Our state ranks in the top ten pumpkin producers and Texans will harvest some 6000 acres of pumpkins this year. There are the twelve pound Jack-O-Lanterns for carving, the Sugar Pumpkins, half that size, for baking, and the White Lumina, mini-pumpkins and gourds for decorating. The fields are brimming full and waiting for fall harvesters to relieve them of their orange bounty. Paris, Texas even holds an annual Festival of Pumpkins each October, complete with a Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest and a Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest!
While some shoppers buy pumpkins from the supermarket, a good many others are taking to the fields to pick their own. Cooler temperatures, lower humidity and the bright sunlight ushered in by a Texas October make picking your own a pleasurable fall outing that has become a family tradition for some.
Most farms and roadside stands display loads of pumpkins to choose from, but those that offer extra activities are the most fun. A hayride into the field always adds to the experience and, while the kids chase each other in a corn maze or a haunted house, it's up to the parents to choose the best pumpkin.
You'll want to look for one of a deep, even orange color with no cuts, bruises, or soft spots. Blemishes allow bacteria and fungus to invade. A mixed blessing, the extra rainfall that helped the pumpkins grow so well this year, has also caused problems with fungus. Make sure the outside feels hard and the stem is attached.
Once your chosen treasure is home, you will want to store it in a dry place. In Texas, warm weather prevents carving jack-o-lanterns early before Halloween and some families opt to paint them instead. You can always glue on eyes and fake hair or draw on a face using markers. However, if you carve it out, the seeds make a tasty and healthful snack to munch while decorating. Just wash them well, add a little oil and stir in a bowl, then spread them out on a cookie sheet or pizza pan, salt if desired and bake at 275 F until slightly brown. The meaty part can be used in pies, soups, and even pancakes. Pumpkin is low in fat, sodium and calories while providing significant amounts of beta-carotene, potassium, and fiber.
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