Canned Pumpkin: Is it really pumpkin, or something else?

Most of us are familiar with Libby's. They are North America's largest producer of canned pumpkin products. But what's really in the can?

Libby makes its canned pumpkin products from a variety of pumpkin called Dickinson. However, experts say that this is not really a pumpkin, but actually a squash. The flesh of the Dickinson pumpkin has a tan skin color to it, like the butternut squash, and actually cross pollinates with the butternut squash. So, technically, Libby's Dickinson pumpkin is more of a squash than a pumpkin.

However, before crying 'wolf' we should note that the distinction between pumpkins and squashes is a bit fuzzy. There are actually 3 varieties of winter squash:

1. Cucurbita pepo - this is your traditional jack-o-lantern pumpkin
2. Cucurbita maxima - this is your hubbard and Boston marrow squash



Blue Hubbard Squash

3. Curcubita moschata - the Dickinson pumpkin and butternut squash belong in this category.

Butternut Squash

While traditional pumpkins and Dickinson pumpkins are both relatives of the same genus they are not the same species. So, if you want 100% genuine pumpkin pie you need 100% genuine pie pumpkins.

To make a real pumpkin pie come to Pearce's Farm Stand any day of the week, between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to find all the pie pumpkins you need.