Pumpkin Everything

Ann-Marie Vazzano

If it seems like pumpkin is everywhere this time of year, that’s because it is. According to Nielsen data, 37% of U.S. consumers purchased a pumpkin-flavored product in 2014, with pumpkin products accounting for $361 million in sales in the last year. The category has grown 79% since 2011 and now includes everything from pumpkin-flavored dog food to chewing gum. But where does this leave real pumpkins? In the backseat, unfortunately. Sales of fresh pumpkins have been declining, with unit sale losses over the last three years accounting for 8.6 million fewer pumpkins sold. GP