Making their appearance just in time for that spooky fall holiday, pumpkins are here at the Chico Saturday Farmers’ Market! But don’t think they’re just for carving – While you can find field pumpkins meant for jack-o’-lanterns, you’ll also find sweet Sugar Pie pumpkins for all your baking needs and a huge variety of beautiful, interesting heirloom pumpkins that look gorgeous as fall decor and also taste delicious roasted! Absolutely nothing says fall quite like a choosing a fresh pumpkin from your local market, so make your way to the Chico Saturday Farmers’ Market and pick your perfect pumpkin! And keep reading for fun facts and recipes for this fall favorite!

Fun Facts!

• Pumpkins grow all over the world! Six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins. Antarctica is the only continent that they won’t grow in.
• Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family, which includes cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini. They are are native to Central America and Mexico.
• Technically pumpkins are a fruit, but are often referred to in recipes as a vegetable.
• Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron.
• The heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,810 lb 8 oz and was presented by Chris Stevens at the Stillwater Harvest Fest in Stillwater, Minnesota, in October 2010.
• In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.
• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
• Pumpkin flowers are edible!
• The Irish brought the tradition of pumpkins carving to America! The tradition originally started with the carving of turnips. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they found pumpkins a plenty and they were much easier to carve for their ancient holiday.