# 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:** 3
**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, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/41 "2010-03-03T20:34:41Z")
Not disagreeing with you **Dogzilla** , but my experience is that the folks working in the grocery store, are usually at the top of their own career opportunities based on ability/skills/intelligence. As high school student, I knew I could go further than they had, even if I suffered a minor brain injury in the future. And most consumers will buy any excuse anyway. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/42 "2010-03-03T20:53:06Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > . ☹ 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… frozen butternut squash ---
**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:** [March 3, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/43 "2010-03-03T21:01:50Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > Not disagreeing with you **Dogzilla** , but my experience is that the folks working in the grocery store, are usually at the top of their own career opportunities based on ability/skills/intelligence. As high school student, I knew I could go further than they had, even if I suffered a minor brain injury in the future. And most consumers will buy any excuse anyway. Not necessarily true at Publix. My sister, for example, has a degree but makes a good living and enjoys working with the public as a Publix manager. She started as a cashier, as did her husband. He’s now a butcher in their meat department. They both have great benefits, stock, and are able to match their schedules up in such a way that there is almost always someone at home (in their newly purchased house) with my brand new nephew. Not to say you won’t find a few lazy or jerkish employees around. I mean, where don’t you? Also, there is certainly such thing as canned squash, but it is in with the other canned soul food sides and is prepared southern style, so probably not a good option for dogs. ---
**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, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/44 "2010-03-03T21:07:31Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > Not disagreeing with you **Dogzilla** , but my experience is that the folks working in the grocery store, are usually at the top of their own career opportunities based on ability/skills/intelligence. As high school student, I knew I could go further than they had, even if I suffered a minor brain injury in the future. And most consumers will buy any excuse anyway. Agreed and this poor soul learned quickly that I am not “most consumers.” 😉 He was young, perhaps barely out of high school, from what I could tell. Seems like it would be a good college student job. ---
**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, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/45 "2010-03-03T21:09:38Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > Also, there is certainly such thing as canned squash, but it is in with the other canned soul food sides and is prepared southern style, so probably not a good option for dogs. Didn’t find any at any of the 8 Publixes (Publices? What is the plural of “Publix” anyway?) I visited last weekend. Everyone had candied yams/sweet potatoes in syrup, no canned squash. I did not check frozen, so it could be there. That this weekend’s mission. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/46 "2010-03-03T21:31:27Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Didn’t find any at any of the 8 Publixes (Publices? What is the plural of “Publix” anyway?) I visited last weekend. Everyone had candied yams/sweet potatoes in syrup, no canned squash. It was almost certainly there. It would probably have been to the far left of the canned veggie aisle, along with canned tomatoes and okra, collard greens, hoppin’ john, field peas, and butter beans. One brand is Allens Sunshine, but there are others. That’s canned yellow squash, by the way, not any of the more pumpkin-like varieties. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/47 "2010-03-03T22:57:59Z")
There was some discussion of the pumpkin shortage on a local foodie board, and some people reported being able to find organic alternatives at places like Whole Foods. Maybe you will have some luck there. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/48 "2010-03-03T23:14:29Z")
> [@butler1850](#): > > 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!) If you get hold of any, would you be willing to share? :bats eyes: I could trade you for some Invisible Strawberry-Kiwi. I’d forgotten about this thread, but I got an email earlier in the week that had my whole office giggling hysterically. It seems apropos. [I Has a Sweet Potato](http://littera-abactor.livejournal.com/7748.html) ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/49 "2010-03-04T07:36:46Z")
Um, I’m almost afraid to say this as I might be mobbed by crazy Dopers and their dogs. I have 6 cans of pureed pumpkin in my pantry. In addition, my local pet store sells cans of pumpkin for dogs. I think one of my 3 local grocery stores should have some but I haven’t looked in a while. I would be willing to share… My puppies have no problems with their digestion and they really like frozen raw sweet potatoes so I have no real use for canned pumpkin until it’s time to make pumpkin whoopie pies with spiced cream cheese filling. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/50 "2010-03-04T19:36:48Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > I would be willing to share… > > **pumpkin whoopie pies with spiced cream cheese filling**. The recipe??? Please?🙂 ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/51 "2010-03-04T19:40:43Z")
LOL I wish I could take credit for the recipe but I’m not that creative. It’s something I found from a random google search. [http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Pumpkin-Whoopie-Pies-w—Spiced-Cream-Cheese-Filling/32686/](http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Pumpkin-Whoopie-Pies-w---Spiced-Cream-Cheese-Filling/32686/) I have shared this recipe with a number of people and they have all thoroughly enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/52 "2010-03-04T20:55:11Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > Agreed and this poor soul learned quickly that I am not “most consumers.” 😉 > > He was young, perhaps barely out of high school, from what I could tell. Seems like it would be a good college student job. My time at the market was fantastic, as a job to hold through school. I worked there through high school, college, and a couple of years after, part time, 8 years or so total. I’m sure some “lifers” are great, and happy in their jobs, but it wasn’t in my experience (this was a tiny 3 store chain, swallowed up by a bigger company a few years later). A couple of gems (the couple of store managers were in this group, but they were “old time” guys having come up through from the '60s) in the full time group, but many were a bit “cloudy.” ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/53 "2010-03-04T22:02:11Z")
**Congodwarf** , I will trade you a few jars of my homemade, organic, world-famous blueberry-habañero jam for some of your pumpkin. PM me if interested. :: deadly serious :: ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/54 "2010-03-04T22:05:19Z")
Butler1850, it appears that the Publix chain, based in Lakeland, FL, turns out to be a really good employer. I know several people who have made careers out of the place – one is a friend of mine with dual bachelor’s degrees in science who just enjoys the flexibility (she does payroll in the office and trains newbies), likes the work, and the benefits and salary are fair and competitive for this area. She quit a hoity-toity FL Dept. of Education gig to go back to Publix. It’s not for me, but hey. Whatever blows your hair back. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/55 "2010-03-04T22:21:38Z")
> [@Dogzilla](#): > > **Congodwarf** , I will trade you a few jars of my homemade, organic, world-famous blueberry-habañero jam for some of your pumpkin. PM me if interested. > > :: deadly serious :: Of course I’m interested. That sounds so yummy. PM is on it’s way. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/56 "2010-03-05T00:04:32Z")
What pumpkins? You are quite sure that stores are not in the habit of selling pumpkins and never have been. ---
**Author:** ![CT\_Damsel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CT\_Damsel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CT_Damsel)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/57 "2010-03-05T04:27:15Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > LOL I wish I could take credit for the recipe but I’m not that creative. It’s something I found from a random google search. > > [http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Pumpkin-Whoopie-Pies-w—Spiced-Cream-Cheese-Filling/32686/](http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Pumpkin-Whoopie-Pies-w---Spiced-Cream-Cheese-Filling/32686/) > > I have shared this recipe with a number of people and they have all thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you so much! I love pumpkin everything! I just used up my last can a couple of days ago, so I will wait for the Fall restock. Then I’m hoarding!!! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/58 "2010-03-05T04:36:22Z")
Ya know, I didn’t even mean to hoard. I just really like pumpkin and between birthdays, holidays, and other get-togethers, I thought I would need a lot of it. In the end, the house search, packing, and moving took up so much time that I didn’t get a chance to bake much. I have been making pumpkin whoopie pies for years but that is, by far, the best recipe I’ve used. ---
**Author:** ![Blisters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Blisters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisters)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/59 "2010-03-05T08:43:05Z")
Recently I had a very hard time finding pumpkin (though there was always plenty of pumpkin pie mix in the can) and was thinking myself to be going insane (I had not heard of any pumpkin shortage) Solved my problem at Trader Joe’s…there were lots of cans. That’s where I’d check, were I you…if not, PM me and I’d be happy to do a visual the next time I’m there and get you some. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513/60 "2010-03-05T13:50:50Z")
:: cries :: I live five hours away from the nearest Trader Joes. :: sobs :: :: sniffles, wipes nose :: I did find frozen squash at Publix last night. “Ingredients: squash.” That’s what I’m after! I’ll thaw some out tomorrow and smash it a bit and see if the dogs notice it isn’t pumpkin. I’m betting their little doggy palates are not that refined and they’ll gobble the squash right down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-is-the-pumpkin/530513.md?page=4)