Pumpkin Harvest 2025 (Pumpkin Economics) in Monterey County California by Ruth Paget

Pumpkin Harvest 2025 in Monterey County California (Also could be titled Pumpkin Economics) by Ruth Paget

This past weekend, my daughter Florence Paget, husband Laurent, and I went to Trader Joe’s in Marina, California and admired the bumper crop of pumpkins coming in from the 2025 Harvest.

The photos below show some of the beautiful varieties on sale.  For photo details, spread your fingers apart on the image to enlarge it.

For other pumpkin harvests when my daughter was little, I took her to Earthbound Farm in Carmel Valley to buy pumpkins to make homemade salted pumpkin seeds and savory pumpkin soup.

My travel memoir from this staycation outing follows:

Earthbound Farm Outing

For people who would like to make an easier pumpkin soup, I have posted my recipe for pumpkin soup using canned  pumpkin purée below:

Pumpkin Soup Recipe Created by Ruth Paget

For people who would to buy ready-made pumpkin pies and/or pumpkins, you can go to The Farm just outside Salinas at the Spreckels exit off Highway 68 (Main Street become Highway 68 outside of town).

The Farm is an agricultural research station with a model farm, country store, community supported agricultural produce box subscription program, and bakery.

I have posted a link to The Farm’s website below:

The Farm in Salinas, California

For people interested in a fall festival with pumpkins and a corn maze head out to Swank Farms in Hollister (San Benito County).  Ticket details and information are posted below:

Swank Farms Fall Festival

Cooler weather is coming, which is perfect for warm berages with pumpkin spice as well.

Whatever your preference, enjoy the 2025 bumper crop of pumpkins in Monterey County.

Note:  The internal mesh around the pumpkin seeds might be able to be used as feed for hogs and chickens or as organic fertilizer to make the pumpkin a no-food-waste item.  The pumpkin skins might be able to be used as feed and fertilizer as well.

By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France