Pumpkin cultivation

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Pumpkins growing in a field.

Pumpkin cultivation is a form of gardening that is based on growing pumpkins or other similar squash varieties. And while pumpkins are now grown mostly for autumn and winter decorations in north America, rather than for its food value, pumpkin farming is still a major business in North America and around the World. It is believed that people have been cultivating pumpkins since 7000 B.C.

Pumpkin Field

1 History
- 1.1 First pumpkins
- 1.2 Domestication
2 Agricultural market value
- 2.1 Statistics
3 Market value
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

[edit] First pumpkins

The first pumpkins are believed to have been grown before 5000 B.C. At an archaeological site in Mexico, recovered pumpkin seeds dated from 7000 to 5500 B.C. Summer Squash originated in Mexico and Central America and winter squash originated in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. Pumpkins are found in both species. Prior to Columbus' discovery of North America, pumpkins were distributed along the Atlantic seaboard and throughout the Midwest. The common field pumpkin was known to the early settlers of New England. Today, the Connecticut Field variety is the typical jack-o-lantern.

[edit] Domestication

The domestication of pumpkins began with the native populations of the Americas; however, the pumpkin was known for its seeds rather than its flesh or skin. Research into the history of the use of pumpkins reveals that Pumpkin cultivation began in South America and eventually made its way to native populations in North America. With the arrival of Europeans to the North America pumpkins farming was quickly picked up by these newcomers. Through the early settlers, pumpkins seeds were eventually sent to Europe.

[edit] Agricultural market value

[edit] Statistics

Between 1978 and 1987, the number of U.S farms harvesting pumpkins rose 21 percent . The percent increase was most for Michigan (45 percent) while Pennsylvania had the largest increase in amount of farms at 189 . Illinois had the greatest loss in farms raising pumpkins. There are also many backyard growers. During the 1980s California production went up from 66.7 million pounds in 1980 to 108.6 million pounds in 1989. During the 1980s, California production averaged 86.6 million pounds. Of U.S. grown fresh pumpkins arriving in U.S. cities during the 1980s, 17 percent came from California, with an annual average of 3.2 million pounds. Washington was second, averaging 2.4 million pounds. Pumpkin arrivals in five major cities for 1990 were from nearby domestic growing areas and arrived in September and October. Atlanta received 4.5 million pounds, Boston 1.9 million pounds, Chicago 1.0 million pounds, San Francisco 1.5 million pounds, and Dallas 3.3 million pounds. Arrivals for New York - Newark were reported for imports only. According to data from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. fresh pumpkin imports from the Dominican Republic averaged 6.6 million pounds between 1979/80 and 1987/88. Mexico is second, accounting for 9 percent (0.7 million pounds). Surprisingly, most imports arrive in the U.S. between December and June. Japan accounted for all the U.S. frozen pumpkin imports until 1987/88 when Mexico shipped 0.1 million pounds. Retail prices for fresh pumpkins were about three times higher in Boston than in San Francisco. Between 1982 and 1989 retail prices averaged 22 cents per pound in Boston and 8 cents per pound in San Francisco.

[edit] Market value

According to special tabulations from the 1987 Census of Agriculture, the market value of the U.S. pumpkin crop neared the $50 million mark. In large pumpkin producing states such as Illinois and Texas, pumpkin sales resulted in nearly 40-50 thousand dollars for each specialized pumpkin farm. By value, Illinois is the highest pumpkin producing state, accounting for 16 percent of U.S. pumpkin sales. Several pumpkin plants are located in Illinois, accounting for some of that sales volume. Production expenses on specialized U.S. pumpkin farms averaged just over $10,000 per farm, with the largest share accounted for by interest expenses. Colorado pumpkin farms spent the most on interest. The second largest production expense was commercial fertilizer, at a national average of 11 percent of total expenses. Colorado was lowest, averaging just over 3 percent. At 10 percent, labor also accounted for a significant share of total expenses. Other expenses varied greatly from state to state, with California and Indiana expenses heavily weighted toward cash rent. The pumpkin industry itself is not extremely specialized. Only 30 percent of all pumpkin sales come from farms specializing in pumpkins. Also, over 37 percent of all farms selling pumpkins earn less than $10,000 annually from agricultural sales. However, 46 percent of all pumpkin area is harvested by relatively large farms with agricultural sales of $100,000 or more.