# Where is the pumpkin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513 "2010-02-26T13:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/21 "2010-02-26T21:52:34Z")
I got a reputation for posting all the time about lentils on another board, **araminty**. What can I say? They’re good. You mentioned trying sweet potatoes, **Dogzilla** ; cooking, mashing. You’re aware they sell those in cans too, right? You’ll still have to squish, but not cook. That said, I buy pumpkin right along, all year (I have a 12-year-old boy who will make pumpkin bread on demand) so I’m perplexed by the “pumpkin shortage.” ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/22 "2010-02-26T21:57:17Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > I just called my sister, a front end girl at one of the local Publixes. She says they are all short on Libby’s, though she doesn’t know why. She reports that her Publix does have organic canned pumpkin available, and it doesn’t cost much more than the regular stuff. (That’s the Publix way out Mahan by the interstate, by the way.) She suggests you call and ask your local if they have that. You might also call New Leaf and see if they stock it. Great tip! Thank you. I will try New Thief Markup 😉 although last time I found it there, they actually only had the pie mix in cans. I believe the Fresh Market had the organic stuff for something close to $4.00 per can. I know, right. The Libby version is $1.79 here. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/23 "2010-02-26T22:04:34Z")
I’d heard there was going to be a pumpkin shortage last fall, but didn’t have any problems finding it. What I have noticed, in all the stores around here, is much less willingness to stock odd or off-season items. They’re just not keeping the same amount of inventory in stock that they used to. I’m sure it’s the economy. So, it may just be that your store only stocked pumpkin for the prime season (without much extra), and once that ran out they didn’t re-order. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/24 "2010-02-26T22:05:15Z")
Oh, and the Libby punkin lady got back to me: > [@Libby Punkin Lady](#): > > Dear Ms. Zilla, > > Thank you for contacting Libby’s® 100% Pure Pumpkin. > > I am sorry to hear you are having a difficult time finding Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and know it is frustrating when you cannot find your favorite product. > > Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions this past fall, our harvest was smaller than normal and has caused a shortage in our supply. Our pumpkins are grown in the Midwest where we had record rain fall amounts last year. This has caused the fields to be extremely wet and therefore, we were unable to get our tractors in the fields to harvest the pumpkins. We will continue to be in short supply until our next harvest later this year. > > We appreciate your interest and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions. > > Sincerely, > Libby Punkin Lady > Consumer Response Representative Squash and sweet potatoes it is. If nothing else, at least I’ve learned a lot on this little quest. I’ve learned: • they sell sweet potatoes in cans, • they may even sell squash in cans, • dogs probably can’t tell the difference between acorn squash, sweet potatoes and pumpkin. Possibly. • Even basenjis like pumpkin, and some cats, too. • There was a bad pumpkin year and, therefore, an actual pumpkin shortage. • Oh, and Morton, IL is the pumpkin growing capital of the U.S. • My Publix guy was either lying or making shit up when he claimed there was a recall due to _e coli_. I should write the Libby Punkin Lady back and tell her the Publix dude is talking smack about her pumpkin behind her back. Maybe send John Stossel over to Publix for a little interview. Hey, if I can’t get pumpkin, I might as well stir some shit up, right? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/25 "2010-02-26T22:06:13Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Great tip! Thank you. > > I will try New Thief Markup 😉 although last time I found it there, they actually only had the pie mix in cans. I believe the Fresh Market had the organic stuff for something close to $4.00 per can. I know, right. The Libby version is $1.79 here. Yeah, you can never be quite sure what New Leaf will have. Might be what you need, might be nowhere near it. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/26 "2010-03-01T15:57:11Z")
UPDATE: Over the weekend, I visited 8 different stores, including a Super WalMart (yes, I actually went to the Belly of The Beast!) and managed to score only one 32 oz. can of pumpkin. The dogs are on notice that they will have to cook and smash their own sweet potatoes after this can is gone. Canned sweet potatoes, btw, are all packed in syrup = way too much sugar for my little dogs. I’m going to have to cook. ☹ There is no such thing as canned squash. Probably for good reason. I’m not a squash fan, so I wouldn’t know for sure… ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/27 "2010-03-01T16:03:15Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Canned sweet potatoes, btw, are all packed in syrup = way too much sugar for my little dogs. I’m going to have to cook. ☹ There is no such thing as canned squash. Probably for good reason. I’m not a squash fan, so I wouldn’t know for sure… No mashing required. Just bake in them in the oven until done, and wrap and store in the refrigerator. You can just scoop them out of the skins in a mostly mashed state. As a bonus, all of my dogs think that potato skins are the best treat ever. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/28 "2010-03-01T16:14:09Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > As a bonus, all of my dogs think that potato skins are the best treat ever. 😃 When I was a kid I had a dog who would eat anything, absolutely _anything_ (he was an outside dog, so he got all the food scraps) you gave him, **except** potato skins. He would very carefully eat around them, then flip the bowl over to get rid of them. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/29 "2010-03-01T16:25:40Z")
> [@troub](#): > > 😃 When I was a kid I had a dog who would eat anything, absolutely _anything_ (he was an outside dog, so he got all the food scraps) you gave him, **except** potato skins. He would very carefully eat around them, then flip the bowl over to get rid of them. Clearly an unrefined mutt. My dogs feel nothing but pity for him. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/30 "2010-03-01T17:20:10Z")
Often you can find squash frozed in the frozen vegetable section. No baking or peeling required. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/31 "2010-03-01T17:22:33Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > Often you can find squash frozed in the frozen vegetable section. No baking or peeling required. That’s right. I’ve seen butternut (winter) squash in most grocery stores. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/32 "2010-03-01T19:00:35Z")
Hadn’t thought of frozen squash. Will look for it. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/33 "2010-03-01T19:13:28Z")
see below ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/34 "2010-03-01T19:16:31Z")
If not she can always try squash. I hear it’s often available in the frozen foods section. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/35 "2010-03-01T20:09:49Z")
I work in a large Mid-Atlantic grocery chain. The latest memo we got says Libby’s canned pumpkin won’t be back until next October due to the shortage. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/36 "2010-03-01T20:14:35Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > I work in a large Mid-Atlantic grocery chain. The latest memo we got says Libby’s canned pumpkin won’t be back until next October due to the shortage. Hopefully, at least _you_ aren’t lying to your customers about an _e coli_ recall. 😃 I seriously considered writing back to the Libby lady to tell her the Publix guy has been talking smack about her pumpkin behind her back. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/37 "2010-03-01T20:44:06Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Hopefully, at least _you_ aren’t lying to your customers about an _e coli_ recall. 😃 > > I seriously considered writing back to the Libby lady to tell her the Publix guy has been talking smack about her pumpkin behind her back. That’s a pretty bizarre thing for an employee to tell you. My guess is that he/she was simply confused about the real reason. There are so many products and what with the recalls, the discontinues, the repackaging, the rebranding etc. etc. — it’s easy to remember something wrong. That said, before one starts bad-mouthing a product, one should have one’s facts straight. E-coli is definately not something to blather about without the facts. If it was an employee at my company they’d be written up or demoted or possibly fired if they were just making up things to tell a customer. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/38 "2010-03-01T21:53:33Z")
Yeah, I think he just didn’t know the answer and made up whatever he could think of that would get me out of his face as quickly as possible. In the nicest, Southern saccharine tone I could muster, and with a huge smile on my face, I said, “You know… I don’t really buy that. Why don’t we try to special order a case and see what happens?” The look on\* his\* face was priceless. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/39 "2010-03-03T18:39:43Z")
Late on the reply, but as a former supermarket worker (nearing on 20 years ago though), often times it’s “unavailable at warehouse.” Which means the supplier they buy it from doesn’t stock it “off season.” To simplify matters, most of the grocery workers will just push the blame up the supply chain to the manufacturer. Same applies to Kool-Aid packets in the winter. It’s available, but the shelf space is usually taken up by something else until late spring. (If anyone sees Kool-Aid Invisible Cherry packets - unsweetened - please buy all you can find, and ship to me!) ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/40 "2010-03-03T19:49:21Z")
**butler1850** , after I directly questioned the \*e coli \*story, then I got the “unavailable at the warehouse” story, which turns out to be verifiably true. I would have preferred a more directly honest answer the first time. I don’t like having to interrogate the poor grocery store guy just to get a straight answer out of him. My interrogation probably wasn’t very pleasant for him either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513.md?page=3)