The Popcorn Stand: The endless story of zucchini

I have to admit even though I grew up in this agricultural area — the breadbasket of the world — my knowledge of fruits and vegetables can be lacking. Like zucchini. I mean I like zucchini. I really do. But apparently during this time of year there can be a lot of zucchini. I never knew that.

As I’ve written before in the Popcorn Stand I never stopped to be amazed when it comes to how the human mind works. Like I never would have thought somebody would have come up with Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day.

Again even though I live in the breadbasket of the world, I had no idea such a day exists. But today is Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. It’s celebrated every year on August 8.

Other than the fact this was an effort to win the longest name for a holiday award, there’s actually a reason for this holiday. It seems by the time early August arrives people who grow zucchini have quite a lot of it.

Apparently a single plant can produce a seemingly endless supply of zucchini. Again even though I live in the breadbasket of the world, I had no idea.

So about this time of year those who grow zucchini are trying to find all kinds of ways to use it. Of course we all know what a difficult time this year has been. So maybe today we can change Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day to Donate Your Extra Zucchini To A Local Food Bank

Day. In the process we would still be in the running for the longest name for a holiday award.

And apparently no one has decided to start a Zucchini of the Month Club like the Fruit of the Month Club. Do Fruit of the Month Clubs still exist?

Remember when Fruit of the Month Club presents were given as Christmas gifts to someone and a box of fruit would come to their house once a month? And then those people would ask “what am I supposed to do with all this fruit?”

So then they tried to give all the fruit away to their neighbors, but then the neighbors became annoyed because they would also ask “what am I supposed to do with all this fruit?” I’m surprised there isn’t a Sneak Some Fruit on Someone’s Porch Day which again would be a candidate for the longest name for a holiday award.

Like I said it’s amazing how the human mind, including mine, works. But I digress.

Apparently zucchini gardeners try to come up with all kinds of recipes to use zucchini in things like soups, stews, breads and dips.

So I guess what happens is these zucchini gardeners keep trying to give their extra zucchini to their neighbors until the neighbors finally ask “What am I supposed to do with all this zucchini?”

As a result, August 8 has been designated as the day in which zucchini gardeners can sneak zucchini on to their neighbor’s porch.

Anyway all this talk about zucchini has made me hungry. I’m going for a candy bar and a soda.

Porterville Recorder Editor Charles Whisnand can be reached at cwhisnand@portervillerecorder.com or 784-5000, extension 1048.