Comments for Potential Canned Pumpkin Shortage Threatens Thanksgiving

Potential Canned Pumpkin Shortage Threatens Thanksgiving

2009-11-19T22:50:06Z

It might be hard to make pumpkin pie this year. "Soggy fields" and "fungus," the perennial banes of the pumpkin farmer, have left tons of pumpkins rotting in the field and created the very real possibility that there may be a shortage of canned pumpkin this season.

The problem is worse because 2008 was also a bad pumpkin harvest, which means there is little backstock to rely on.

We call upon Obama to release the Strategic Pumpkin Reserves.

If you can't get any canned pumpkin, you can also go to your farmer's market and buy some butternut squash. Roast it in the oven and use just like the good ol' canned stuff.

Libby's Warns of a Canned Pumpkin Shortage [The New York Times] (Photo: Sister72)

Comment from JanFlushingMI on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:32:09Z

Just for the record, butternut squash is sold in both canned and frozen versions if you want some convenience. I always keep a stock year round of it for making ravioli, soups and bread. And its cheaper than pumpkin. Well stocked grocery store is all you need.

Comment from HogwartsAlum on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:33Z

@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: I might pick some up on the way home just in case. I want to make some punkin bread. If I can eat it, that is! :P

Comment from calquist on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:33Z

Do you think I will be able to take a can of canned pumpkin on a plane via carry-on? Ever since they took my Sea World snowglobe because of its snowglobe juice of terrorism (left than 3 oz), I never know what I can or can't bring.

Comment from AllanG54 on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:28Z

I have about a 20 pound pumpkin on my stoop. Even the squirrels aren't nibbling at it like they have in years past. Maybe I should can some of it.

Comment from chiieddy on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:28Z

I think I can still buy a pumpkin, which can be made into a pie without the HFCS.

Comment from ChuckECheese on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:26Z

Every T-day there are rumors of shortages of T-day related items. For years we were warned of cranberry shortages. I say if you can buy bags of flavored dried cranberries and they are putting cranberries in your box cereals, and you can find canned cranberries at the food bank, there is no shortage.

Comment from ChuckECheese on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:26Z

@ElizabethD: Most anything is better than canned pumpkin anyway. Sweet potatoes, freshly baked squash, etc.

Comment from ChuckECheese on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:26Z

@sk1d: You ate my canned pumpkin! Give it back!

Comment from Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!) on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:25Z

@ElizabethD: If you come down here in pumpkin season, they have festivals about it and everything! Complete with catapults.

Comment from Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:25Z

@HogwartsAlum: Forever, huh? I'm not sure about that.. but as far as I know, most canned goods are good atleast up to a year.. I would be more lenient with something like pumpkin more than something like chicken broth.

I say if you need it, open it.. if it looks or smells funky, throw it out and pray you can snag some at the store before the panic hits the general public.

They had stacks and stacks of cans at the store when I was there last weekend.

Comment from Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:25Z

@subtlefrog: I feel the same way!! I have so many things I wanted to make.. People were sending me recipes left and right for tastey pumpkin items.. Now I have one can and I must choose and choose wisely!

AHHHH! #pumpkinconundrum

Comment from Red-headed bookworm on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:25Z

@CompyPaq: I have one can...I may need to buy more and hoard them.

Comment from HogwartsAlum on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:23Z

How long does canned pumpkin last? I have some in my cupboard that has been in there forever. Is it safe to use it?

Comment from DragonThermo on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:23Z

WARNING: PARODY!

Obama needs to appoint a Pumpkin Czar immediately! The pumpkin and pumpkin canning industry is TOO BIG TO FAIL! We need to nationalize our dwindling pumpkin resources to ensure that everyone will be able to get a ration of canned pumpkin.

Obama needs to fire the CEO of Libby's for running the canned pumpkin industry into the ground, just like he did for GM, Wacovia, BoA, etc.

Quick! Give "Big Pumpkin" a $700 Billion bailout!

Comment from ElizabethD on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:23Z

That being said (above).... A tiny part of me -- this one, right here! -- likes being reminded that food does not actually originate in grocery stores; it is farmed and raised by people in the great outdoors and subject to the vagaries of weather, just like those tomatoes that totally bombed in my garden this wet, cool summer.

Comment from ElizabethD on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:23Z

Yikes. I gotta make two pies for Thanksgiving. I do have one can of squash, which is basically the same as pumpkin, so we'll go with that if the stores actually do run out.

Comment from sk1d on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:22Z

Good thing we already had Thanksgiving in Canada.

Comment from EyeintheLAsky on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:22Z

Luckily, there's always LAST years harvest (and the year before), still in stock at the 99-cent store!

Comment from H3ion on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:20Z

I had visions of someone dressed as a can of pumpkin holding a gun and knocking on doors threatening Thanksgiving. Fortunately, I don't like pumpkin. Now if there was a chocolate shortage.....

Comment from TPK on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:20Z

I saw a ton on the shelf of my local Food Lion two days ago, but articles like this are self-fulfilling prophesy... I'm sure it will be true soon.

Comment from bohemian on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:20Z

This fearmongering public service announcement brought to you by the company that stands to profit from panic pumpkin buying.

I guess if you like pumpkin topped Eggo's this has been a really bad week.

Comment from subtlefrog on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:19Z

I have one blessed can. I will now horde it. What should it be used for? Egad, now it's going to sit forever because I won't be able to decide. D'oh!

Comment from Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!) on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:19Z

I live right near pumpkin farming central and it has been soaking wet ... on track to be the wettest year on record, the news tells me. It was hard to find pumpkins even locally for Halloween.

Comment from G.O.B.: Come on! on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:19Z

Eugh. Not a fan of pumpkin-anything anyway.

Comment from CompyPaq on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:19Z

@Kimaroo - Fortified with Kittydus Purrularis: Run out to all of your local stores right now and stock up. Then sell them back at a high markup reserving how ever much you want. Then you get your pumpkin cans AND money!

Comment from Kimaroo - 100% Pure Natural Kitteh on 2009-11-23

2009-11-23T22:31:19Z

Nooooooo! I bought one can but something told me to buy another one. I regret not following that instinct! This makes me sad because my #pumpkinlust (read: cravings) is strong this season.