Brits are creating record demand for pumpkins this October, and this is because the product’s consumption has shot up. Since going on sale three weeks ago Tesco has sold nearly twice as many culinary pumpkins, as they are officially known, than it did last year. And the demand for the culinary variety has helped push up general pumpkin sales by nearly 10 per cent compared to last year.
Pumpkin experts say the new demand is being helped by the plant-based revolution which has become the biggest food trend this decade.
Tesco pumpkin buyer David Tavernor said: “We offer several different types of pumpkin and this year more shoppers are eating the fruit. Although we’ve always stocked the smaller culinary variety, demand for those has always been lower compared to the larger ones grown for seasonal purposes. This year, the demand for the culinary variety has seen a significant increase.”
Oakley Farms, based near Wisbech in Cambridgeshire are one of the UK’s largest suppliers of pumpkins, growing about five million each year. Steve Whitworth of Oakley Farms commented:“We actually planted about 20 percent more culinary pumpkins this year as we anticipated that demand might be up because of the plant-based food revolution.”
Tesco sells six different pumpkin varieties – Novelty, Giant, Large, Standard, Culinary and Munchkin.
For more information: 
Tesco
Tel: +44 (0) 1992 632222
Email: customer.service@tesco.co.uk
www.tescoplc.com