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Pumpkin Facts and Fun for Fall

Fall is here, and pumpkins are everywhere! From pies and cookies to roasted seeds and pumpkin spice lattes, these versatile gourds are the ultimate symbol of autumn. On October 26, we celebrate pumpkins: a tasty treat and iconic fall decoration. Pumpkin Fun Facts:

• The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepon, meaning “large melon.”
• Pumpkins, gourds, and squashes are technically fruits – specifically berries!
• Pumpkins come in more colors than you think: classic orange, white, yellow, green, gray, and even blue.
• The U.S. produces over 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins each year.
• A pumpkin is 90% water, which is why it floats.
• Pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, are packed with protein, magnesium, and zinc.
• Pumpkins have been grown in North America for over 5,000 years, originally used for food and not just decoration.
• Americans eat over 50 million pumpkin pies each year.
• Each Halloween, more than 1 billion Jack-o’-lanterns are carved in the U.S. alone.
• The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed over 2,700 pounds.

Whether carving, painting, baking, or roasting seeds, pumpkins bring fun, flavor, and fall spirit to every part of the season.