Oregon Public Broadcasting

Heavy rains in the Midwest have resulted in a severe shortage of pumpkins for pumpkin products this year. But as Ryan Knutson reports, that could prove to be a boon for one Oregon company.

Farmers Market Organic in Corvallis is the world’s largest organic pumpkin grower.

And while pumpkin crops of the non-organic variety suffered in the Midwest, Tracy Miedema of Farmers Market Organic says their crop thrived.

Tracy Miedema: “We’re not sure how many people want to switch to our organic pumpkin, but we know they want a pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.”

The Corvallis company will not raise prices on its pumpkin products in response to the increased demand. Rather, it hopes to gain some new customers.

The company has about 5-percent of the pumpkin market share, while Libby’s Pumpkin -- the Nestle company that is struggling with the shortage -- has more than 80-percent.