Lake County Gazette

Fall has arrived in Illinois, and with it comes the abundance of pumpkins. According to a Facebook post by Rep. Tom Weber on Sept. 28, there's a good chance that the pumpkin you're enjoying in your pumpkin pie or carving into a jack-o-lantern came from Illinois. Weber marked the change of seasons by sharing the state's status as a pumpkin grower and providing a link to a caucus blog about the topic.

The blog post highlighted Illinois as "the Great Pumpkin state" and discussed the various uses of pumpkins beyond jack-o-lanterns. It mentioned that jack-o-lantern pumpkins can be eaten but are primarily used for decorative purposes. Some Illinois farms even sell decorative pumpkins wholesale to major retailers, and customers are invited to pick pumpkins in-person at many growers' farms. Additionally, there are pumpkins specifically bred for processing and canning.

Illinois takes its pumpkin-growing seriously, as evidenced by the annual competition held by the Illinois Giant Pumpkin Association. In 2022, Joe Adkins took the crown for growing the largest giant pumpkin, weighing in at a whopping 1,760 pounds. The state's largest pumpkin on record was grown in 2015 by Gene McMullen, weighing 2,145.5 pounds.

According to the USDA, Illinois is the top pumpkin-producing state. In 2021, farmers in Illinois harvested more than twice as many pumpkins as any other state, covering 15,900 acres. Notably, 80% of pumpkin acres in Illinois are dedicated to pumpkins used for pie filling and other processing purposes. However, due to the lower price of processing pumpkins compared to those used for jack-o-lanterns, Illinois producers consistently received the lowest price at $35 per 1,000 pounds of pumpkins in 2021.

Rep. Tom Weber has been representing the 64th District since 2019. He is a lifelong resident of Lake Villa, owns a small business, and has governmental experience as a former member of the Lake County Board and Forest Preserve Board. Weber is married with two sons and is a graduate of St. John's Military Academy.

So, as you enjoy your pumpkin treats and decorate with jack-o-lanterns this fall, remember that Illinois plays a significant role in supplying the pumpkins that bring joy to the season.