Where Are The Pumpkins??
Mostafa Fouad
With Halloween creeping around the corner, many Americans are in the market for pumpkins. Since the 1800s, these iconic gourds have been a Halloween tradition. Pumpkins are the definitive symbol for autumn, often being used as festive decorations. Unfortunately, it may be difficult and expensive to obtain pumpkins this year. Due to weather, the pandemic, and shipping issues, America is experiencing a severe pumpkin shortage.
The supply of pumpkins in the U.S. has been reduced due to smaller yields. Farmers in California reported that their pumpkin crops suffered due to droughts. Other states, such as Kansas, have dealt with hot and rainy weather. Farmers from the nation's biggest producer of pumpkins, Illinois, have had to deal with a fungus that claimed around 30% of the year’s yield. These factors ravaged pumpkin crops, lessening the amount of pumpkins available.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the shipping industry to be greatly hindered. Due to the disease, many countries went into lockdown and restricted economic activities. Ports reduced staff, and many factories shut down. To avoid monetary losses, shipping companies reduced the number of ships in operation. When the restrictions were finally lifted and factories reopened, the shipping industry struggled to return to pre-covid standards. This meant that even though a regular amount of goods were being produced, they could not get to markets. This is the main reason behind the global shortage of pumpkins, and the increase in pumpkin costs.
So, how do you get pumpkins for your fall festivities? If the supermarket’s pumpkins are too expensive, try to get some straight from the source: a local farm. Alternatively, you could give up on pumpkins altogether. Back in the day, other gourds and turnips were used to make jack o'lanterns far more often than pumpkins were. Although “turnip-o-lantern” may not sound good, try to get creative! While they aren’t as iconic as pumpkins, it might be fun to return to our roots and celebrate the original Halloween traditions.
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