Photo Courtesy of Ashley Niquette

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Local Pumpkin Patches

• Echo Hill Orchards, Monson

• Austin Brothers Valley Farm, Belchertown

• Kosinski Farms, Westfield

• Park Hill Orchard, Easthampton

• Deerfield Farm, South Deerfield
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Pumpkins are available September through December.  Peak pumpkin season is October.  Ideal pumpkins are firm, bright and free from cuts or nicks and sound hollow when knocked on.  You should also look for rot around the stem.  They may be stored in a cool, dry place for up to a month.

Pumpkins are full of potassium, beta carotene and vitamin C. A good source of calcium and fibre, the seeds and oils from a pumkin are loaded with zinc and unsaturated fatty acids, the good fats.  The high fiber content of this squash also help in curbing your appetite,  A USDA study found that a diet rich in pumpkin helped participants absorb less fat and calories from their food.Pumpkins are full of potassium, beta carotene and vitamin C. A good source of calcium and fibre, the seeds and oils from a pumkin are loaded with zinc and unsaturated fatty acids, the good fats.  The high fiber content of this squash also help in curbing your appetite,  A USDA study found that a diet rich in pumpkin helped participants absorb less fat and calories from their food.

The best Pumpkins for cooking are;  Mini pumpkins - rich, sweet flavor, Sugar pumpkins, Cinderella or Cheese pumpkins.  One pound of uncooked pumpkin yields about 1 cup puree.  If you want to make the most of these pumpkins for Halloween, consider drawing or painting on your design with non toxic materials.  This way when ghosts and ghouls have retired you have the pumpkin intact for cooking.

 There is no exact science for picking the perfect jack-o-lantern pumpkin.  It is purely subjective.  Size depends on where you are going to put it and the design you intend to paint on it or carve into it.  All that matters is the end result creates a smile.