It turns out that there is a shortage of canned pumpkins! A few weeks ago I began to change my menu over from summer dishes to fall dishes. Many of my favorite dishes call for canned pumpkin. As I was in the grocery store I noticed that they were sold out of canned pumpkin. I didn't think anything of it at the time, I just figured they hadnt restocked and would have more the next week. So the following week I looked again. No canned pumpkin. At this point I began to wonder. But I had not heard anything on the Daily Show (where I get my news) or in the LA Times, (which I read every morning. Ok, I read the comics every morning). So I tried at a few other grocery stores. No canned pumpkin!
So I turned to the internet. It turns out that due to a bad pumpkin crop LAST YEAR, this year there is a shortage of canned pumpkin! The HORROR! I went to at least 5 different grocery stores, including Whole Foods, before I found some canned pumpkin at Bristol Farms- a gourmet grocery store here in S.Cali. I bought 5 29 ounce cans, and I might go back for the two I left behind. They DO have canned pumpkin at Trader Joes, but they are not certified kosher, and I can only eat certified kosher brands.
So if you love pumpkin pie, pumpkin mousse, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, or pumpkin bread pudding, then run to your nearest grocery store and buy up all the canned pumpkin you can find! And make sure your recipe is 'sponge worthy'!
Canned pumpkin on EBay
Info on pumpkin shortage
News story regarding pumpkin shortage
OH NO!! I had no idea about the pumpkin shortage!! I get all greedy as soon as the cranberries come out-I pick up a few bags each time I'm at the store & freeze them. They're only out for a few weeks a year & I try to buy enough to get me through the year!!
ReplyDeleteCrazy news! I was having a hard time finding canned pumpkin as well. It was sold out from two of my grocery stores. Finally picked some up at Super Target. And now the hording shall begin...
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Pumpkin pie is my absolute favourite, so I can see how the "sponge-worthy" analogy works here ;). That's really too bad! Would you ever consider making puree from scratch or is there also a shortage of actual pumpkins?
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't found the canned pumpkin, I was going to have to make from scratch, but I have done it once in the past and I found it tasted EXACTLY the same as the canned. The canned is just soooo much easier.
ReplyDeleteIsn't this ironic?
ReplyDeleteI have never bought canned pumpkin before. During my perusing different cookbooks, I decided that maybe I would try it. Now this?!
I have never paid attention in the store, and now I definitely will.
lpm
You can't get it here in England at all. So you're one up on me. *sob* As an ex-pat Canadian, I miss my pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteAli
That is so funny! Sorry about the pumpkins. I've never been a huge fan, so I'm not too bummed, but I can imagine!
ReplyDeleteI still have a couple of cans from stockpiling them during sales last year! YAY!
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