Illinois pumpkin production rises ahead of weather-challenged harvest

Illinois pumpkin production increased in 2025, but weather brought a mixed bag for growers this year.The USDA’s Economic Research Service said Illinois produced about 533 million pounds last year, up from 485 million in 2024 and far more than any other state.
Illinois also maintained its leading position in pumpkin acreage with 14,800 acres, harvesting nearly twice as many acres as any of the other top states.
The higher production levels mean additional tax revenues. Illinois is home to two major pumpkin processing plants: Nestle Libby in Morton and Seneca Foods in Princeville.
A Jo Daviess County grower, Michael Dittmar, said a late frost on May 7 wiped out the apples at Dittmar Farms and Orchard in Elizabeth, but the pumpkins were not impacted by heavy rains and tornadoes.
“We survived all the storms. Our pumpkins are probably the best we’ve ever had,” Dittmar told The Center Square.
Jack Lanxon is Farm Operations Manager at Eckert’s, with three Illinois locations near St. Louis and one in Kentucky, near Lexington.
“We had a lot of timely rains. It never really got too dry in our part and I would agree that this is one of the best pumpkin crops we’ve seen in a while,” Lanxon told The Center Square.
Southfork Homestead Pumpkin Patch in Edgar County, however, lost several acres of pumpkins due to flooding and rain wash and reported “not much” yield.
Southfork is located in Paris, Illinois, not far from the Indiana state line.
Many Illinois pumpkin farms draw visitors from other states.
Eckert’s is based in Belleville, with seasonal locations in Grafton and Millstadt.
“Pumpkins overall are important for this time of year and just for us kind of getting tourists, we call them, people from the other side of the river, St. Louis area, getting people over here to experience the farm,” Lanxon said.
Dittmar Farms and Orchard attracts tourists who visit nearby Galena and people from Iowa and Wisconsin.
“We’re advertising heavily into the Dubuque market because there’s a lot of people there, so Galena, Dubuque, and then, of course, Chicago with the visitors to Galena. That’s what we advertise, and I think we’re doing all right,” Dittmar said.
When asked about the higher cost of diesel this year, Dittmar said he only has 20 acres for apples, pumpkins and popcorn.
“We’re not doing 2,000 acres, so, we’re relatively all right. We really haven’t noticed that,” Dittmar said.
Lanxon said diesel is one of the biggest costs any farm has.
“In terms of pumpkin production, I wouldn’t say it’s really affected things too much. They don’t require a ton of management compared to other things,” Lanxon said.

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