Update: If you’d like to know how to cook a pumpkin in your slow cooker, Toni has a great tutorial!
I’m hearing from all sorts of places (Facebook, Twitter, message boards, and here) that there indeed is a canned pumpkin shortage.
There was bad weather during last year’s crop that ruined about 1/3 of the crop…resulting in the shortage on grocery shelves today. I know my grocery store has been out for weeks. And others in Indiana, Iowa, California are also reporting difficulty finding this precious commodity and NECESSITY in their stores.
I share this not to induce widespread panic. Just to let you know the situation.
So, if you see a can. Buy it.
Is your store out??? Libby’s and Nestle are reassuring stores and their customers that the canned pumpkin will be on shelves again in the next few weeks.
If you are DESPERATE for canned pumpkin, look for an organic variety that might still be on the shelves, perhaps in a different part of your grocery store.
I don’t believe that we will all be without pumpkin pies at our Thanksgiving feasts this year! Nevermind that Libby’s canned pumpkin is responsible for the 50 million pumpkin pies each November!!!
Don’t panic!
Rest assured…You can substitute cooked butternut squash for pumpkin in most recipes. They are very similar in consistency, and only differ slightly in color and taste.
And if all else fails…I’ll hold onto the can I bought yesterday and auction it off!
(Just kiddin’)
Maybe.
Are you having trouble finding canned pumpkin in your area? Let us know “your area/store’s status”!
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I was just wondering why there wasn’t any canned pumpkin on the shelves when I was at the store the other day. I wish I hadn’t used up the cans I had gotten on clearance this summer!
I still have homegrown pumpkin puree in my freezer from LAST summer…. I hope it’s still good, since it may be my only pumpkin available!
There are 4 major chain grocery stores in our town, 3 of which have 2-3 locations in this city alone plus 2 wal-marts and a target…EVERY single store is out. *sob* My 4 year old has been begging to make a pumpkin pie with mommy but we just can’t find any pumpkin. Guess we’ll have to hit the Farmers Market this saturday and buy some fresh sweet pumpkins to make our pie!
Sweet potato pie is just as good – maybe even better! I swear!
We’re in central NC and the local stores here are out. I’ll check for organic tomorrow though – good idea!
I’ve seen a lot of pumpkins, but haven’t paid much attention to the canned version. With all the Twitter chatter, and your post, I will def check the next time I am in town.
Makes me even happier about our meager pumpkin harvest this year, and I’m sure the pumpkin pies that I get out of them will be that much better.
I’ve had several cans in my pantry from last year. I’m glad I hung onto them now. Thanks for the info.
I was just wondering a couple days ago why they didn’t have any at Aldi yet. It makes me want to run out right now and see if they have it at any other stores around here. I made some pumpkin muffins last week and I am already craving more. I am a total addict and I need my pumpkin fix.
Illinois is the largest pumpkin producing state in the US. We experienced a late frost and lots of rain that probably effected pumpkin production. I am glad I grew my own pie pumpkins this year!
hmm, might have to have sweet potato pie this year instead…not that I can tell a difference!
I haven’t started looking for pumpkin yet but I guess maybe I ought to. I have lost a can of pumpkin somewhere in my house (weird, right? how does one lose a can of pumpkin?? not only pumpkin, but a can of evaporated milk, too!) that I bought months ago…perhaps I’ll search harder…hmm
Couldn’t find it at any of the major grocery chains in the “big” town (I’m in IA), but my itty bitty town grocer just got some in yesterday. Store brand, but it’s yummy. I bought a bunch since it doesn’t expire for 2 years. We just don’t have much for real pumpkins around here.
I found some a couple of weeks ago at King Soopers- it was the Kroger brand. Otherwise, everywhere else I’ve checked (Safeway & several different Wal-Marts) has been out. I live in Colorado.
Maybe I am alone on this, but I’m not a fan of the can o’ pumpkin. I like to cook and puree the real thing when they are on sale before Halloween. This year we tried planting our own pumpkin patch. We’ll see how it works out…
I was just thinking that I should use up the 4 cans I have left from last year so I can replenish with “fresh”, but maybe I’ll ration them out instead of trying to use them up
Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to have a garden big enough to grow my own!
Thank you!!! I live in South Arlington a suburb of Dallas/Fort Worth Texas. And I have been having a HORRIBLE time finding canned pumpkin. I would post about it on Facebook and a lot of my friends thought I must just not be looking in the right spot. So nice to know I’m not crazy!! I visited a friend about 30 miles away this weekend and found some in a store by her. I bought 4 cans and worried I should have bought more, Now I really wish I had. Guess I’ll call her to get me more.
Shortage?? Not in my house at the moment I am on day 5 of pumkin pureeing…..I am sinking in the stuff!!! I never buy the canned stuff I always make it…
I am so glad that I grew cooking pumpkins in my garden! But I am wondering if I should have given the first one I harvested to my two year old to play with.
I just bought a can about a week and a half ago. I did not notice a shortage here in PA? I agree with a PP, if it comes down to it, use sweet potatoes:)
Amy @ momadvice had mentioned that there was a canned pumpkin shortage so I looked in my pantry. I had three small cans but since I really love pumpkin goodies I was worried that I would run out. One of the Walmarts in our area did not have the small cans but had about 6-8 large cans so I bought 3 of them.
We also had a volunteer pumpkin plant in our yard this year so we have 2 pumpkins that we grew ourselves.
I guess I may be the person in charge of the pumpkin pies this year.
My best friend lives in another country, and is always lamenting about the sporadic availability of pumpkin. Now I know how she feels.
In the south, we make sweet potato pies!!
My sister-in-law has been unable to get any where she lives in Illinois. When my mom told me about this I bought some at local mart and if I can get my hands on some pumpkins I will make some puree. We eat A LOT of pumpkin bread so a shortage would bring wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Sadly, no pumpkins at my regular grocery store (Super Wal-Mart) on Sunday. I was REALLY craving some fresh pumpkin bread and I was crushed! Going to check the organic section of another store today!
Huh….I guess that explains why I couldn’t find it at Wal-mart yesterday! I usually use butternut squash in pumpkin pies but sometimes it’s nice to have a can of pumpkin goo for other things (like homemade pumpkin pie spice lattes).
I have four BIG cans that I bought in the off season for $.50 a piece. Talk about appreciation!
This is hilarious, my little brother just called me last night to tell me that they look in 4 different stores and couldn’t find any, so I look here today, and sure enough, not a single can. Guess Kansas is suffering from the shortage too
Oh my, I can just see it now! Cans of pumpkin will be going for $25 on eBay! It will this year’s “Tickle Me Elmo”!!! LOL
Oh my…I think a trip to the farmers’ market is in order tomorrow!
Oh no! I had just told hubby I would make his favorite: http://easyfrugalliving.blogspot.com/2008/12/pumpkin-chocolate-loaf.html and I have no pumpkin on hand.
I did see our Price Chopper already had pie pumpkins. I may have to puree my own.
Good thing I have 1 can of pumpkin in my pantry…..
I haven’t looked at my regular grocery store, but last week I bought some organic at the natural food store since I was there to get something else and planning to make pumpkin bread.
I am so glad that at the end of last holiday season I purchased 2 cases of pumpkin puree for $.25 a can. It is still sitting in my pantry. Woohoo.
Of course you can always make you’re own. I did that last year and it was the best pumpkin pies we’ve ever had.
Okay, I’m panicking!!! Well, I guess this means it is definitely time for me to try harvesting my pumpkin from an actual pumpkin! This doesn’t affect this year’s crop, right?
I was at walmart yesterday (FL) and wanted to pick up a can of pumpkin for some pumpkin spice bars but the shelf was empty. All other canned pie fillings next to it were full but not one can of pumpkin! The closest thing i got was a box of pumpkin spice Jello pudding.
This makes me so glad that I canned 2 large pumpkins last year. It seemedlike such a huge undertaking when I did it last year, but now I’m happy I did!
look at amazon grocery, the cans are selling for $29
I make my own pumpkin puree evey year. It only takes a few hours, most of it are just cooking and not hands-on. It saves a ton of money and is chemical free. Plus it tastes SOOOOO much better
I didn’t notice a shortage, but I was wondering why it was priced so high in the sales flyer. Now I have my answer. Sad!
I’m in Tacoma, WA and have not seen any on the shelves in probably 2 months. In the past when I’ve bought it, I noticed that the stores don’t stock very many cans to begin with, so I just thought they were sold out. Now I know why I can’t find any.
no canned pumpkin anywhere in New Haven CT area…that is at general supermarkets. I had one old can on my shelf from last year and used it…
Our Whole Foods was completely out of canned pumpkin a few weeks ago. I was really craving some pumpkin muffins! If they are still out of pumpkin, I’ll have to make sweet potato muffins with pumpkin pie type seasonings.
yup we are out of canned pumpkin here in nebraska too, well at least in my town…my walmart has been out the last 3 weeks! my dh and i are craving choc. chip pumpkin muffins, but can’t find the pumpkin! next weekend we are going out of town and i already told my dh we are stopping at every single grocery we see to find pumpkin!! LOL
I’ve noticed that my WalMart has been out for a *very* long time, but never thought there was a shortage!
I guess I’m lucky to have spotted the pumpkin cans (the big ones) in 3 packs at my Sam’s (Loveland, Colorado store). There were tons, so if you’re desperate you could check your local warehouse clubs.
Good luck!
two words — HUBBARD SQUASH
I had a farmer back home in VA who introduced me to hubbard squash a few years ago and it’s a good investment if you can find it at a farmer’s market. Hubbard squash is green, bumpy and usually quite large and quite ugly! The inside though is same color and flavor of pumpkin, though I’ve had several that were darker in color and richer in flavor than a standard pumpkin. Many mass producers of pumpkin pies add in or fully substitute hubbard squash for pumpkin and YOU CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE. If you can find it at a farmer’s market (I’ve NEVER seen it at a grocery store), snatch one up. It is well worth it.
Here’s a site I found that basically repeats what I said! http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-hubbard-squash.htm
I love making pies and pumpking bars this time of the year. I was looking for pumpkin in des moines ia. My husband works for hy-vee a grocery store. I asked him and apparently the pumpkin crop this year is later than expected on top of the shortage from last year. This update came directly from Libby’s.
We could break down and actually buy a REAL pumpkin, right? Toothwhale had a good little tutorial the other day here.
Jessie
I checked at two stores yesterday, Trader Joe’s and Smart and Final. I forgot to look for canned pumpkin at TJ’s, but they sure didn’t have ANY fresh pumpkins outside yet. (They usually have a huge pumpkin display out front in the weeks leading up to Halloween.) Smart and Final didn’t have canned pumpkin yet but they are supposed to get it within the next week. I think, however, that it will be in large cans because it is a food service/ bulk kind of store.
yes walmart in SC is completely out of it…and stores in Sarasota & Bradenton FL are completely out of it….
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