12/11/2025
This Fall's highlight is the Pumpkin! Little late but we made it just in the nick of time to celebrate this nutrient-dense beauty.
Pumpkins are a type of Squash and they come in all different varieties, shapes, sizes, colors, and qualities. Some have more/tastier flesh than others so keep that in mind when selecting a Pumpkin to eat. Pumpkin seeds are also edible and make a yummy snack.
Varieties that I recommend for eating:
🟠 Calabaza
🟠 Sugar Pumpkin
🟠 Kabocha
🟠 Red Kuri
🟠 Jarrahdale
🟠 Long Island Cheese
🟠 Acorn
🟠 Fairytale
Pumpkins are a storage crop that keep well in cool dark spaces for several months. Even though they were harvested many weeks ago they are still available now and for many weeks to come because of their shelf stability. I recommend storing them whole in your pantry or cubing & freezing them for long term storage. Canning Pumpkin is not recommended because it is high risk for botulism due to its low acidity and high density.
Nutritional benefits of Pumpkins:
🟠 Rich in Beta Carotene/Vitamin A - eyesight, immune support, and skin health
🟠 High in Fiber - GI regulation, helps you feel full, cholesterol and blood sugar regulation
🟠 Low Calorie - fills you up, feeds your cells, and doesn't pack on the pounds
🟠 Antioxidants - vitamins A, B, C, E, lutein, zeaxanthin
🟠 Minerals - iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, manganese, copper
🟠 Seeds are packed with protein, minerals, & healthy fats
Besides being delicious, nutritious, and gorgeous, Pumpkins have been a staple food in several cultures for many millennia. For example, Calabaza is a staple food throughout historical Cuba and still is today. Indigenous people throughout the Americas considered Pumpkins a staple in their diets and they introduced it to Europe. Africa and Asia also consider Pumpkins important.
Pumpkins are fantastic. If you are like me and don't like potatoes that much, try replacing them with Pumpkin in pretty much any recipe. Mash, roast, cube into soups/stews/chili, hash, fries, fritters, pureed into soup/sauce. Try pumpkin in sweet treats like coated in maple syrup over Greek yogurt for a dessert parfait.
How do you like your Pumpkin?
