Posted on November 18th, 09 by dailysavingsfromallyou
Update on the pumpkin shortage
If you’ve been reading the food blogs lately, then you’ve already heard rumblings about a potential pumpkin shortage, just as Thanksgiving is approaching. I spoke with Roz O’Hearn at Libby’s a few weeks ago and she told me that although it was late coming to markets this year, there was plenty of canned pumpkin to be had. Well, since then, heavy rains in Illinois, where Libby’s plants its pumpkins, made for a tough harvest, with some pumpkins ruined by fungus, others just too hard to pick because of the waterlogged fields. As a result, Libby’s spokespeople are now saying there will be fewer cans on store shelves.
But all is not lost! You can still have your pie and eat it, too. Organic pumpkin, usually just a tiny fraction of the overall market, is grown on the West Coast, and growers there didn’t suffer the same troubles as Libby’s and other Midwestern growers, the New York Times reports. So there’s plenty of organic canned pumpkin on store shelves. It is more expensive than regular canned pumpkin — but it’s still quite affordable. Instead of $2.90 for a 15-oz. can, you’ll pay about $3.80. Considering that a prepared pumpkin pie at Marie Callender’s costs more than $11, organic pumpkin is still a great deal.
You can also make your own pumpkin puree very easily. Buy a sugar or pie pumpkin (don’t use the big pumpkins that you carve — they don’t taste as good), cut in half and remove the seeds. Brush the inside of the pumpkin halves with vegetable or olive oil. Place them on a large rimmed baking sheet, cut side down, and pour in about 1 cup of water. Bake the pumpkin at 350ºF until tender (it can take between 1 and 1 1/2 hours, depending on the size of the pumpkin). Let it cool, then use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, and puree it in a blender or food processor. You’ll get about 1 cup of puree per pound of pumpkin.
Posted by Beth Lipton, Food Editor
SEE ALSO:
Inexpensive Thanksgiving meals
Get great shopping deals
Decorate with everyday items
14 Comments:
Pretty Project says:
November 20th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Glad you’ve already thought of a back up plan. Phew!
http://www.theprettyproject.com
vodkabeforenoon says:November 20th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Just yesterday I was thinking something was off, there are less pumpkins at the market! Makes sense now.
Libby’s canned pumpkin is amazing. It smells and taste different then other brands. It is also the only canned pumpkin my rabbits will eat without giving a fuss.
http://anlimarey.wordpress.com/
slamdunk says:November 20th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
The NJ pumpkin buyers have been in our state buying regularly–their crop took a huge hit this year.
trinaramirez says:November 20th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I still have a few pumpkins (un-cut) on my front porch from Halloween. Anyone want one?
azizmoummou says:November 20th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Hi there,
I first thought blogging is a waste of time but I’ve soon understood that blogging is one of the experiences that changes one’s views and presumptions.I’m glad I stopped by your blog.Keep going.
My name is Aziz Moummou ,a teacher of English .
Get me on :http://hellochichaoua.wordpress.com
All the best,
Arness ovine says:Aziz
November 21st, 2009 at 2:09 am
I want to learn to cook .. so I can cook ..
minoxidil says:November 21st, 2009 at 9:21 am
himm good thanks
Ali says:November 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 am
l want to try this bec looks so delicious
houseofyourchoiceraffle says:November 22nd, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hey guys i was looking around at a few non profit orginizations that are being ran by a Rotary. And i found this
one thats very interesting and i checked up on it, its called House Of Your Choice Raffle and its funded and ran
by the Santa Clarita Rotary Club. Its fully legit fully legal and they have a raffle number and everything. Heres
a link to there blog, hope you guys check it out and start following them. because i guess its an every year thing.
I bought a few tickets myself.
Also hey theres only 6 days left maybe the owner of this blog can post up something on there blogs to kinda help
spread the word!
Myspace –
http://www.myspace.com/houseofyourchoiceraffle
Blog –
http://houseofyourchoiceraffle.blogspot.com/
Website -
Daphne says:http://www.houseofyourchoiceraffle.org
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:30 am
Great update! I keep hearing there’s a shortage but there seems to be plenty on the shelves. I have two sugar pumpkins on hand to use anyway. I thought maybe it was a pr stunt!
superyon says:November 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 am
nice…….
nice….
:p
givenchance says:November 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 am
Oh, I like holidays very much. first, everybody wrote about Halloween, now it is about Thanksgiving, then – Christmas! So wonderful, when holidays give us the topic to write about and discuss!
Janet Aldrich says:have a nice week, everybody!
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Maybe there’s less canned pumpkin available through commercial growers, but the crop around here seemed larger than normal rather than other.
It’s not a big deal to “make” your own pumpkin; besides, it makes the house smell wonderful!
xoxo says:November 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Delicious..