October 15, 2011
WASHINGTON (AFP) - A hurricane that drenched the US northeast in August is having a knock-on effect on festivities months later, with pumpkin prices soaring after heavy rains ruined patches, officials said Friday.
The Department of Agriculture warned in a blogpost that in the wake of Hurricane Irene, prices for pumpkins large and small were higher than last year.
Pumpkins are, however, grown "in nearly every state, so the supply is widely disbursed," the USDA added, calling on lovers of the famous orange squash to send in photos of their creations.
Pumpkins are often traditionally carved for the late October festivities of Halloween into scary, humorous or abstract shapes. A candle is placed inside the hollowed pumpkin left outside homes.
The Wall Street Journal reported that prices for smaller pumpkins grown in Maryland and then sold in New York state are 60 times higher than a year ago.
