the spookiest fruit of the year is now in season.
pumpkins, the big orange (or sometimes white) gourds typically reserved for fall foods are favourites around halloween. plus, they’re much healthier than anything the kids pick up from trick or treating.
when it comes time to carve the jack-o-lantern, think twice before throwing the guts and seeds away. there’s a ton of nutritional benefits to be had after a fun family activity.
where do pumpkins come from?
scientists from the
university of california
believe pumpkins originated in north america 9,000 years ago. the oldest examples of pumpkin seeds ever found were in mexico, and are somewhere between 7,550 and 9000 years ago.
china produces the most pumpkins in the world, with an annual production of 7.8 million tons, according to
atlas big.
india, russia, ukraine, and the u.s. are the next largest producers.
canada is the 28th largest supplier of pumpkins in the world, with an annual production of 133 thousand tons.
norfolk county, towards the north of lake erie, calls itself
canada’s pumpkin capitol
, having 1,795 acres across 50 farms dedicated to pumpkins, squash, and zucchini as of 2011.
get your vitamins and protein
pumpkins are plump with vitamin c and e, which contribute to healthy skin, according to
bbc
. vitamin c is known to smooth out wrinkles, according to
harvard medical school.
vitamin e on the other hand is considered an anti-inflammatory agent for skin, according to
oregon state.
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