4 minute read
CONSUMERS WANT SPECIALTY PUMPKINS
from Harvest, Fall 2020
by Gannett NEO
consumers want
Fit zpatrick Completes 18 Year Tenure as specialty pumpkins Farm Bureau Director
Advertisement
By | Jill Sell FREE LANCE WRITER KENT-RAVENNA RECORD COURIER
GROWERS WANT HEALTHier CROPS
Above: Consumer interest in specialty pumpkins continues to grow, especially in Ohio, where gourds in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and knobby textures are highly sought after.
YOU CAN excuse Roy Patterson, owner of Darr Farms in Newcomersville, if he refrains from decorating his own home with pumpkins for Halloween. Last year, Patterson planted 325 acres of jack-o-lantern type pumpkins and picked 12 million pounds, giving him about a 20-ton-to-theacre yield.
“Yes, we were tired,” joked Patterson. “But my sister, who works on the farm three days a week, brought some pumpkins to put around the house.”
Patterson is one of the major pumpkin wholesale the top five states for pumpkin yield. Professor Jim Jasinski is the integrated pest management program coordinator for the Ohio State University Extension in Urbana. Jasinski said for the past 18 | FALL 2020 three or four years, 6,000 to 7,000 acres of pumpkins were planted. But now there seems to be a significant drop to 3,500 to 4,000 acres – at least on paper and by government calculations.
“It’s kind of a mystery. We don’t know why. It’s important for farmers to get in that last bang for their buck before winter. I don’t really see the drop, but it shows up in the numbers,” said Jasinski, adding that almost all pumpkins grown in Ohio are fresh pumpkins used for decorations, not processing ones earmarked for cooking and farmers who help Ohio traditionally rank among
baking.
(Although unsubstantiated, there is also talk among seed salesmen that some larger sellers of pumpkins in the state are importing the product from Canada, which would affect Ohio farmers.)
Jasinski conducts about three or four pumpkin Brad Bergefurd, OSU horticulture specialist, variety trials each year and most recently focused said a pumpkin crop can be “one of the lowest on what today’s consumers want – pumpkins value specialty crops,” basically because of labor in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and knobby costs. But when sold in an agritainment setting textures, and even those shaped like Cinderella’s (think hay rides, cider making demonstrations, coach. There is still plenty of demand for the corn mazes, etc.), that can balance the grower’s standard orange pumpkin carved cost/profit margins. Bergefurd with a lopsided grin. But the is one of the founders of the interest in specialty pumpkins Southern Ohio Pumpkin Growers continues to grow. Cooperative, which has helped
“Our trials also show growers markets. varieties that have natural smaller farmers expand their powdery mildew resistance or Not much has come of the tolerance,” says Jasinski. “It’s idea over the years to grow some not GMO , but breeding genes varieties of pumpkins in Ohio for into pumpkins naturally. We seed production for the snack are really pushing people to food industry. But Patterson reduce their fungicide use.” Above: Professor Jim Jasinski is the said “it would be cool” to some His 2019 trial report evaluated integrated pest management program way harvest the pumpkins that the effectiveness “of a primary coordinator for the Ohio State are left in his fields every year fungicide when used in University Extension in Urbana.OH. because they are misshapen or combination with rotational don’t have adequate handles fungicides to determine leaf and canopy health, (stems). “A lot of people eat pumpkin seeds as ostensibly to maximize marketable fruit and snacks and they also go into health foods,” said handle quality.” Patterson. “I can eat a handful every so often.”
NOT ALL PLANT FOODS ARE CREATED EQUAL — ONE STANDS ABOVE THE REST —
Serving Customers for 50 Years! John Deere Financing Available!
BIGGER HARVESTS
with
DISTRIBUTORSHIPS AVAILABLE IN A FEW STATES
FINANCING AVAILABLETO QUALIFIED BUYERS!
CustomFormulated
ALL-PLANT TM Liquid Plant Food
Time-Tested Experts Are Here To Help You!
CALL (419) 962-4707
•Soil analysis and custom formulations tailored to your soil ... your crops ... your weather! •Also more standard formulas than any other plant food company. •Every All-Plant product is ecologically enhancing (useful to the soil even after the nutrients have done their work). •We know local soils and have tested the soils of the major corn-growing counties in your state. •We will "fine-tune" the fertilizer we ship to you by testing your soil and improving your fertilizer to do more for your soil. This test is FREE when you order. •Other than you, no one cares more about your soil and crop than ALL-PLANT!
Made By A
Farmer
For A Farmer
Farm Insurance Specialists for more than 110 years ATTENTION FARMERS... Checkout our newcoverage options!
• Poultry and Hog Confinement Operations • Personal Cyber with Identity Fraud Coverage • Farmowners Cyber and Drone Coverage • Farmowners Advantage Select (offering several new and important coverages rolled into one endorsement)!
Contact an Independent Western Reserve Group Agent for details!
