Shortage of Libby's Canned Pumpkin!

[Leonard]

I was in the mood to make a Pumpkin Pie today so off to the market I went. Now, I do realize it is August and pumpkin is not a common item of most peoples grocery list BUT after going to 3 different stores, including Super Walmart and not finding 1 can I decided to call Libby's. The Rep read a statement to me over the phone saying because of a poor crop the canned pumpkin won't be available in most stores until late Sept. She continued to say that Libby's is harvesting pumpkins now and offered to send me coupons. I decided to try Albertson which is near my house. I've found items there that I couldn't find anywhere and suprise I found 3 large cans of the Pure Pumpkin. My pies are done and have cooled. I just finished a pie and it is delicious. I feel very lucky that I was able to make my pie today!

[sneezles]

I vaguely recall someone else mentioning this phenomenon recently...either Kim or Jewel, I think. My "local" store does have it in stock though.

[Autumn]

I was going to make the kids pumpkin pancakes for breakfast on the first day of school, but my local grocery was out.

[Jazzmatazz49]

Is it an urban legend, or is canned pumpkin not really pumpkin? I thought I remembered that it was squash or something. Lots of people who do Weight Watchers make a thing called pumpkin fluff that uses canned pumpkin, so this could be bad news.

[Hammster]

Originally Posted by Leonard

...offered to send me coupons.

Are the coupons on the way?

[Hammster]

Originally Posted by Jazzmatazz49

Is it an urban legend, or is canned pumpkin not really pumpkin? I thought I remembered that it was squash or something. Lots of people who do Weight Watchers make a thing called pumpkin fluff that uses canned pumpkin, so this could be bad news.

There is a chance it isn't a pumpkin such as we might use for a jack-o-lantern, but it could be.
From The Kitchn:

It turns out that some canned pumpkin is actually – gasp! – squash. Some manufacturers make "pumpkin" puree from one or more kinds of winter squashes such as butternut, Hubbard, and Boston Marrow, which can be less stringy and richer in sweetness and color.

But before we start crying fraud, it is interesting to note the rather fuzzy distinction between pumpkins and squashes. There are three varieties of winter squashes: Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, and Curcubita moschata. C. pepo includes the gourds we traditionally think of as pumpkins, such as the kind used for jack-o'-lanterns. Hubbard and Boston Marrow squashes fall into the C. maxima category, while C. moschata includes butternut squashes as well as the Dickinson pumpkins used by Libby's, the producer of most of the canned pumpkin in North America.

[kwormann]

It was me, but you got more information than I did - I was looked at like I was weird and informed they didnt have pumpkin until September - I thought maybe this was normal! Glad to hear the whole story!!!

[Kahlico]

Ironically I just got home from the Jewel with one large can of Libby's Pumpkin, er, "Pumpkin" -- I was thinking about Kim's thread the entire time (I hadn't seen this thread yet).

I guess it's hit or miss, but if you see 'em, may as well get 'em now!

[Robyn1007]

Originally Posted by Jazzmatazz49

Is it an urban legend, or is canned pumpkin not really pumpkin? I thought I remembered that it was squash or something. Lots of people who do Weight Watchers make a thing called pumpkin fluff that uses canned pumpkin, so this could be bad news.

Pumpkin is a type of squash so yes canned pumpkin is squash.

[Gecko]

I haven't seen canned pumpkin at Safeway in ages. I remember looking for it to make a pumpkin crunch cake. I think I managed to find some of the 365 brand at Whole Foods.

[ncredbird]

Because we always have a bumper crop of butternut squash I cook it and use it in my pies and baked goods instead of pumpkin. We actually like it better because it is sweeter naturally than pumpkin. Also, butternut squash is a hard skinned squash that can be stored in a cool, dark, dry place well into the next planting year. I barely finished what I had when it was time to plant more. Ann in NC

[KristiB]

Sweet potato pie is a good alternative to pumpkin pie.

[Jazzmatazz49]

Originally Posted by KristiB

Sweet potato pie is a good alternative to pumpkin pie.

Oh, I think sweet potato pie is miles above pumpkin. Especially if you make it without the spices and use lemon or orange extract and vanilla instead. I could lay waste to one right now!

[Hammster]

I found 29 oz cans of canned pumpkin at our local Von's (Safeway) in the canned fruits and veggies aisle today.
I think they were $3.29/can.

[Gumbeaux]

Originally Posted by Leonard

Shortage of Libby's Canned Pumpkin!

You can get more Libby's canned pumpkin than you'll ever need on Amazon.

[ljt2r]

I keep a very well stocked pantry, so I currently have 4 cans, but I am definitely putting this on the permanent grocery list--i.e., look for it at whichever grocery store anyone in the family happens to be stopping at! Autumn without canned pumpkin for lazy people like me is just unthinkable!

[leightx]

I was going to say that there might be a shortage since I found 6 cans during the pantry clean-out yesterday.

[kwormann]

Originally Posted by leightx

I was going to say that there might be a shortage since I found 6 cans during the pantry clean-out yesterday.

Oh, so its YOUR fault

[Jazzmatazz49]

Originally Posted by ljt2r

Autumn without canned pumpkin for lazy people like me is just unthinkable!

Maybe it's just me, but the canned works a lot better than what I've made from a pie pumpkin. I only did that once, didn't like the results.

[ljt2r]

Originally Posted by Jazzmatazz49

Maybe it's just me, but the canned works a lot better than what I've made from a pie pumpkin. I only did that once, didn't like the results.

To be honest I rarely make pie, I was thinking more of soup. But I agree--it is a different flavor as well. Interesting, the one time I tried veering away from the Libby's to an organic brand of canned pumpkin I did not like it nearly as well.

[Valerie226]

Just got back from Costco today. they had 3 large cans of libby canned pumpkin bundled together for 5.29.

I also use my own cooked squash so rarely buy pumpkin but it was right across from the olive oil that I needed so I noticed it.

[cchhbb]

I just was digging around in the freezer and found a huge container of pumpkin or butternut squash from last fall. It wasn't labeled I just made 36 pumpkin muffins to send with DS to school for snack, 2 loafs of pumpkin bread (1 will be going to a friend who just had a baby), 2 small pumpkin custards, and a pumpkin pie. The boys ate the pumpkin custard for dessert.

[ljt2r]

Well we have officially struck out at the first store we've tried...

[misskitty100]

I saw Libby's 100% pumpkin yesterday at our local Safeway....

[Anne]

I haven't bought canned pumpkin in years - I just stock up on fresh pumpkin or squash when I get a good deal and bake and freeze. When I thaw it I dump it in a strainer and use the 'juice' to replace liquids in the recipe if recipe calls for milk I add powdered to the pumpkin juice.

I tried canned pumpkin at a friends house last week and could barely stomach it - bland and metalic.

[PattiA]

I was in the baking aisle yesterday when I spied some Libby's pumpkin and grabbed 4 cans to have on hand. I use it mostly for pumpkin muffins and pumpkin cheesecake.

[SusanMac]

I love keeping canned pumpkin on hand all the time, as well, but don't make pies either. I adore pumpkin bread. But, I also use it for pasta, to thicken some soups, and have a yummy appetizer (pumpkin raviolis/won tons). And I love pumpkin pancakes, too

Kind of interesting to see the list of things people are doing with pumpkin.

[jtoepfert100]

I usually have pumpkin on hand in the fall but hardly have occasion to look for it during the warmer months. Part of this is because it is so much cheaper right before Thanksgiving so I stock up then. I love canned pumpkin and have been known to eat it straight out the can.

[Connor's mom]

I was hoping that this qualifies as "late September" but alas it must not. I went to FOUR stores (three different grocery store chains) and found ZERO cans of pumpkin, neither name brand nor store brand. I was so disappointed as I was really in the mood to make pumpkin bread AND Bob's pumpkin pasta.

Plan B is to use some sort of squash and when I come across fresh, buy lots and freeze it....

[tea4one]

Sam's Club has it as well. Along with pumpkin bread kits, I didn't pick up any of either one. They were the big cans of pumkin and the last time I froze it and thawed it in the refrigerator it was really watery.