Food - Drink
Which State Produces The Most Pumpkins In The US?
By LAUREN ROTHMAN
Pumpkins are a beloved symbol of autumn, associated with pumpkin carving, pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin seeds, and more. 80% of the United States' pumpkin crop is picked during October, and if you live in the Midwest, your pumpkins are sure to be fresh, because this region is home to America's biggest pumpkin producer.
Illinois grows over 40% of the country’s pumpkins, and this state grew 41% of the country’s pumpkin crop in 2020 alone, amounting to over 564 million pounds of pumpkins in total. The Prairie State is well-suited for growing pumpkins because the crops thrive in hot and dry weather, which is common to the Midwestern U.S.
Illinois boasts over 20 square miles of pumpkin-growing farmland, producing both carving pumpkins and small, sweet ones known as sugar pumpkins, which are perfect for pie and other dishes. Pumpkins also grow well in California and Texas, and each of these two states grew about 100 million pounds of the fall fruit in 2020.