13 Amazing Pumpkin Facts for National Pumpkin Day

It makes perfect sense that we’d kick off Halloween week with National Pumpkin Day. Nothing says Halloween more clearly than the iconic orange pumpkin, preferably carved into a smiling face jack-o-lantern. While the vast majority of the 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins grown in the United States each year—that’s 750,000 tons—go to making jack-0-lanterns, an increasing amount of production has been going into flavorings, thanks to the popularity of pumpkin spice everything. Here are some other amazing pumpkin facts to share with your friends this week:

1. The oldest pumpkin seeds date from 7,000 to 5,500 BC.
2. The word pumpkin is derived from the Greek word pepon, which means “large melon.”
3. The largest pumpkin ever recorded was a 2,009-pound monster grown in 2012 in Rhode Island. Fittingly, it was of the Atlantic Giant variety.
4. Pumpkins are thought to have originated in Mexico.
5. Pumpkins are fed to hens during the winter to help stimulate egg production.
6. Almost 95 percent of the pumpkins destined for consumption in the United States are grown in Illinois.
7. Pumpkin seeds, known by their Spanish name pepitas, are a are a good source of protein, magnesium, copper and zinc.
8. The town of Half Moon Bay, California holds an annual Pumpkin Festival that draws 250,000 visitors.
9. There is no such thing as The Great Pumpkin.
10. Use the hashtag #NationalPumpkinDay today to join the discussion.
11. Nor can pumpkins be converted into carriages.
12. Starbucks introduced its now-iconic pumpkin-spice latte in 2003.
13. In Thailand, small pumpkins are steamed with custard inside and served as dessert.

Craving more pumpkin goodness? Click the link below for 12 healthy pumpkin recipes to help you celebrate National Pumpkin Day!

Printable Recipe Book: 12 Pumpkin Recipes to Make Autumn Taste Awesome

Read More