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Location

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Date Posted

Lebanon

Wondering if there is any appetite around here for growers to contribute to a centralized list of giant pumpkins they have sold in a given year, at what price per pound, and any contributing factors (orange/biggest/pretty, etc). I know it's a really fragmented, illiquid market, but I would think it would benefit anyone thinking about selling a pumpkin, and/or help anyone who was thinking about donating their pumpkin to a 501(3) establish a 'market value'.

Sorry if someone has already thought of this, I couldn't find anything related via search and I'm at the point where I'm entertaining both choices!

8/30/2021 10:46:46 PM

Colorado

I think where the pumpkin was grown and how far your willing to haul it will effect the price per pound greatly.Put your email out there so people in that market can contact you privately.

8/31/2021 1:49:40 PM

Eugene,OR

The old standard is $1 a pound. If you can get that you are doing OK!

8/31/2021 2:41:32 PM

Western NY

Lots of factors, depends on size / how pretty the pumpkin is, and the risk of not getting seeds back (If that's important to you).

8/31/2021 3:18:54 PM

Walhalla, ND.

It also depends on what the intentions are for the buyer. I often sell mine in Minnesota which goes to the zoo to feed the animals.

8/31/2021 5:11:38 PM

Grittyville, WA

"A fragmented illiquid market"... good wording. I slapped a $50 refundable deposit on the seeds once upon a time. ...But then I probably never planted those seeds.

8/31/2021 9:19:12 PM

Lebanon

Thanks for the input! I'd heard $1/lb, and that's what I've quoted to potential buyers, I'm also considering donating it, but trying to imagine telling that to my tax guy...

8/31/2021 9:21:07 PM

Dillsburg, PA

For a real pretty one $1 a pound seems right.

9/4/2021 2:58:52 AM

Upa Creek, Mo

Showme if decide not selling, it might be different now, but in the past I’ve had mine on a trailer at a local school. Kids love it and it inspires a lot more parents to get out in the backyard dirt and grow anything.

9/4/2021 9:30:55 AM

Grittyville, WA

There seems to be consistent demand for carving pumpkins. The amount you get may cover your time and gas but it may or may not reach $1 a pound. Supply and demand varies, one week there may be more buyers, the next week there may be more sellers. Unfortunately most of us put more than $1 a pound into growing them and for most of us even on the best years we wont break even. But if you do want to run it as a business... then know your market and develop good relationships with your customers. The goal should be to break even. (My opinion.)

9/4/2021 9:47:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

I might sell a 250 lb squash to the fair this weekend for $125 so 50 cents a pound. I've traded pumpkins for tickets to fall events. Doesnt really earn money but it saves money. More so if you have a big family. The most likely way my kids would ever get to go to Disneyland is if I traded a really nice pumpkin for a weekend vacation. Ha ha well that's plenty of my bs.

9/4/2021 10:46:55 AM

Syracuse, NY

If I just had a trailer hitch on my car like I have for many years in the past (my car's rear undercarriage was deemed too rusty to install one, although I COULD have it done if I had no fear of consequences/expense of it versus pumpkin profits) I might get $.50 a pound, delivered, but my PB is 940.6 and even if that one had been extremely orange, I'd never have even imagined I'd get more than that unless that customer had come to ME and asked ME 'how much for it?' - and knew nothing of the maybe FREE seed from the grower that sent it to ME; 'A dollar a pound' is just easy to say and yet some growers actually get that much - in part because they are not worried about that customer walking away and that another (or the same) will be calling about it tomorrow, lol. eg

9/4/2021 2:36:08 PM

Lebanon

Smallmouth-I'm leaning towards doing both, I've got three decent ones going, might sell one or two if I can find buyers willing to pay something approaching fair, display the others around town and then maybe partner with our local ffa/ 4H group and give them some seeds to get kids interested. I figure no matter how I price it, by cost of supplies, equipment, or God forbid man hours, I could never break even. But some cash doesn't hurt. Are you bringing anything to Republic this year?

9/4/2021 3:27:22 PM