The History of Acorn Squash

While varieties of squash have been cultivated in North America by Indigenous Peoples for thousands of years, we don’t know the exact origins of acorn squash specifically. Some historians think it originated with the Arikara tribe of the Dakotas. It was very likely introduced to European settlers by Native Americans, who introduced struggling colonists to varieties of squash and other staples to help them survive the harsh New England winters. Reportedly, squash was even one of the foods eaten at the first Thanksgiving! The acorn squash variety is often associated with the arrival of Danish settlers in Iowa in late 1800s, but the details of how it emerged as a foodstuff remain unclear. We do know that in 1913, the Iowa Seed Company introduced acorn squash seeds commercially. In an attempt to boost sales, the company marketed the seeds under the name Des Moines squash, and the term is sometimes still used today, although the name “acorn squash” is used much more widely. (The moniker is likely derived from the squash’s resemblance to a large acorn.) Today, acorn squash is a fall staple in the United States and is used for a variety of dishes; it’s especially popular in fall and winter and, fittingly, it often ends up on modern Thanksgiving tables.