In late 2001, the RJW™ Automated Butternut Squash Peeler was issued a provisional patent and in February 2003, U.S. Patent # 6,523,464 was granted.
RJW™ peelers are currently being used in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts, New York, California, Canada.
The RJW Automated Butternut Squash peeler was developed in 2000 out of the need to not only improve but also simplify the process for the mass peeling of butternut squash. Done by hand, a squash is turned by a lathe-like machine while the operator holds a cutting tool against it to remove the skin. This process was not only inefficient but messy.
In early 2000 the first peeler hit the market that peeled butternut squash efficiently, with no mess and little waste. Simple to use, one person can operate up to three machines at one time.