A wetter and cooler summer than normal in the Midwest and New England means that there could be pumpkin shortages in some states this year. USA Todayreports that some states may have to ship in pumpkins from California and Texas, which means prices will be higher.
Growers in some states say harvests are down significantly from last year's yield, which could mean shortages or higher prices for pumpkins shipped in from California, Texas and other areas with better crops.
"It's just been a really rough year from the get-go," says Mark Kamman, a grower in Vallonia, Ind. "Vegetables like it hot." He has fewer pumpkins per acre, and those that did grow are smaller.
His costs are up 30-40% because of high fuel and fertilizer prices, but Kamman is reluctant to raise prices at his farm stand. The economy, he says, means "nobody can afford them."
The article says small growers were hit the hardest. Some pumpkin farmers have just one tenth of last year's pumpkin crop. In the UK, pumpkin growers have a bigger crop this year thanks to warmer temps and more rain.
