Have you ever wondered about the pumpkin agriculture market? According to the USDA, “pumpkin production is widely dispersed throughout the United States, with crop conditions varying greatly by region. All U.S. States produce some pumpkins, but about one-half of the total is grown in six States. In 2015, U.S. farmers in those six States produced 753.8 million pounds of pumpkins.” The U.S. pumpkin market is regarded as limited and seasonal from October to January. Pumpkins are grown for processing and ornamental sales through you-pick farms, farmers’ markets, and retail sales. Libby’s (owned by Nestlé Company) have almost 90 percent of the North American market for canned pumpkin with 90 percent of it sold. Initial reports for 2016 pumpkin production are favorable with growers producing mainly jack-o'-lantern types with additional specialty varieties. According to the USDA, the top six states in the U.S. for pumpkin production in 2015 were:
1.) Illinois: 317.9 million pounds
2.) California: 146.4 million pounds
3.) Ohio: 84.2 million pounds
4.) Pennsylvania: 79.4 million pounds
5.) Michigan: 77.0 million pounds
6.) New York: 48.9 million pounds
Pumpkins are grown across the country, but writer Christopher Ingraham shows us there’s a “pumpkin free” arc that runs from eastern Montana all the way down through the middle of the country and across to Florida.
To celebrate this festive day, our Graphic Design Intern, Jena Kloos, surprised the team by bringing in fresh pumpkin and chocolate chip cookies, the perfect treat for this day or for any autumn festivities. Here’s her inspiration for a fun and easy fall treat.
Recipe: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
Mix the following together:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
Mix the following in a separate bowl:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix the following before adding to flour mixture:
1 teaspoon milk
1 teaspoon baking soda (dissolve with the milk)
Add to entire mixture:
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preparation:
Serve and enjoy!
Happy Halloween!