Pumpkin | The Canadian Encyclopedia

article

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a common name for squash with large, orange fruits.
Pumpkin
In Canada, the term pumpkin refers to those fruits of Cucurbita pepo that are picked after the rind has hardened but before the first frost (artwork by Claire Tremblay).
Pumpkin. Image: Davida Aronovitch/Historica Canada.

Pumpkin is a common name for squash with large, orange fruits. In North America the term most commonly refers to those fruits of Cucurbita pepo that are picked after the rind has hardened but before the first frost. In Europe, the word is used for various squash, including C. maxima.

The pumpkin has a low commercial value in Canada, although its popularity has been growing in the last 20 years. There are nearly 3000 ha planted with those varieties annually, and the crop is worth more than $15 million. Most pumpkins are sold fresh, but a small percentage (less than 10%) is processed into canned pumpkin pie mixes and similar products. Pumpkins are mostly used for making pies and for jack-o'-lanterns during Halloween. They are also being increasingly used as a tourist attraction by the agri-tourism industry.

Interested in crops?

External Links