NO PUMPKIN PIE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE CHRISTMAS

Pumpkin pie may be missing by Christmas, thanks to climate change; Crop yields are down by half in the Illinois town that produces 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin, threatening to deprive Americans of their beloved pie

Jessica Glenza, 7 October 2015 (The Guardian)

“Crop yields are down by half in the midwestern fields that produce the bulk of pumpkins for pies, threatening to deprive many Americans of the custardy dessert this Christmas – although Thanksgiving will probably be all right…[Excessive rainfall] made planting difficult…August and September were warm and dry…[but it was too little, too late]…[A] plant pathologist at the University of Illinois said that this year’s heavy rains also brought disease to pumpkin crops…[T]ying this year’s pumpkin shortage directly to climate change is difficult. But…[the] upward trend in precipitation fits what we expect from changing climate…[There should be] enough canned pumpkin for Thanksgiving, but a tight supply around Christmas…[O]nce 2015’s crop is harvested, canned and shipped, which is expected to be in the middle of this year’s baking season, there will not be any extra…” click here for more

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