Extreme weather conditions lead to pumpkin shortage

Posted October 31, 2023 6:10 pm.
Last Updated October 31, 2023 6:28 pm.
They’re a common sight — lining the doorsteps of spooky houses ahead of Halloween. Jack-o-lanterns of all shapes and sizes.
But if you missed getting a pumpkin early, you may be out of luck.
“I didn’t look for any pumpkins this year but I did notice going around to grocery stores I didn’t see them anywhere,” said one Edmontonian.
According to pumpkin farmer Tam Andersen of Prairie Gardens, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, there is indeed a shortage.
“From coast-to-coast we’re hearing stories of a shortage of pumpkins,” said Andersen.
Andersen says many stores have run out saying those still looking to get one might be out of luck unless they can get to a pumpkin farm like theirs in Bon Accord just North of Edmonton. They Say their phone has been ringing off the hook the last few days with people desperately looking to make some last-minute jack-o-lanterns.

“As soon as the pumpkin supply in the box stores dries up and those pumpkins have travelled 3,000 miles for sure, people look to local and here we have pumpkins growing right here in Edmonton,” said Andersen.
Because of weather, Andersen says 50 per cent of the harvest didn’t make it through, following extreme drought in May and June and unseasonably wet conditions for the rest of the summer impacting their bottom line”
“In our 40 years of growing pumpkins and we grow about 12-20 acres depending on the season we have never seen a growing season as challenging as this one,” said Andersen.
“We planted our little pumpkin seedlings in the dust up to our ankles praying for rain, and then it came in July and it never quit.”
She says they got their annual precipitation in about six weeks, and says that growing pumpkins is no cakewalk.
“Life is like a box of chocolates in the pumpkin growing business, you never know what you’re going to get”