Illinois pumpkin farmers are getting a better look at their crops now that fall is here. Things are looking up for this season’s harvest of pumpkins used for canning.
Illinois far and away leads the nation in producing sugar pumpkins. They’re often canned and widely used for pies. Heavy rains last year ruined much of the state’s crop of sugar pumpkins and caused a canned pumpkins shortage. But this year, it looks like that there won’t be any excuse not to have pie at Thanksgiving.
Nestle sells most of the country’s canned pumpkins each year. The company says it planted extra pumpkins earlier in the season. About 80 percent of canned pumpkins are sold - in the final three months of the calendar year.