Did you know Illinois grows more pumpkins than any other state? Learn more about Prairie State pumpkins and the U.S. pumpkin capital.
- While all 50 states grow some pumpkins, six states produce the most: Illinois, California, Indiana, Michigan, Texas and Virginia.
- Farmers in these states harvested more than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins.
- 15.9K acres of pumpkins harvested in Illinois each year.
- 40K pounds of pumpkin are grown per acre in Illinois
- 652 million pounds of pumpkins are produced in Illinois
- About 80% of pumpkins in Illinois are varieties destined for pie filling or other processing use.
- In 1978, the governor signed a proclamation naming Morton the Pumpkin Capital of the World, as home to a Libby’s processing plant that produces canned pumpkin.
- The Morton Pumpkin Festival began in 1967 and has grown to feature 30 special events and welcomes 75,000 visitors annually.
- The 57th annual festival takes place Sept. 13-16.
- The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word “pepon,” meaning large melon.
- Originating in Central America, pumpkins are fruit.
- Pumpkins belong to the vine crop family known as cucurbits, which also includes cucumbers and watermelon.
Sources: Morton Pumpkin Festival, U.S. Department of Agriculture, University of Illinois Extension
See more: Pumped for Pumpkin Recipes
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