With Halloween approaching, many consumers spent the weekend searching for the nearest pumpkin patch. Pumpkin production is widely dispersed throughout the United States. All US States produce some pumpkins, but according to the 2017 US Census of Agriculture, about 62 percent of pumpkin acres were grown in only ten states.
This chart is based on data appearing in the ERS Pumpkins: Background & Statistics topic page updated in September 2019.
Illinois is consistently the nation’s largest producer of pumpkins, the majority of which are used for pies and other processed foods. Pumpkin production from the other states surveyed annually by USDA is primarily destined for decorative use. While 2019 production has not yet been surveyed, early feedback indicates an average year for Illinois and California with a healthy crop.
Pumpkin growers in a few states have reported some challenges: Ohio faced a wet spring which made planting a challenge while Pennsylvania growers report extended periods of hot weather during the summer, which reduced the pollination of pumpkin flowers. Retail prices for pumpkins typically fluctuate from week to week leading up to Halloween. At the end of the first week of October, average retail price for jack-o-lantern style pumpkins was $3.42 per pumpkin compared to $3.32 for the same week in 2018.
Source: ers.usda.gov
