LIBBY'S' 2016 Harvest Forecast: Plentiful Pumpkin, on Store Shelves Soon

Pumpkin lovers can breathe a collective sigh of relief; reports from Morton, IL, the self-proclaimed pumpkin capital of the world, indicate there will be no shortage of pumpkin this year. The harvest forecast comes at a time when baking season is underway and canned pumpkin purchases increase. Fans of all things pumpkin will have an abundant supply to create their most flavorful seasonal recipes with LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin during the autumn and winter months. The supply is projected to remain strong throughout 2017.

"After a disappointing 2015, we're happy to share that this year's harvest forecast indicates that the national pumpkin shortage is over," said Evan Lunde, marketing manager for LIBBY'S. "Consumers can be confident that there will be plenty of LIBBY's canned pumpkin for their baking needs this season."

Back in 2015, record rain fell during the month of June in Illinois, where about 90 percent of the pumpkins grow in the U.S 1. Last year's crop reports show that LIBBY'S yields were reduced by half, and the harvest ended a month earlier than usual. Consumers were faced with the possibility of not having access to adequate amounts of canned pumpkin for holiday pies and other seasonal baking needs. About 80 percent of pumpkin sales occur during baking season, which begins in September and continues through the end of the year.

LIBBY'S has taken extra steps to ensure a successful yield in 2016, including planting more seeds on additional acreage so that its 100% pure pumpkin puree will be on shelves year-round. This video footage chronicles LIBBY'S 2016 harvest and shows the seed-to-can process, where pumpkins are taken from The Farm, canned and loaded for distribution in just four hours.

"This year's crop is far better than in 2015, when we experienced heavy rain during our critical growing months early in the season. The rain resulted in a national shortage of canned pumpkin that carried into the current year," explains Jim Ackerman, agriculture manager for the Nestl-owned LIBBY'S canning facility in Morton. "Mother Nature is on our side in 2016 and growing conditions have been favorable. In fact, we have received average to aboveaverage yields this year."

LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin is a key ingredient for the holiday baking season. LIBBY'S is made from a very special variety of pumpkin called "Dickinson" to ensure its delicious taste, creamy texture and pleasing orange color. And just like the label says, LIBBY'S contains only pumpkin, with no added salt, sugar, flavorings or preservatives.

Pumpkin, a form of squash, is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and can be identified on the exterior by its ribbed skin and spikey spine. Not only is pumpkin a form of squash, but zucchini, watermelon, cucumbers and a few melons are also part of the squash family as well. 2

The suggested retail price (SRP) for LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin (15 ounce can) is $2.49.

For more information on LIBBY'S Pumpkin and for recipe ideas, visit www.verybestbaking.com/libbys.

Be sure to follow LIBBY'S Pumpkin on Twitter by visiting twitter.com/LibbysPumpkin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LibbysPumpkin and on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/libbyspumpkin.

About Nestl USA
Named one of "The World's Most AdmiRed Food Companies" in Fortune magazine for nineteen consecutive years, Nestl provides quality brands that bring flavor to life every day. From nutritious meals with Lean Cuisine to baking traditions with Nestl Toll House, Nestl USA makes delicious, convenient, and nutritious food and beverages that make good living possible. That's what "Nestl. Good Food, Good Life" is all about. Nestl USA, with 2015 sales of $9.7 billion, is part of Nestl S.A. in Vevey, Switzerland the world's largest food company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health & Wellness with 2015 sales of $92 billion. Nestl is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2016, and we're commemorating our legacy by honoring our past and rich history, engaging the present with our customers and consumers and looking forward to the future with our commitment to Creating Shared Value and Nutrition, Health and Wellness. For product news and information, visit Nestleusa.com or Facebook.com/NestleUSA.

1 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-pumpkin-shortage-halloween-thanksgiving-20151006-story.html
2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucurbitaceae

SOURCE Nestle USA

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