts, are reliable go-tos at the farmers market, having a long shelf life through the winter months.

Squash Goals: A Farmers Market Guide to Winter Squash 

Gourds and More

Some varieties of Cucurbitaceae prized in cuisines around the world are in genera of their own. Learn more about cucurbits like bitter melon, moqua, and opo.

A Farmers Market Guide to Asian Vegetables