October is already being referred to as Pumpkin Central. Our first mention of pumpkins came about a few days ago on October 18 in Gearing Up for Halloween. Lawns are already donning autumnal decorations with the pumpkin at the center of the scene. However, this month of pumpkin goodness goes beyond simply Halloween and yard decorations. After all, the pumpkin is also known as pumpkin squash since both squash and pumpkin belong to the same family.

October 26 is...

National Pumpkin Day

Pumpkins are the harbinger of the harvest season, appearing every year as the first sign of autumn. Did you know that the word “pumpkin” comes from the Greek word “pepon,” meaning "large melon"?

Pumpkins can be grown on every continent except Antarctica, and the United States produces about 1.5 billion pounds each year. At the Half Moon Bar Art and Pumpkin Festival in California, John Haskley stole the show with the 2014 record pumpkin — the heaviest pumpkin ever grown in America, which weighed a total of 2,058 pounds and was the size of a dumpster!

http://www.today.com/food/2-058-lb-pumpkin-squashes-previous-us-records-2D80214088

Celebrate National Pumpkin Day by carving a pumpkin in time for Halloween. Don't forget to bake the tasty seeds for a healthy, autumn snack! Of course, don't you dare trash that delicious pumpkin pulp!