SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Oct. 7 (UPI) — Crop experts in Illinois say the country’s top pumpkin factory will face shortages of the canned vegetable this year, which could mean fewer pies at Thanksgiving.
Canned pumpkin-maker Libby said its supply may decrease by up to a third this year due to record rainfall in June.
The pumpkin shortage shouldn’t affect this year’s jack-o-lanterns, though. Farmers working in the 90-mile radius around Peoria, Ill., — which produces 90 percent of U.S-grown pumpkins — say there will be enough pumpkins to meet demand for Halloween.
Nestle, the maker of Libby’s canned pumpkin products, said it is managing its distribution this year to ensure maximum reach. The company said pumpkin yield was down by about half this year, but it expects to be able to meet Thanksgiving demand.
Libby corporate and brand affairs Director Roz O’Hearn said that once the harvest from 2015 is shipped, no more pumpkins will be available until next year. The last of the harvest is scheduled for shipping by mid-November.
“I would not wait until Nov. 20,” University of Illinois professor Mohammad Babadoost told the Chicago Tribune. “I’d buy it whenever it comes to the store.”
Meanwhile, pumpkin crops in Nebraska also lost some yield due to heavy rains. Farmers there are confident they can meet demands for the upcoming holidays.
In Lancaster County, owners of the Roca Berry Farm thought they’d have to buy pumpkins from other producers when they initially spotted small and rotten pumpkins on their fields. After checking other parts of their land, though, they found much healthier pumpkins.
Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch owner Ed Schaefer told Omaha.com that despite losing about 10 percent of his crops to rain and standing water, the majority of his pumpkins were looking good.
In some parts of Nebraska, just the right amount of rainfall and warm temperatures spurred positive crop growth, said Kathleen Cue, an extension assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Nestle said the suggested retail price for canned pumpkin is higher this year, though the hike was planned before this year’s growing season.
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