September 21, 2026

Pumpkin Everything Is Back, and We’re Here for It!

There is something about pumpkins that instantly makes it feel like fall. The second September rolls around, pumpkins seem to appear everywhere. They are stacked outside grocery stores, decorating front porches, added to coffee drinks, baked into desserts, and turned into jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween. Whether you love eating pumpkin or simply enjoy decorating with them, it is hard to imagine fall without this famous orange squash.

Pumpkins have become one of the biggest symbols of the season, but they are much more than decorations. Pumpkin is actually a versatile food that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. Of course, pumpkin pie is probably the first thing that comes to mind. For many families, it would not feel like Thanksgiving without a pumpkin pie sitting on the dessert table. However, pumpkin can also be used in breads, muffins, pancakes, soups, pasta sauces, cookies, and even smoothies.

Then there is pumpkin spice, which has practically become a season of its own. As soon as the weather begins to cool down, pumpkin spice drinks and foods start showing up everywhere. Interestingly, pumpkin spice does not necessarily contain pumpkin. The familiar flavor usually comes from spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. These warm flavors have become so closely associated with pumpkin pie that we automatically connect them with pumpkin and fall.

Pumpkins also offer some nutritional benefits. They contain beta-carotene, which the body can convert into vitamin A. This is the same pigment that gives pumpkins their bright orange color. Pumpkin also provides fiber, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals. Of course, a pumpkin muffin covered in icing is a little different nutritionally from plain pumpkin puree, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy both.

One of the most fun things about pumpkins is picking out the perfect one. Going to a pumpkin patch can turn something as simple as buying a pumpkin into an entire fall activity. Some people search for the biggest pumpkin they can carry, while others want the most perfectly round one. Kids might choose the strangest-looking pumpkin they can find. No matter what you pick, bringing a pumpkin home and deciding what to do with it is part of the fun.

Carving pumpkins is another tradition that brings people together. You can go with the classic triangle eyes and toothy smile, or attempt an elaborate design that takes hours to finish. Sometimes the finished pumpkin looks exactly like the picture you imagined. Other times, it looks completely ridiculous. Either way, that is part of what makes carving pumpkins memorable.

Pumpkins may seem like a simple part of fall, but they represent so many things people enjoy about the season. They bring us favorite foods, family traditions, Halloween fun, and an excuse to decorate every available space with something orange. From pumpkin patches and jack-o’-lanterns to pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkins have earned their place as one of the true stars of fall.

Until next time -
Jeanie @ Gopher Update