WHILE AT THE GROCERY STORE the other day, I picked up limited edition pumpkin spice bagels and pumpkin spice cream cheese spread. Yum. I crave the seasonal taste of pumpkin, not in excess, but just enough to satisfy me.
Every autumn, pumpkin prevails. If I wanted, I could have bought pumpkin spice coffee to go with my bagels. Or pumpkin spiced cereal or whatever other foods feature this flavor. The options seem endless.
I do have two cans of pumpkin in the cupboard for muffins. I probably won’t make a pie. Does anyone make pumpkin pie from scratch, from baked pumpkins, any more?
That brings me to roadside stands that pop up in Minnesota each autumn to sell pumpkins, squash and other garden goods. There’s something about a wagon loaded with bright orange orbs or a field of pumpkins that makes me break out in a wide smile.
Charles Schulz may have influenced my reaction. The Minnesota-born artist created the “Peanuts” cartoons. I grew up watching his animated cartoon TV specials, including “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” There’s something endearing about a boy—Linus—sitting in the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin. His is a testament to unwavering hope and faith, trusting that the mighty pumpkin will appear.
Trust is essential for anyone running an untended, self-serve roadside stand like the ones I saw recently along Minnesota State Highway 19 in Stanton and also between Faribault and Northfield along State Highway 3. Pick your product and drop your money in a secured lock box. Now that’s trusting on the part of the vendor.
While picking from the pumpkin patch is mostly done with Halloween over and jack-o-lanterns carved, pumpkins are still in demand as Thanksgiving approaches. Or at least I think they are with pumpkins often centering autumnal décor in yards, planters, at businesses, inside sanctuaries and elsewhere.
Pumpkins in various sizes, shapes and colors, mixed with squash, gourds, corn and mums, make visually-appealing displays that say “autumn.” And I’m all about prolonging autumn for as long as possible before winter settles in for the next too many months.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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