USDA Reports The Six Largest Pumpkin Producing States

Oct 26, 2016

All U.S. States produce some pumpkins but about one-half of the total are grown in 6 States.

In 2015, U.S. farmers in those States produced 753.8 million pounds of pumpkins.

Production dropped over 40 percent from 2014 with a notable drop in acreage planted in Illinois.

In June 2015 there were heavy rains in Illinois that significantly reduced pumpkin harvests.

Despite this decline, Illinois remained the leading producer of pumpkins by acreage and output, with almost 80 percent of acres typically devoted to production for pie filling or other processing uses.

Supplies from the remaining top five States are targeted toward the seasonal fresh market for ornamental uses and for home processing.

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Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.