Community Corner
Four Nazareth-Area Farms to Pick a Pumpkin
There's a shortage this year in the season's most sought-after fruit, so get them while you can.
Fun fact: Pumpkins are a fruit, and they just might be the most versatile fruit ever grown.
We use pumpkins as decoration, we carve ‘em up for jack-o-lanterns, we roast the seeds as a snack, and we use the fruit to make the most delicious of fall desserts, pumpkin pie.
Even though the season is in full swing, there is a pumpkin shortage this year due to the massive amounts of rain. Many crops rotted before they could be harvested, and many pumpkins bloated to the point they couldn't be sold.
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“This year’s weather has just been horrendous,” said Kevin Donahoe, owner of Nazareth Floral Designs at Donahoe Farms. “It’s been the wettest August and September on record.”
Despite the shortage, there are a few local places that are currently selling pumpkins. Each location is accompanied by a fun pumpkin fact!
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1. is at 589 East Lawn Road (Route 191) in Upper Nazareth Township. The plump pumpkins are displayed on a wagon outside, and the prices range from $1.50 to $7, depending on size.
The store is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store is closed Sundays.
Fun pumpkin fact: Pennsylvania is one of the top four pumpkin-producing states, along with Illinois, Ohio and California.
2. is selling what’s left of its pumpkin crop now. Faust can be found at 523 Nazareth Pike in Lower Nazareth Township. Prices vary, with small to medium pumpkins going for $3 to $5, large ones going for $6 to $10, and downright massive ones going for $12.
Also be sure to check out the pumpkins with faces painted on them and the pumpkins made to look like black spiders -- each is the creation of Faust Family Produce owner Matt Reiss.
The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fun pumpkin fact: The largest pumpkin -- ever -- weighed in at 1,140 pounds!
3. Juniperdale Farms & The Produce Crib can be found at 1015 Browntown Road at the corner of Browntown and Fulmer roads in Plainfield Township. The pumpkins range from tiny to large, and at the best prices we've found: from 75 cents for the little guys, up to $3.50 for the big ones!
Pumpkins will be available throughout October, along with Indian corn, corn stalks, straw bales, and a variety of squashes and apples.
The stand is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fun pumpkin fact: Pumpkins are used to make bread, soup and pie. They are also used as feed for animals, and the seeds can be roasted for a tasty snack (for humans).
4. Amoré Vineyards and Winery is just off Route 512 in East Allen Township at 6811 Steuben Road. Amoré's biggest claims to fame are the vineyard and winery, but the farm side also sells -- you guessed it -- pumpkins! Amoré -- which means "love" in Italian -- sells pumpkins of many sizes for 39 cents per pound.
Call for hours of operation and appointments.
Fun pumpkin fact: 80 percent of the pumpkin supply in the U.S. is available in October.
Author's Note: Thanks to urbanext.edu for the fun pumpkin facts!
