Fall produce shipments such as pumpkins, squash and ornamentals originate from about 40 different states and in most instances truckers tend to haul the products on a local and regional basis.
Shipments on the East Coast are starting about normal this year. For example, one shipper is Jackson Farming of Autryville, NC that ships a half dozen different varieties of pumpkins, as well as limited amounts of squash and ornamentals. Heaviest loadings will occur during October.
Another example is Todd Greiner Farms, based in Hart, MI, which ships a few different varieties of pumpkins, squash and ornamentals.
Lusk Onion Co. of Clovis, NM ships its pumpkins regionally to Southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. The company has pumpkins with a heavy red color as well as white pumpkins, but its best volume is the medium-size carving pumpkins, which account for about 80 percent of its business.
Finally, there is Van Groningen & Sons Inc., Manteca, Calif., which ships a complete offering of pumpkins and ornamentals. The company packs and ships pumpkins in 24-inch short bins and 36-inch tall bins, or in high-graphic decorative bins.