Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars; just the thought of these fall deserts makes my mouth water! Have you ever thought about where the pumpkin comes from that is used to make your favorite pumpkin treats? The answer is not the pumpkin “farms” where you find the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin or walk through the corn maze. Pumpkins are actually raised by the same farmers that raise soybeans, corn, and other specialty products such as green beans, peas, and popcorn.
As it comes time to pick the pumpkins anytime between August and October the processing plant takes over! The first step of the picking process is called windrowing. This is when a tractor with a large slide removes all of the pumpkins from their vines and shuffles them into rows. This makes it easier for the next step which is when a tractor with a conveyor picks up the pumpkins and loads them on to the semi. The semi runs along the side of the tractor which is called sidewinding. In most cases there will be at least two of these operations going on at a time in the field making pumpkin harvesting a relatively quick operation. After the pumpkins are loaded onto the truck they are taken to the plant where they are processed into the canned pumpkin we use to make our pumpkin pies, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars! As you enjoy these tasty deserts this fall make sure you think of the pumpkin farmer and his efforts to provide you with a tasty treat!
Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars; just the thought of these fall deserts makes my mouth water! Have you ever thought about where the pumpkin comes from that is used to make your favorite pumpkin treats? The answer is not the pumpkin “farms” where you find the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin or walk through the corn maze. Pumpkins are actually raised by the same farmers that raise soybeans, corn, and other specialty products such as green beans, peas, and popcorn. In order to raise pumpkins a farmer must gain approval from the pumpkin processing plant. The most common pumpkin processing plant is Libby’s, which is owned by Nestle. The pumpkin seed is furnished by the processing plant and planted by the farmer in May. A pumpkin farmer typically applies nitrogen, insecticide, potash, and fungicide to their fields throughout the year. Everything the farmer uses is closely regulated by the processing plant which is regulated by the FDA. Farmers always keep their consumer’s safety number one and would not provide food to the world that they would not feed their own families.
As it comes time to pick the pumpkins anytime between August and October the processing plant takes over! The first step of the picking process is called windrowing. This is when a tractor with a large slide removes all of the pumpkins from their vines and shuffles them into rows. This makes it easier for the next step which is when a tractor with a conveyor picks up the pumpkins and loads them on to the semi. The semi runs along the side of the tractor which is called sidewinding. In most cases there will be at least two of these operations going on at a time in the field making pumpkin harvesting a relatively quick operation. After the pumpkins are loaded onto the truck they are taken to the plant where they are processed into the canned pumpkin we use to make our pumpkin pies, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin bars! As you enjoy these tasty deserts this fall make sure you think of the pumpkin farmer and his efforts to provide you with a tasty treat! 
No comments:
Post a Comment