Possible pumpkin shortage this season on the Lower Mainland

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MAPLE RIDGE (NEWS 1130) – It’s just about that time of year — time to head out and grab a jack o’ lantern ahead of Halloween. But you better hurry because there may be a possible pumpkin shortage.

Ken Laity, who operates a pumpkin patch in Maple Ridge, says the heat and dryness this summer have been contributing factors.

“Most people don’t irrigate the pumpkins so not too many pumpkin farmers are set up for that [extreme dry weather.] You’re just depending on the amount of moisture within your soil. Some farms did extremely well and then others are not fantastic. It might be a tight year for pumpkins this year.”

He adds the overall sizes could be smaller as well as the winter squashes are made up of 90 per cent water. “It was just the extreme drought for that 45 days where it was just non-stop heat and no rain. It was just so stressful on a lot of the plants.”

However, interestingly enough the harvest of smaller pie or baking pumpkins, which are more of a bush than a vine, shouldn’t be affected.

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