A pumpkin patch in Newton, Massachusetts

© Frank Debonis/EyeEm/Alam

In a field of fruits…or vegetables?. Pumpkin patch

It's not too late to pick up a pumpkin to add some Halloween flair to your doorstep. Although pumpkins are grown across the country, most of the 2 billion pounds produced annually in the US come from five states: California, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. While California grows the most pumpkins headed for the jack-o'-lantern market, Illinois wins in poundage, though most of its crop ends up as pie filling or other processed products—perhaps even in your pumpkin spice latte?

And while we're talking orange orbs, what are pumpkins exactly? You might think they're vegetables, but botanists say they're the fruit of pumpkin vines. They're considered fruits because pumpkins contain seeds and grow from the same part of the plant that produces flowers. Whether you opt to consume or carve, we invite you to enjoy this fruit of the spookiest season!