Market Update

Market Snapshot*

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 36-inch bins of large, howden variety pumpkins were selling for $140 at the Atlanta terminal market, and half-bushel cartons of miniature pumpkins were $14. At the Pittsburgh terminal market, 24-inch bins of medium, pie-type pumpkins were $180 and small sizes were $200.

*Source: USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Fruit & Vegetable Market News, Sept. 19.

The Shipping Scene

Halloween may be more than a month away, but Ohio growers already are shipping good-quality pumpkins, primarily to customers in the South and on the East Coast.

Klickman Farms Inc. in Elmore started shipping the gourds about two weeks ago, said Marilyn Klickman, who owns the business with her husband, James.

Sales were starting to pick up this week, she said. So far, the 2007 season seems to be better than last year's with better yields, good quality and large sizes.

Although weather has been mostly dry, heavy rainfall that brought 8 inches of precipitation in August caused some quality problems in low-lying fields, she said. But overall, she anticipated a good season with shipments continuing right up to Halloween.

Preparations for the holiday seem to start earlier every year, Klickman said, as families set out pumpkins and other gourds for festive fall decorations.

Klickman Farms has enjoyed steady sales as it built up its clientele over 20 years, she said.

The Klickmans are pleased to see that prices are a bit higher than usual so far this year because their fuel and freight costs are on the rise. High freight rates prevent them from shipping to the West.

Nearly 100% of the pumpkins Klickman Farms sells are used for decoration or carving into jack-o-lanterns. White pumpkins are becoming increasingly popular as are bags of orange miniature pumpkins, Klickman said.

Klickman's pumpkins weigh an average of 10 to 15 pounds with a few tipping the scales at up to 30 pounds. The farm's largest pumpkins weigh as much as 100 pounds.

Darr Farms in Newcomerstown started shipping pumpkins about a week ago, said owner George Darr.

Crop size is average, he said, quality is excellent and stems look excellent.

Rain and humid weather in August caused a few problems and spotty losses, Darr said. Extremely dry weather during the planting phase had some growers struggling to get good stands. Darr had to replant 30 to 40 acres to end up with a decent crop.

He expected to see average prices, with pumpkins going for $80 to $100 per 36-inch bin in the local market. Thirty-count containers are filled with pumpkins about 12 inches in diameter, 40-count bins contain pumpkins 10-12 inches in diameter, and 60-count containers have pumpkins that range from 6- to 10 inches in diameter. Workers use sizing rings to ensure the right measurement.

Pickers harvest 150,000 pounds of pumpkins a day, Darr said. Significant volume should get under way from Darr Farms the last week of September.

"We're just practicing and warming up now," he said this week.

Dennis Ramseyer, partner with his father, Arden, in Ramseyer Farms, Wooster, is excited about his pumpkin crop this season.

The farm missed the heavy rains the western part of the state endured but did have adequate rain and cool weather when the pumpkins were setting. Pollination also was good, he said.

The farm now is shipping to South Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania and will ship to Florida next week. Quality from Ramseyer Farms is "very good," Ramseyer said, and sizes are above average.

Ramseyer ships several varieties of pumpkins, including aladin, gold rush, gold medal and magic lantern. While growers and pumpkin aficionados can detect subtle differences in color, size, weight and the appearance of the stems, the average consumer can't tell one variety from another, he said.

The key to moving pumpkins is having a good product, he added. A grower can't just plant them and pick them. He must invest time and money in caring for the crop.

Some years, growers are left with an oversupply of pumpkins as Halloween approaches, Ramseyer said. But last year, a lot of people were out looking for pumpkins even as little goblins were preparing to take to the streets.

(By Tom Burfield, Western correspondent for The Packer. The Packer and Red Book Credit Services are part of food360º, a division of Vance Publishing Corp., Lincolnshire, Ill.)

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