Washington, Oct 29: The pumpkin patch in the United States has gotten bigger, but scary weather this year means it doesn't look like the Great Pumpkin will turn up.

Record summer rain hit parts of the eastern United States, where most pumpkins are grown, and a cloudy August meant fewer bees ventured out to pollinate plants, making for fewer and smaller pumpkins in some areas, according to official data.
Wholesale prices for jumbo-size pumpkins may be up to one-third higher than last year, says the U.S. Agriculture Department, with smaller ones up to 15 percent dearer.
But "there will be plenty...," said Gary Lucier, a USDA economist, "(Kids) will find their pumpkin at the ... farm."
US demand for pumpkins has risen in the last 30 years as harvest festivals and supermarket chains have stretched Halloween from a single night into a lengthy celebration.
The lucrative business is attracting more farmers: USDA data show the area planted with pumpkins in the top six producing states grew 16 percent from 2000 to 2002, and the overall market was worth $150 million last year.
Despite fickle weather, Carol Ferrante, co-owner of Wallkill View Farm in New Paltz, NY, is not worried about a smaller crop, "We have plenty for our customers, just not as many as other years."

Bureau Report