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Well, it appears everywhere we look this time of year there seems to be pumpkins everywhere. So, to get us in the fall spirit and learn more pumpkin facts and figures, here’s USDA’s Gary Crawford.
Amy Beckham: It’s Pumpkin Time. Hello there and welcome to Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Amy Beckham. Well, it appears everywhere we look this time of year there seems to be pumpkins everywhere. So, to get us in the fall spirit and learn more pumpkin facts and figures, here’s USDA’s Gary Crawford.
Gary Crawford: If you are looking for some facts and figures about pumpkins there is a place that is chock full of information. It’s a special web page produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service.
Greg Astill: We update it every year for fall. The vast majority of pumpkins are produced for the Fall holidays.
Gary Crawford: That’s Greg Astill, research economist in charge of that webpage. And, why a web page devoted to pumpkins?
Greg Astill: Pumpkins are a very popular fall crop. They comprise a large amount of agricultural production, and everybody’s excited about pumpkins in the fall.
Gary Crawford: So, to test our knowledge about pumpkins – question number one: approximately how many pounds of pumpkins are grown in this country every year? Is it a million, half a million, a billion or 2 billion pounds? No peaking looking at the webpage. Was it a million pounds of pumpkins? Half a million? A billion or 2 billion pounds? Greg, the answer please.
Greg Astill: In the United States, we’ve produced about 2 billion pounds of pumpkins a year.
Gary Crawford: Very good. Next question: What state is the biggest producer of pumpkins in this country? That ought to be easy. You only have 50 possible choices to choose from there. Well, Greg, what’s the answer? Biggest pumpkin production state…
Greg Astill: Illinois is the top state by weight, acreage and yield.
Gary Crawford: Yes, Illinois does grow well over a quarter of all the pumpkins produced in this country.
Greg Astill: But, those pumpkins are predominantly for the processing market. They’re going to food. Other top states like California, Indiana and Texas are predominantly growing for the decorative market.
Gary Crawford: Now, if you’d like to find out more about pumpkins, the easiest way to find the webpage – just go online, search USDA pumpkin page. Gary Crawford reporting for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Amy Beckham: For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio, I’m Amy Beckham.
