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This U.S. State Produces More Than Half of Our Pumpkins—And It’s Not the One You Probably Think!

You have to admit, seeing the first pumpkins arrive at your local grocery store is kind of exciting. When you come across those orange gourds in the produce section, it’s impossible not to get pumped for the fall season. Because the truth is, Starbucks may keep trotting out its Pumpkin Spice Lattes earlier and earlier each year, but that doesn’t mean fall is actually here. Sorry, Starbucks—autumn vibes aren’t really happening until pumpkins are available for carving. At least that’s my humble opinion.

But who do we have to thank for all of those pumpkins? They can’t all be supplied by your nearest pumpkin patch, can they? Nope! In fact, the majority of pumpkins sold in the U.S. come from one state, in particular. And while it might come as a surprise, it will actually make sense once you connect a few dots.

Read on to find which state produces the most pumpkins—and why it more than earns its title as the pumpkin capital of the world.

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Which state produces the most pumpkins?

Nope, it’s not Pennsylvania, Massachusetts or any other state on the East Coast. It’s—drumroll, please—Illinois!

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, Illinois produces the most pumpkins in the United States by a lot. In fact, in 2023 (the most recent data available), Illinois produced roughly 690 million pounds of pumpkin. Comparatively, that’s more than the five other biggest pumpkin-producing states combined.

Interestingly, about 70% of Illinois’s pumpkin acres are dedicated to growing varieties that will ultimately be made into pie filling (more on that in a bit) or other processing uses.

Why is Illinois the perfect place for pumpkin-growing?

It’s really a mix of things that make Illinois a pumpkin paradise. But the two top factors are an ideal climate (a long, hot, dry growing season, which allows pumpkins to mature) and rich soil that’s also a bit sandy, meaning it drains well.

There’s also a lot of serious pumpkin-farmer know-how in Illinois because they have so much experience with the fruit. In fact, the town of Morton, Illinois, is often referred to as the Pumpkin Capital of the World because of how much local expertise it holds.

What else makes Illinois the pumpkin capital of the world?

The town of Morton also happens to be the headquarters for Libby’s, purveyors of all things canned pumpkin. Surely you have a can of Libby’s pumpkin puree in your pantry. (I have at least three at all times, in case of a pumpkin emergency. What? They happen!)

It also hosts the annual Morton Pumpkin Festival every September, which draws big crowds of gourd-loving folks to the area. The festival officially runs over the course of four days, featuring everything from Pumpkin Glow Foam Parties to more traditional Pumpkin Weigh-Offs.

Which other states produce a whole lot of pumpkins?

California and Indiana tie for second as the largest pumpkin-producing states in the U.S., with 150 million pounds of pumpkins each. But their harvests pale in comparison to Illinois’s 690 million pounds.

As for the other states that rank among the top pumpkin-producing states? Their production tallies aren’t even close. Pennsylvania harvested 90 million pounds of pumpkin in 2023, edging out Michigan and its 80 million pounds of pumpkin. The final state on the list is Washington, which produced 50 million pounds of pumpkins in 2023—a 42% drop in its harvest from the previous year.

While you might expect a lot of pumpkin happenings in the Northeast, only one state in that region—Pennsylvania—is among the top harvesters. Definitely a surprise!

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Sources:

The Most Creative Pumpkin-Carving Ideas

Free Pumpkin-Carving Templates

Fun and Easy No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas

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