Update: Dick’s Market (Bountiful, Centerville), Bowman’s (Kaysville), and Macey’s in Utah are having a sale Wednesday November 2 on 29 oz Western Family canned pumpkin for $1.50 each. An awesome price! The manager said they do not carry the 15 oz. size.
The neighborhood trick-or-treaters are scurrying about, so I’m trying to finish this post between doorbell rings. Because of this year’s pumpkin shortage caused by heavy spring rains and more rain from Hurricane Irene, I just stocked up on a 24 ct. case of 15-oz Kroger canned pumpkin at Smith’s (Kroger) on sale for $1.19 a can (29 oz. was $2.19). You don’t have to buy a case to get the price, but I just happened upon the aisle where a store manager was stocking shelves today, which didn’t even have the prices listed, but he said I could take the case.
This was something I wanted to do last year, but by the time I got to the store the cans were gone. The manager said there is a pumpkin shortage again this year, so each store is only getting a certain amount.
He said the 15 oz. Libby’s at $1.69 would go down in price a few weeks before Thanksgiving. How much? He didn’t know. Even if the price drops to .99 cents a can, I want to be ahead of the game, so I grabbed the case.
The reason I like the smaller cans is many recipes call for it and I don’t like leftover pumpkin in the refrigerator. But you could always double recipes or bake two pies if you like the 29 oz. sized can
If putting canned pumpkin in your food storage is really important to you, then I recommend you buy it now. Or if you only need a few cans for Thanksgiving, then buy them now too. All I know is that I sure missed eating pumpkin chocolate chip cookies last year. So I just put a reminder in my Google calendar to look for canned pumpkin earlier in October. And by the way, my Kroger pumpkin was canned October 9th.
Canned Pumpkin Facts:
Has a 3 year shelf-life
Contains 280% of the RDA of Vitamin A in 1/2 cup serving
Pumpkins also have fiber and potassium
Pumpkin takes 4 months to grow before it is harvested
Pumpkins are gourds, like cucumbers, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelons and zucchini
Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June
Watch this video on How Libby’s Grows Pumpkins for Canning
Pumpkin Recipes I want to Try:
Pumpkin Carrot Cake
Gingerbread Pumpkin Mini Cheesecake
Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
Low-Fat Harvest Pumpkin Brownies with Whole wheat
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Pumpkin Pancakes
Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pumpkin Cookies
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Spread
Aunt Trina’s Holiday Pumpkin Crunch