Oh my gourd! Pumpkins make smashing come back as prices drop 57%
Pumpkins, a winter soup warmer and Sunday roast staple have seen a significant price drop, down 57% in June compared to the same time last year, according to the latest Stats NZ FPI data.
Foodstuffs North Island’s Head of Meat and Produce, Brigit Corson, says whole crown pumpkins, one of New Zealand’s most popular varieties with its large size offers a huge amount of value for customers.
“It’s fantastic to see pumpkins back on the shelf at great prices for Kiwis. Cyclone Gabrielle wiped out a lot of the crop in 2023 and they were in short supply leading to higher-than-normal prices,” she says.
“This year has been the complete opposite, with amazing growing conditions delivering huge yields, resulting in pumpkins at large sizes, so one pumpkin is going to go a very long way.”
In New Zealand, pumpkins are grown as an annual crop, planted in spring and harvested in autumn, just in time to enjoy a wide range of warm, comforting winter recipes.
Unearthed Produce is a local supplier of pumpkin for Foodstuffs North Island’s New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores. General Manager, Ben Buchanan, says it’s been pleasing to see the pumpkin crop rebound after last year’s weather events impacted the growing season.
“Pumpkins are highly dependent on natural environmental factors and prevailing growing conditions,” he says.
“With this year’s great growing conditions—including an optimal combination of heat, sunlight and timely rain, we’ve achieved solid pumpkin yields and there’s good supply across New Zealand.”
What’s cookin’, gourd lookin’
Brigit says that there are many varieties of pumpkin such as butternuts, buttercups, butterkins, supermarket squash and spaghetti squash so it’s a good idea to work out which variety will best suit your cooking needs.
“One of the great things about pumpkin is that you can buy them whole or cut. There’s even diced and ready-to-cook options for soup or stir fries,” she says.
“Pumpkins are so versatile. You can roast them, mash them, make them into soups, they’re fabulous in winter but also work equally well in salads and can even be used in cakes.”
How to easily prepare a whole pumpkin
Cutting up a whole pumpkin can be daunting, but if you work smarter, you won't need a super sharp knife or big muscles to get the job done. Here’s a great tip to make the job a lot easier.
Before cutting up the pumpkin, use a knife to poke a few slits around the outside of the pumpkin skin. Next, pop the whole pumpkin in the microwave for about five minutes. Microwaving will soften the skin, making the pumpkin much easier to cut.