For most crops, a lot of rain is a great thing. But for pumpkins? Not so much.
Due to record-setting downpours in June, Illinois pumpkin farmers—who produce about 90 percent of the country's crops—saw their fields flooded and tender young plants killed. Though they replanted the crop, a rainy summer meant the yield is down—way down. Canned-pumpkin giant Libby reports that harvests could be down as much as a third this year, NBC News reports.
"I would not wait until November 20," University of Illinois professor Mohammad Babadoost was quoted as saying, referencing the purchase of canned pumpkin for Thanksgiving recipes. "I'd buy it whenever it comes to the store."
The shortage won't effect decorative pumpkins, so your Halloween supply is safe.
Roz O'Hearn, Libby's corporate and brand affairs director, was reported as saying that she believes there will be enough stock for all of your Thanksgiving pie-baking needs, though she did note that "once we ship the remainder of the 2015 harvest, we'll have no more Libby's pumpkin to sell until harvest 2016."
So, if you don't purchase your canned squash early, you may find it as elusive as Linus's Great Pumpkin.