Contrary to popular belief, Halloween starts on the farm. Let’s take a deep dive into some of the holiday’s essentials and why we can thank farmers for them.
Scarecrows
For example, scarecrows are not just used as decoration but serve a greater purpose for farmers. Almost more than 2,500 years ago, Greek farmers created scarecrows that resemble people to protect their crops. Now, farmers have used scarecrows to scare away predators and pests from their crops.
Pumpkins
Halloween cannot be Halloween without pumpkins. The state of Illinois leads the nation in pumpkin production by acreage and weight. Last year, the state produced 652 million pounds, which is more than a quarter of total U.S. pumpkin production.
Apples
Caramel apples: you know ‘em and you love ‘em. According to USDA, the total U.S. apple production for this marketing year is estimated to be almost 11 million pounds. Who leads the nation in production? Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania. Experts say this is because the harvest depends on temperatures.
Candy
We cannot forget about the candy, and you can thank the farmers for those yummy chocolate bars! The chocolate started as a bean of the cacao tree. They are then roasted to bring out the chocolate flavor.
