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Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Pumpkin |
| Scientific name | Cucurbita pepo |
| Family / Genus | Cucurbitaceae / — |
| Produce category | Cucurbit |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4031 |
| PLU — organic | 94031 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_18431 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 75.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Howden | 18% | Large, uniform, deep orange, strong handles, classic jack-o’-lantern shape. Widely adapted and disease resistant, making it a commercial favorite for carving. |
| Magic Lantern | 12% | Medium-large, bright orange, uniform, strong handles. Known for good powdery mildew resistance, ensuring better foliage and fruit quality. |
| Connecticut Field | 10% | Traditional large, slightly ribbed, classic orange pumpkin. Variable in size and shape, often grown for its nostalgic appeal and carving. |
| Small Sugar (New England Pie) | 8% | Small to medium (4-8 lbs), round, deep orange. Prized for its sweet, fine-grained flesh, making it excellent for pies, baking, and cooking. |
| Jack Be Little | 7% | Miniature (0.5-1 lb), flattened, ribbed, bright orange. Primarily used for decorative purposes, popular in autumn displays. |
| Lumena | 5% | Medium-large, smooth, pure white pumpkin. Highly sought after for painting, decorative displays, and modern autumn decor. |
| Autumn Gold | 4% | Medium-sized, early maturing, bright orange. Known for its quick development, making it suitable for early season sales and shorter growing seasons. |
| Baby Boo | 3% | Miniature, pure white, flattened, and ribbed. A popular decorative pumpkin, often paired with ‘Jack Be Little’ for contrasting displays. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 50°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 2 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | very_low |
| Production rate (20°C) | 0.05 µL/kg·h typical (0.01–0.1) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | No |
Agent note: Pumpkins are non-climacteric and produce very little ethylene. They are not highly sensitive to ethylene, but prolonged exposure can accelerate senescence and yellowing.
Mixed-load compatibility
Low ethylene producer, moderate odor absorption susceptibility.
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Strong seasonal demand in Fall (September-October) for decorative and culinary uses; stable overall.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.6 |
| Income elasticity | 0.3 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -1.2 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Carving (Large) | 55% |
| Pie/Sugar | 25% |
| Decorative (Small/White/Specialty) | 20% |
Pack sizes
- Bins (500-1200 lbs)
- Cartons (20-40 lbs)
- Count packs (e.g., 6-count mini pumpkins)
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
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