Methods for extending the shelf life of processed cucurbita pepo plants are provided herein. A method may include sanitizing an exocarp of the C. pepo vegetable, cutting the whole C. pepo vegetable into fragments, allowing the fragments to excrete a protective coating so as to cover each of the fragments with the protective coating, packaging the fragments in an airtight manner, and chilling the packaged fragments to approximately at or below 34° F.
