Pumpkins: a commodity highlight - U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Economic Research Service report

Situation and Outlook Report: Vegetables and Specialties, August, 1991 by Joan Pearrow, Charles Plummer

Abstract: Special tabulations from the 1987 Census of Agriculture indicate that the

market value of the U.S. pumpkin crop is close to $50 million. U.S. pumpkins grown for the

fresh market are sold almost exclusively during the Halloween season. Pumpkin sales,

production expenses, and harvested acreage vary greatly between States and by farm

classification. California is the leading supplier of pumpkins for fresh market use. However,

because of processing, Illinois is the largest pumpkin producing State.

Keywords: Pumpkins, census, imports, production expenses, sales Pumpkins are grown in virtually every State. California is the leading supplier for the U.S. fresh market. However, pumpkin processing plants help make Illinois the largest pumpkin producer. New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey round out the top five pumpkin growing States. Most pumpkins used in the United States are of domestic origin. The Dominican Republic is the major foreign supplier. Fresh pumpkins are marketed primarily during the Halloween season. Because of shipping costs, pumpkins are generally marketed in the region they are produced.

History

Botanically, there is no difference between squash and pumpkins, both are thought to be of American origin. At one Mexican archaeological site, recovered pumpkin fragments dated from 7000 to 5500 B.C. The species C. moschata (summer squash) originated in Mexico and Central America and the species C. maxima (winter squash) originated in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. Pumpkins are found in both species. Prior to Columbus' discovery of America, pumpkins and squashes were likely distributed along the Atlantic seaboard and throughout the Midwest. The common field pumpkin was known to the early settlers of New England. Today, the Connecticut Field variety is the typical jack-o-lantern. Pumpkins belong to the Cucurbitaceae or Cucurbit family. Like squash, pumpkins are included in the C. pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima species. Generally, pumpkins weigh from 18 to 25 pounds but have been recorded weighing over 200 pounds. In recent years, a seed has been developed to produce a miniature pumpkin (about 3 inches in diameter) called Jack-be-Little.[1] Besides the fruit, pumpkin leaves and flowers are also eaten. All three are a good source of potassium and vitamin A, are low in fat, and contain no cholesterol.[3] The most popular food use remains the traditional pumpkin pie. Other food uses include bread and muffins, pudding and custards, soup, roasted seed, and stuffing. Pumpkins that are less stringy and more delicate are preferred for food use. Non-food uses include animal fodder and the traditional jack-o-lantern. Miniature pumpkins are good for eating as well as decorating.

Statistics

Between 1978 and 1987, the number of U.S farms harvesting pumpkins increased 21 percent. The percent increase was greatest for Michigan (45 percent) while Pennsylvania had the largest overall increase in number of farms (189 farms). Illinois realized the greatest decline in farms raising pumpkins (41 percent) (table A-1). It should be noted that census data only covers commercial production. There are also many backyard growers. During the 1980's California production trended upward from 66.7 million pounds in 1980 to 108.6 million pounds in 1989, an increase of 63 percent. During the 1980's, California production averaged 86.6 million pounds (table A-2). Of U.S. grown fresh pumpkins arriving in U.S. cities during the 1980's, 17 percent came from California, with an annual average of 3.2 million punds. Washington was second, averaging 2.4 million pounds and Texas was third, averaging 2.1 million pounds (table A-3). Pumpkin arrivals in five major cities for 1990 were from nearby domestic growing areas and arrived in September and October. Atlanta received 4.5 million pounds, Boston 1.9 million pounds, Chicago 1.0 million pounds, San Francisco 1.5 million pounds, and Dallas 3.3 million pounds. Arrivals for New York - Newark were reported for imports only. Los Angeles arrivals for 1990 were not reported, however, 1.0 million pounds were received in 1989 from California growers. According to data from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. fresh pumpkin imports from the Dominican Republic averaged 6.6 million pounds between 1979/80 and 1987/88 (October-September), about three-fourths of the foreign supply (figure A-1). Mexico is second, accounting for 9 percent (0.7 million pounds). Surprisingly, most imports arrive in the U.S. between December and June (figure A-2). These imports are used like squash by various ethnic groups. Japan accounted for all the U.S. frozen pumpkin imports until 1987/88 when Mexico shipped 0.1 million pounds (table A-4). Retail prices for fresh pumpkins were about three times higher in Boston than in San Francisco. Between 1982 and 1989 retail prices averaged 22 cents per pound in Boston and 8 cents per pound in San Francisco (table A-5).

Census Tabulations

According to special tabulations from the 1987 Census of Agriculture, the market value of the U.S. pumpkin crop neared the $50 million mark. In large pumpkin producing States such as Illinois and Texas, pumpkin sales resulted in nearly 40-50 thousand dollars for each specialized pumpkin farm.[2] By value, Illinois is the most important pumpkin producing State, accounting for 16 percent of U.S. pumpkin sales, followed by California, which accounts for another 10 percent (table A-6). Several pumpkin plants are located in Illinois, accounting for some of that sales volume. Production expenses on specialized U.S. pumpkin farms averaged just over $10,000 per farm, with the largest share (13 percent) accounted for by interest expenses. Colorado pumpkin farms spent the most on interest (28 percent) while Oregon and Washington pumpkin growers reported no expenses for interest (table A-7). The second largest production expense was commercial fertilizer, at a national average of 11 percent of total expenses. Colorado was lowest, averaging just over 3 percent, while Oregon growers spent an unusually high 41 percent of total expenses on fertilizers. At 10 percent, labor also accounted for a significant share of total expenses. Other expenses varied greatly from State ot State, with California and Indiana expenses heavily weighted toward cash rent. In the case of California, where land values are high, rent was over 20 percent of total expenditures, nearly 3 times the national average. The pumpkin industry itself is not extremely specialized. Only 30 percent of all pumpkin sales come from farms specializing in pumpkings (table A-6). Also, over 37 percent of all farms selling pumpkins earn less than $10,000 annually from agricultural sales (table A-8). However, 46 percent of all pumpkin acreage is harvested by relatively large farms with agricultural sales of $100,000 or more (figure A-3). This means that 15 percent of all U.S. farms with pumpkins produce half of all pumpkins (table A-9). Farm ownership varies, but over 90 percent fo specialized pumpkin farms are individual or family owned (table A-10).