Pumpkin prediction comes true

It was a prediction that, perhaps, Libby’s would have rather I not make.

But, I did.

In January, I wrote a Morton predictions column that predicted this for October ...

“Punkin Chuckin’ will be canceled again due to a shortage of pumpkins caused by heavy demand in August. It will be the first sign of the Great Pumpkin Famine of 2010.”

The story I am about to tell has been a hot topic in newspapers across the country. I got wind of the popularity of this story through a snail-mail submission I received from a former Mortonite who now lives in Lakeland, Fla. She sent me a copy of the front page of the Tampa Tribune, located in Florida.

The headline reads: "Where’s the pumpkin?: Perfect storm of problems keeps fall favorite off grocers’ shelves."

Morton Mayor Norm Durflinger is quoted in the story. It is one of a few articles in which he said he has been quoted regarding the pumpkin shortage that bakers and homemade-pie lovers are doomed to swallow this Thanksgiving.

Due to the rainy season, which has affected more crops than just pumpkin, Nestlé has been unable to process the amount the baking nation demands for production.

“The company plants thousands of acres of farmland with Libby’s Select seed in the spring. In fact, Nestlé added acreage this season since the 2008 harvest also had been diminished by poor weather,” a press release on the Nestlé Web site stated.

“There were similar problems last year, but not to the degree we have experienced this year,” said Roz O’Hearn, spokeswoman for Nestlé in Solon, Ohio, located just outside of Cleveland.

O’Hearn said, between Wednesday and Thursday last week, she fielded about 100 phone calls from reporters across the country curious of the pumpkin shortage.

“I’ve talked to so many people all over the country,” she added.

O’Hearn said it is understandable that the story has become so widespread outside of the Midwest.

“If you are living in Philadelphia or New York City, you don’t understand the farming culture.”

Durflinger is not surprised it has brought Morton to the forefront.

“I think, after 30 to 40 years of the chamber educating the world about the pumpkin capital, maybe people outside know more about us than we think they do,” Durflinger said. “It’s a chance for me to tell people how great Morton is — except for maybe a pumpkin shortage — (pumpkins are) our community identity.”

Right on, Norm. However, when there is no pumpkin to distribute, pumpkins can also make Morton look like the Grinch that stole Thanksgiving ... at least to cities lacking the farming knowledge we behold in Central Illinois.

O’Hearn said Libby’s canned pumpkin could be completely gone by Thanksgiving. The shortage has received so much publicity, Nestlé launched a site specifically designed to explain what caused this year’s low supply.

In Morton, the canned pumpkin is still in supply at stores. It seems the shortage has not really come to light locally, but it may provide some benefits.

Morton Rotary provides a free can of pumpkin to guest speakers. Perhaps those outside of the area should sign up to speak just to get a free can.

“I’ve heard Libby’s pumpkin is up for sale on Ebay,” O’Hearn said.

Hmmm — this shortage could work to Morton’s advantage. Everybody could clear the local grocer’s shelves and sell cans of Libby’s pumpkin for an asinine amount of money online — an ideal recession killer.

While this year’s Libby’s pumpkin shortage may have caused concern in grandmother’s kitchen, it certainly has not reached the point of a “pumpkin famine” as I predicted. Nestlé has a backup plan to keep the popular and healthy fruit in the minds of the holiday spirited. People can visit www.verybestbaking.com where several recipes, such as gingersnap-pumpkin ice cream pie, are offered to visitors.
 

Also see: Nestlé pumpkin publicity site