Bacterial wilt transmitted by cucumber beetles and other insects is a common issue in the production of cucurbit crops. Bacterial wilt can negatively affect yield and crop quality, which will result in financial losses to the grower. There are many insecticides that can eliminate the beetles, but insecticides can be expensive and are often times disliked by consumers. One solution to reducing the amount of insecticides sprayed on the crops is mechanical exclusion, which is a method of using a material to cover the crops row and prevent beetles from gaining access to the plants. The purpose of this study was to better understand the production of cucurbit crops, growth efficiency, major factors affecting growth, and markets for various cucurbits. The materials used in this study were published research data, public extension data, and market data. An important step in this study was to discuss cucurbit production with horticulture specialists and to locate published data. This study resulted in better understanding of cucurbit crops, factors impacting production, and strategies to reduce bacterial wilt, resulting in increased production as well as improved financial retuns for the producers.