ILLINOIS — Illinois maintains the title of the top pumpkin producing state.

Raghela Scavuzzo, executive director of Illinois Specialty Growers, said Illinois produced 651.9 million pounds of pumpkins in 2021. That number represents 39% of all the pumpkins produced in the U.S.

“Illinois has been No. 1 in pumpkin production for many, many years, and we are very proud of that,” said Scavuzzo.

Decades of experience and dedicated research keep Illinois on top, she said. Indiana is the second largest pumpkin-producing state, clocking in with 181 million pounds. In 2021, Illinois harvested many more pumpkins than its closest competitor, Indiana. California, Texas and Michigan round out the top five biggest pumpkin growing states.

“Illinois soil is just prime for pumpkin production. We grow beautiful pumpkins year after year,” she said.

Nearly 18,000 acres of pumpkins were planted in Illinois last year. Compare that to sweet corn, which accounted for 6,500 acres. Ninety-seven percent of the pumpkins grown went to processors.

Illinois established its pumpkin processing industry back in the 1920s. Nestle Libby has a huge pumpkin processing plant in Morton, the town that bills itself the Pumpkin Capital of the world.

Seneca Foods has a large pumpkin processing plant in Princeville.

The top 10 pumpkin producing counties in Illinois are Tazewell, Kankakee, Mason, Logan, Will, Marshall, Kane, Pike, Carroll and Woodford.

It may still surprise some people to know that pumpkins are a fruit, not a vegetable. People have been growing and eating pumpkins for more than 10,000 years. Pumpkin importance traces all the way back to early American settlers of the Plymouth Colony.