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Illinois Leads Nation in Pumpkin Production
Illinois, the nation's leader in pumpkin production, is becoming more prolific.

The number of both pumpkin farms and pumpkin acreage is growing within the state. Illinois now harvests nearly 13,700 acres of pumpkins on more than 500 farms. This represents an increase from the previous count published by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2002, when there was nearly 13,000 acres on 475 farms.

Illinois Department of Agriculture spokesman Jeff Squibb says the proximity to pumpkin processors is a reason for the increase. He says Libby's in Morton and Seneca Foods in Princeville together produce 90-percent of the nation's pumpkin pie filling.

Despite the high percentage of pie filling produced, Squibb says farmers make more profit on jack-o-lanterns then they do on pumpkins sold to make pie.

"Margins are higher on the pumpkins that are grown for jack-o-lanterns," Squibb said. "Those are a much higher margin product than the pumpkins that are sold under contract to the processing facilities."

A farmer in Keene, near Mount Vernon, produces pumpkins under contract exclusively for Wal-Mart to be sold as jack-o-lanterns.

The value of the state's pumpkin crop is listed at $22 million, a far cry from the $9 billion corn crop, making pumpkins a niche crop.
10 07 09 by Newsroom
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