Pumpkin Patches Report Bumper Crop, Bringing Deals To Buyers

As Americans seek outdoor adventures that let them take in the cool fall weather while remaining safe during the coronavirus pandemic, farmers across the country are reporting an uptick in interest in their pumpkin patches.

Farmers are reporting a “bumper crop,” or unusually large yields of pumpkins due to good growing weather in the top pumpkin-growing states such as Illinois and California, according to a report from UPI. As cooler weather approaches, Americans tend to turn to cooking and baking with seasonal items, leading to an increased interest in pumpkin products.

Large crop sizes also mean better prices for shoppers, UPI reported. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average price per pumpkin in early September was $5, compared with $5.47 a year ago. Canned pumpkin prices are around 99 cents per pound, compared with $1.50 per pound a year ago.

Pumpkin patch owners will have to navigate safety concerns due to the pandemic as they respond to the heightened interest in their farms, but scheduling reservations and embracing the spaced-out nature of the patches helps, UPI reported.

“We were not sure how this would work, but we set up timed reservations to limit crowding,” Jodi Utsman, of Santa’s Farm in Eustis, Florida, told UPI. “We were pleased to sell tickets right away, and we got plenty of calls.”