Illinois ranks No. 1 in pumpkin production, fueling Halloween nationwide
The state’s farmers grew enough in 2025 to theoretically make 284 million pumpkin pies.
Halloween wouldn’t be the same without Illinois.
The state’s farmers produced 532.8 million pounds of pumpkins in 2025, more than any other state in the nation, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.
Nearly 40% of the nation’s pumpkins came from Illinois, making the state a major contributor to America’s favorite fall traditions.
California ranked a distant second, with 161.7 million pounds, followed by Indiana at 134.8 million pounds. Illinois produced more pumpkins than those two states combined.
To put Illinois’ pumpkin production into perspective, the state’s annual harvest could theoretically make:
- 2 billion pumpkin spice lattes
- 284 million pumpkin pies
- 568 million loaves of pumpkin bread
- 35 million jack-o’-lanterns
Those estimates use recipe ingredients and average pumpkin weights to show just how far Illinois’ harvest could go. Actual production includes pumpkins grown for different purposes, including processing and decoration.
Illinois’ pumpkin dominance is nothing new.
Morton, Illinois, is known as the “Pumpkin Capital of the World” because of its role in producing canned pumpkin. The central Illinois community has helped turn the state’s farmland into a major source of pumpkin products enjoyed across the country.
Illinois’ fertile soil, agricultural expertise and generations of hardworking farmers have helped make that possible.
While Illinois faces plenty of challenges, its agricultural success is something worth celebrating.
From pumpkin patches and Halloween decorations to Thanksgiving pies and fall coffee drinks, Illinois farmers help make the season possible for millions of Americans.
