The great pumpkin: Virginia commercial growers rake in nearly $15 million in annual sales

Harvest festivals, corn mazes and pick-your-own pumpkin farm events are winding down as Virginia Pumpkin Month comes to a close on Friday.

Commercial growers throughout the state are winding down sales for this year’s harvest of pumpkins.

Virginia annually ranks in the top 10 states for pumpkin production, in part due to higher elevations with cooler summer nights in Southwest Virginia.

“Pumpkins grow best in areas where nighttime summer temperatures are less than 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Given higher elevations, Southwest Virginia in particular has an advantage in this regard. This, coupled with increased pest pressure, makes it more difficult to grow pumpkins in the more southern states,” said Steve Rideout, a plant pathologist and Virginia Cooperative Extension agent.

Pumpkins from Dark Leaf Farm were delivered to the Virginia Executive Mansion in Richmond on Oct. 10.

Last year, nearly 400 growers harvested 4,700 acres of pumpkins for a value of nearly $15 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“For Virginia, Halloween is the market. Wholesale shipments will start just prior to Labor Day with more pick-your-own, local stand sales starting a bit later in September.

“Sales, demand and prices will start to fade just prior to Halloween in most years, since most that want pumpkins will have already purchased them,” said Rideout. “There are some residual sales of specialty pumpkins and gourds for Thanksgiving decorations, but this is minimal.”

The State Fair of Virginia hosts a giant pumpkin weigh-off each year to find The Great Pumpkin. The largest pumpkins in the contest range from 1,500 to nearly 2,000 pounds.

Virginia Tech researchers and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents also host the Virginia Pumpkin Growers Association meeting annually in January. No date has been announced for the 2026 meeting.