Pumpkin shortage a scary possibility

WIGGINS - Poor weather conditions have led to a bad pumpkin crop across Colorado this year, according to farmers.

Duane Pope of Pope Farms in Wiggins says the shortage means finding that perfect Halloween pumpkin will be both difficult and expensive.

"Be ready to pay up to 50 cents a pound for a pumpkin this year," he said.

Pope Farms won't even be selling pumpkins this year.

"Our pumpkins are far from perfect," he said.

He blames the summer storms which dropped pumpkin poison.

"The hail beat everything up," he said. "(The pumpkins) were just so vulnerable at that time there was just nothing we could do."

The hail punctured the young pumpkins, which then led to rot.

Hail hit several other pumpkin patches across the state.

To worsen matters, Gary May of May Farms said the snowfall last winter wasn't near what's needed for a healthy yield.

"Last year the Midwest was affected," he said. "This year, it was our turn … we're behind the eight ball as far as (pumpkin) supply."