A Different Kind of Pumpkin Patch
Orange may be the traditional color of Halloween, but California pumpkin growers are finding that shoppers want a whole lot more variety.
From white pumpkins to zebra stripes and even varieties that are nearly black, growers are keeping up with changing trends in fall decorating.
According to a recent Ag Alert from the California Farm Bureau, the state grows more than 5,000 acres of pumpkins annually, with San Joaquin County accounting for an estimated 70 to 80 percent of production.
And this year's crop is looking good. Favorable planting weather and mild temperatures during bloom helped growers produce quality pumpkins with generally normal yields.
But there's another interesting trend. At Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland, visitor numbers are increasing, even as pumpkin sales decline.
Now, this is just my speculation, but perhaps a trip to the pumpkin patch is becoming just as much about the experience as it is about taking home a pumpkin.
For growers, it's another reminder that keeping up with consumer demand may mean offering more than just what's growing in the field.
Find the full story at AgAlert.com.
