Every autumn, pumpkins take center stage in America, adorning porches as jack-o’-lanterns, starring in pies and lattes, and fueling a seasonal economy. What began as an old Irish tale of “Jack of the Lantern” -- originally carved from turnips -- has grown into a multi-million-dollar U.S. industry. Native to North America, pumpkins are truly an all-American crop, one of the continent’s oldest cultivated plants and a symbol of fall. In 2021, Americans spent more than $10 billion on Halloween festivities, and nearly 94 million people planned to carve pumpkins, a testament to the cultural and economic weight of the -- typically -- bright orange crop.
Pumpkins are grown across the country on more than 68,000 acres, producing roughly 1.4 billion pounds in 2024. A handful of states dominate the industry -- Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, California and Michigan together account for about 66 percent of all pumpkin output. Illinois alone harvested about 15,400 acres and produced 485 million pounds, more than the other four top states combined.
Illinois’ edge lies in processing pumpkins with 90 percent of its crop going to pie filling and canned products. Libby’s, the major canned pumpkin processor, sources nearly all its pumpkins from Illinois. Elsewhere growers focus on fresh ornamental pumpkins for carving or decoration. The United States now grows an eclectic mix, from classic Howden jack-o’-lanterns to white “ghost” pumpkins and warty heirlooms, as consumers crave distinctive fall displays. Yields vary widely with Illinois’ processing fields averaging 31,500 pounds per acre in 2024, while states like Pennsylvania averaged about 16,000 pounds per acre.
In total, U.S. pumpkin farmers produced more than $274 million in value in 2024. Illinois led in volume but earned just $21 million because of lower processing prices, compared with $40 million in Indiana, $32 million in Pennsylvania and $28 million in Washington. Prices range dramatically, from Illinois’s $50 per 1,000 pounds -- about five cents per pound -- for processing pumpkins to Washington’s $324 per 1,000 pounds -- about 32 cents per pound -- for fresh pumpkins. Retail prices reflect the same trend. In October 2024, a large carving pumpkin averaged $6.21, wholesale bins sold around $157 for carving pumpkins and $212 for smaller pie pumpkins, while rare heirloom varieties reached $350 per bin.
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