Pumpkin - The Mystery

Pumpkin - The Mystery. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Usually when I go to the produce department of my local grocer I have a pretty good idea of the fruits and vegetables that I am picking up. Apples, pears, grapes...all fall neatly in the fruit section while celery, potatoes and broccoli are veggies. But this time of the year there is a big mystery out there. The pumpkin. What is it? The Ag Network’s Lacy Gray as more.

LACY: This falls into the same category question as the tomato. Is it a fruit or a vegetable. Pumpkins are gourd-like squash with a thick shell on the outside, with seeds and pulp on the inside, typically orange or yellow. The main nutrients are lutein and both alpha and beta carotene, the latter of which generates vitamin A in the body. Pumpkins are grown all around the world for a variety of reasons ranging from agricultural purposes, such as animal feed, to commercial and ornamental sales. But what is it really? The key, like tomatoes is in the seeds. Vegetables do not have seeds that are part of what we eat so then technically, cucumbers and squash and green beans would all be fruits! So the answer is – the pumpkin is a fruit! There will be a test.

Thanks Lacy. One thing is for sure there are plenty of great pumpkins out there this time of year so enjoy.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.