RINER, Va. (WFXR)– Virginia is a pumpkin powerhouse! The commonwealth is one of the top five pumpkin producing states in the US. Virginia produces about 100 million pounds of pumpkins each year, and southwest Virginia, bounded roughly by U.S. 29 and I-77 is the prime pumpkin growing area in the state.
Carroll, Nelson, and Halifax Counties rank in the top five pumpkin-producing counties in Virginia.
This year’s harvest is on track to be average, but the Southwest Virginia Pumpkin Growers Association says the quality of the harvest has to be taken on a farm-by-farm basis. That is because of uneven rain around the region.
Some farms received too much rain. That led to some crops rotting in the fields before they were ready. Other farms got too little, and that slowed or reduced growing.
However, the “Goldilocks” principle applies at many farms, where the amount of precipitation that fell was “just right.”
Brann-Long Farms in Riner fits that bill. Dan Brann farms acreage there with his business partner Josh Long. Brann says this year’s pumpkin crop is a good one.
“This year is a whole lot better than last,” said Brann. “This year’s pumpkins did real well, and still there’s very few rotten ones in the field, so they should hold up well for the consumers.”
Though Virginia’s crop is good, pumpkin growers in other parts of the United States did not fare as well. Though there is no shortage, pumpkin prices will be a little higher this year, averaging $5 to $10 for small pumpkins, and $16 to $25 for large ones.
With the holidays approaching, and pumpkin pie being a staple on many holiday tables, there was a question about the supply of canned pumpkin. However, consumer experts say there should be enough to guarantee no shortages.
