Illinois pumpkin production increased in 2025, but weather brought a mixed bag for growers this year.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service said Illinois produced about 533 million pounds last year, up from 485 million in 2024 and far more than any other state.
Michael Dittmar said a late frost on May 7th wiped out the apples at Dittmar Farms and Orchard in Elizabeth, but pumpkins survived heavy rains and tornadoes.
Jack Lanxon is Farm Operations Manager at Eckert’s, with three Illinois locations near St. Louis and one in Kentucky, near Lexington.
Southfork Homestead in Paris, Illinois, however, lost several acres of pumpkins due to flooding and rain wash and reported “not much” yield.
Story from Illinois Radio Network
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