You can find pumpkins in nearly all California counties, but the San Joaquin County is the largest producer by far – growing about 70 percent of the state’s pumpkin crop. California is regularly top in the nation for pumpkin production, but most of our pumpkins are grown for Halloween, rather than holiday desserts. If you’re picking a pumpkin for baking, you’ll want a different variety than the what you would get for your jack-o-latern. Look for varieties called Cinderella, Sugar Pie, Baby Pam or New England Pie.
If you’re looking for recipes, at least one California pumpkin farm has a great website. Click here for All About Pumpkins.