How Much Do Carving Pumpkins Cost In Louisiana

(KMDL-FM) Just like the turkey has its big day on Thanksgiving, such is "the life" of a pumpkin for Halloween. And yes, we realize you can do a lot of things with pumpkins all year round, just like you can make a turkey sandwich any day of the year, but you get the idea: on Halloween, the pumpkin is the star of the show. But how much will it cost for the guest to show up and rot on your doorstep?

orange pumpkins under white sky at daytime — Photo by Maddy Baker on Unsplash

As a rule, pumpkins have followed the basic inflationary trends of the past decade. Back in 2016, the typical wholesale cost of a "carving" pumpkin was about a dollar and a half to two dollars. The same holds for the smaller pumpkins.

Is There a Difference Between Smaller Pumpkins and Larger Pumpkins?

Besides the physical size, do you know the main difference between the smaller pumpkins and the larger pumpkins your kids want you to buy? The smaller pumpkins are called "pie pumpkins" or "sugar pumpkins," and you can probably figure out how they earned those names.

closeup photo of sliced pie on white ceramic saucer — Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

So, if you have plans to do some cooking with the pumpkin pieces, you'll want to go with the smaller varieties. You can cook with the larger pumpkins; the texture is a little more liquid, and the meat is not quite as sweet.

Local pumpkin patches say there is a good selection as we head into the final days before Halloween. If you're looking to make a statement, there are some very large pumpkins available, and plenty more of the regular-sized pumpkins are available as well.

How Can You Make Your Pumpkin Last Longer Before It Rots and Turns Gross?

crushed pumpkin — Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

If you want your pumpkin to last longer, then wait to carve it. You can simply display it outside for a few days and then make the decorative cuts in the days leading up to Halloween. It will look better and keep the bug population around your front door down, too.

Ag Experts at the LSU AgCenter have detailed information on pumpkins and how to grow and get the best use from them in Louisiana's climate. I bet you could even find a recipe or two if you looked hard enough.

How Much Do Pumpkins Cost In Louisiana?

For a typical "carving size" pumpkin that's going to be about ten to 15 pounds or so, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4.00 to $6.20 depending on where you choose to make your purchase. In scanning prices for this article, we found that Super 1, Walmart, Aldi, and the other national chains offered at least some carving pumpkins for $3.97.

Vibrant green, yellow, and white striped decorative gourds — Photo by Ilona Frey on Unsplash

If you're looking for the green striped Cushaw Pumpkin, Rouse's Markets would be your best bet for that. They are the go-to for traditional Louisiana and local goodness. The Rouse's prices are just as competitive as the other stores, and you could help out Louisiana growers, so do check your labels.

READ MORE: Farmer's Markets in Acadiana

You can also find great deals on pumpkins at your local farmer's markets this time of year. This is in addition to the pumpkin patches we've referenced earlier. If you're shopping at your local church or civic group pumpkin patch, you should expect to pay a little more. Remember, they are raising funds, and the benefit to the community far outweighs the slight adjustment in price, if you ask me. You also get to take some cool pictures.

Can You Eat The Pumpkin After It Has Been Used as a Jack-o'-Lantern?

a carved pumpkin sitting in the middle of a field — Photo by Matthias Patzuda on Unsplash

We are not saying you can't; we are strongly suggesting that you shouldn't. Ingesting pumpkin that has been sitting outside, warmed by a candle, could be detrimental to your gastric system and your health in general. If you want to eat some of the pumpkin, carve off some pieces before you set it outside, or wash and use the pumpkin seeds for a tasty toasted snack. But don't eat a used jack-o'-lantern.

There are plenty of other ways to enjoy the weight loss benefits of explosive diarrhea. In the meantime, if you'd rather have something a lot more palatable but still pumpkin-related.

Acadiana's Favorite Pumpkin Spice Drinks, Snacks, Desserts ( Sorry No Starbucks on This List)

When the calendar turns to September in South Louisiana, we start thinking about fall. It doesn't feel like fall, but we think about it anyway. One of the great flavors of fall is Pumpkin Spice. You know the coffee drinks, but what about some of the other goodies you can get with that same flavor ensemble? Here's our list, and we left a certain international coffee chain off on purpose because we wanted to share local flavor. So, enjoy.

Gallery Credit: Bruce Mikells