'Orange' You Glad It’s Pumpkin Season?

Growing up, one of my favorite fall traditions was carving pumpkins for Halloween. This usually meant covering the kitchen table with newspapers, dusting off my handy-dandy carving tools, helping my mom scoop out the insides of the pumpkin, and creating a simple yet scary face using basic shapes. We enjoyed roasting the resulting pumpkin seeds in the oven, too. I can still smell the nutty scent of those seeds getting crisp while nestling in to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

Today, pumpkin carving is just as much an intricate art for some as it is a simple fall activity. Some artists use elaborate designs to create the perfect glowing jack-o’-lantern, which requires much more talent than I had at 10 years old. From detailed stencils to multi-layered etching and three-dimensional pieces that resemble wood carvings, pumpkin carving and decorating can be an exquisite work of art. At the heart of all these carving styles though, is the pumpkin.

Pumpkins are one of the most evocative symbols of fall, since you can find them in farm fields, roadside stands, grocery stores, and front porches. In Wisconsin, pumpkins do more than lend color — they represent a meaningful slice of the state’s diverse agricultural tapestry. In fact, we have a whole national holiday dedicated to celebrating the pumpkin! This year, National Pumpkin Day is on Sunday, October 26, so be sure to show off your pick of the patch accordingly!

Pumpkins can be used for a myriad of purposes, and pumpkin growers will often tailor their operations to what types of pumpkins they want to provide! There are over 20 different varieties of pumpkins grown in Wisconsin, characterized by shape, color, size, pulp quality, and texture. Personally, my favorite is the popcorn pumpkin, which I just discovered this year. This variety is covered in warts and has a light yellow color to its skin, closely resembling popcorn.

Some pumpkins can be sold for small decorations, like those you put on your front porch and in your home. Others may be used for that perfect carving pumpkin, with thick skin and a nice rotund shape. Other varieties still are used for processing and consumption, like the pie filling or pumpkin puree that we find in stores. You might even find some pumpkins that are solely grown in hopes of being the biggest pumpkin in Wisconsin, which can be entered in giant pumpkin contests and weigh offs. Just like Wisconsin agriculture, pumpkins and pumpkin growers are very diverse!

The growing season for this orange fruit typically begins in May, when pumpkins begin their lives as seeds. These seeds are spaced far enough apart in the field so that four to six pumpkins can grow per plant. When blossoms emerge eight to 10 weeks after planting, growers rely on bees and other pollinators to make sure the flowers can eventually develop into fruit. Throughout the summer, these little pumpkins grow and grow until they are ready to be harvested come fall. Different varieties have different harvest times, so some farms begin harvesting pumpkins at the end of August and continue well into October!

A lot of the Wisconsin pumpkin growers don’t use machines either. Many will plant by hand, spreading seeds about a foot apart and into the ground. During harvest time, numerous farms then pick pumpkins by hand in large quantities. Pumpkins are cut from their vine and hand loaded onto wagons or into buses to be transported back to the packing shed for sorting.

Many people are familiar with using pumpkins as beautiful and nostalgic décor. If you’re like me, though, and also enjoy the taste of pumpkin, you’re in luck! Pumpkins need not be limited to the classic Pumpkin Spice Latte. They can be used to make pies, breads, muffins, cupcakes, and other baked goods; as well as pasta dishes, soups, and more. Just one large pumpkin has enough pulp to bake up to forty pies! Thinking back to my own traditions, you can use the seeds for an easy, delicious, and nutritious snack. To do so, clean the seeds, add a few drops of cooking oil and spread them evenly on a cookie sheet to bake at 375°F for 45 minutes.

To top it off, these orange gourds are a healthy choice. Their bright orange color signifies that they are high in beta-carotene which, along with Vitamin A, aids in vision. Pumpkins are also a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins C and E, and iron.

With approximately 3,000 acres across Wisconsin dedicated to growing pumpkins and a $9 million contribution to our state’s economy in 2023, pumpkins provide farmers with an extra revenue stream and an important connection to the public. Pumpkins are considered a niche or specialty crop, often one tied closely to agricultural tourism, fall festivals, and a direct link to consumers. On the farm side, growing pumpkins allows certain farmers to diversify their already existing farms, while it allows others to begin their own path in agriculture. On the community side, pumpkins may be the first connection to agriculture for many people, sparking curiosity about farming and food production.

Pumpkins represent an entire experience in Wisconsin during the fall season. While the classic orange color may conjure up visions of falling leaves, Halloween, and pie at Thanksgiving, they also represent the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture. When you pick your perfect pumpkin this season, I hope you’ll think of the farmers and families that worked hard to ensure you had a great one to pick. Whether you carve, decorate, sip, or bake, I also hope that you’ll pick a Wisconsin pumpkin, if you can, and support a local farm. From a carved jack-o’-lantern tonight to a slice of pumpkin pie tomorrow, it all traces back to the farmer’s field.