Jim Jasinski, OSU Extension, IPM Program Sheryl Barringer & Tessa Bowman, Food Science & Tech.

Bob Precheur, Hort. & Crop Science Stan Ernst, Ag, Env., & Dev. Economics

M. Holmes & S. Zimmerman, PBD, Innovative Farmers of Ohio

¨  Concept & Background – OSU/IFO partners ¨  Review Phase I – Horticulture & Production ¨  Review Phase II – Seed processing ¨  Review Phase III - Sensory evaluation &

Economic feasibility

¨  Closing Comments

¨  OH growers are efficient producers of Jack-o-Lantern pumpkins ¡  Over past 5 years, OH ranked between 2nd and

6th nationally : 5,600-7,400 A harvested

¨  What else can be produced from pumpkins? ¡  Pie filling? Oil? Juice? Seeds?

¨  Applied for ODA Specialty Crop grant 2009 ¡  Grant funded, most work conducted in 2010

¡  Partnered with IFO

¨  Seeds are Healthy Snacks – Functional Foods ¨  Good source of Mg, Mn, P, Fe, Cu, & Zn ¨  68% Fat (Unsat.), 22% Protein, 10%

Carbohydrate ¨  Contain phytosterols

¨  Reduce blood levels of cholesterol, enhance the immune response and decrease risk of certain cancers.

¨  Contain Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids ¨  Reduce inflammation and help prevent risk factors

associated with heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

¨  Summer ’09 - Screen 15* varieties for seed production

¨  Jan. ’10 - Select 5 varieties based on taste & yield ¨  May ’10 - Set up trials at WARS & 2 grower sites ¨  Sept. ’10 - Harvest fruit; transport to Pilot Plant ¨  Sept. ’10 - Extract, clean, dry, roast, & season seed ¨  Sept. ‘10 - Sensory evaluation panels ¨  Oct. ’10 - Package samples for direct farm markets

¨  Won’t discuss today

¨  Spring ‘11 - Final Project Report to ODA

1

2 3 4 5 6

7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

1. Dickinson Field 2. Pik-a-pie 3. Small Sugar 4. Baby Pam 5. Hybrid Pam

6. Touch of Autumn 7. Golden Hubbard 8. Baby Green Kitchenette 9. Uchiki Kuri 10. Snackjack

11. Sweet Meat 12. Blue Hubbard 13. Blue Magic 14. Mystic Plus 15. NZ hybrid

Pumpkin Seed Production Hybrid Prospects - 2009

11 13

15

1. Mystic Plus 3. Pik-a-pie 5. NZ Hybrid

Pumpkin Seed Production Hybrids - 2010

2. Small Sugar 4. Snackjack

1 2 3 5 4

5. NZ Hybrid

Pumpkin Seed Production Hybrid Prospects - 2010

4. Snackjack **

1. Mystic Plus 2. Small Sugar

3. Pik-a-pie

¨  Followed typical pumpkin production practices ¨  Direct seeded into killed Fall planted rye, May 27th ¨  Broadcast fertilizer 50# N, 100# P, 100# K- May 26th ¨  Side dressed 25 lb 28% N June 11th & 25th ¨  Used Dual & Strategy for pre-emerge weed control ¨  Irrigated with trickle tape ¨  RCB, 4 reps, Plot size 50’ by 15’(0.07 A total/hybrid) ¨  7 Fungicide sprays ¨  Weekly beginning July 20th alternating Pristine, Quintec,

Procure, Bravo, Copper

¨  This was the basic set up for a 2nd site ¨  3rd site was very low input

2010

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0 WARS

Fremont

Richwood

** Estimated 2010

0.0

500.0

1000.0

1500.0

2000.0

2500.0 WARS

Fremont

Richwood**

** Estimated 2010

0.0

200.0

400.0

600.0

800.0

1000.0

1200.0 WARS

Fremont**

Richwood**

¨  Harvested ca. 500+ lb. of each variety ¨  Transported fruit to Pilot Plant in Columbus ¨  Fruit cleaning ¨  Seed extraction ¨  Seed cleaning ¨  Drying ¨  Roasting

¨  Seasoning ¨  Packaging – shipped to PA

¡ Pilot Plant Results ¡ Ca. 5,200 lb fruit handled ¡ Ca. 293 lb wet seed ¡ Ca. 148 lb dry seed ¡ Ca. 83 hours labor

¡ Take home message ¡  10 tons fruit, 600 lb dry seed, 320 hr labor/A!!

Rank the 5 varieties (best to worst) ¡  Snackjack ¡ NZ hybrid ¡ Pik-a-pie ¡ Small Sugar ¡ Mystic Plus

Only salt added, seeds roasted at appropriate time & temp. from panel #1

Overall liking 1-9 (texture, flavor, crunch, etc) ¡ Salt ¡ BBQ ¡ Garlic ¡ Vanilla Cinnamon ¡ Pumpkin pie spice*

*Significant difference between black and red flavorings

(best to worst)(best to worst)

¡ NZ hybrid NZ hybrid

(best to worst)¡ SnackjackSnackjack

Cost Point /1.75 oz. ¡ $0.99 (39) ¡ $0.79 (15) ¡ $1.29 (14) ¡ $1.59 (8) ¡ $0.49 (7)

¨  Retail bulk Raw Organic Pumpkin Seed $4/lb (China) ¨  Retail for “365” brand salted Pumpkin Seed $6/lb (China) ¨  Retail for Gerbs Seasoned Pumpkin Seed $13.60/lb (China)

Cost Point / 1.75 oz ¡ $0.99 (26) ¡ $1.29 (18) ¡ $0.79 (14) ¡ $1.59 (7) ¡ $0.49 (6)

3.5 oz 8.0 oz

¨  Wholesale prices for seeds $2.15-$2.65 / lb ¨  Retail prices for seeds $4.00 - $13.90 / lb ¨  Dry seed yields /A: 550 – 700 lb = $1460 - $1505 ¨  Find a way to reduce labor, increase capacity,

and maximize harvest yield ¨  Key to invest in specialized equipment

¡  Essential but expensive ¡  Mechanical harvester ¡  Seed cleaner/washer ¡  Seed dryer

¨  Use basic pumpkin production system ¨  External fruit quality can be lower as long as

cavity rots are avoided (reduce fungicides) ¨  Seed production can vary from year to year

¡  Rancidity issues with high oil seeds

¨  There will be considerable pumpkin flesh (TONS) to dispose of after seeds are extracted

¨  Labor intensive & $$$ to hand harvest fruit, extract and clean seeds - not economical per se

¨  Cottage industry using hand labor may be possible

¨ Efficiencies can be gained from mechanization of fruit harvesting and seed processing steps ¡  Initial investment is significant!

¨  Agrichemical and seed companies support this project ¡  Still some questions about variety selection for best seed

¨  Currently almost all seed supply is coming from China and Mexico

¨  Trophy Nut (OH), Windy Acres (OH), Gerbs (RI), Sodexo (OH) would buy 80,000 lb. seed / year if produced domestically

¨  Viable industry - need to set up a pilot plant for demonstration and evaluate economics at that scale

¨  Rupp Seed Company ¨  Harris Moran Seed Company ¨  New Zealand Hybrid Company ¨  Syngenta Crop Protection ¨  Pittsburgh Snax and Nuts Company ¨  Smith’s Farm Market and Circle S Farms ¨  Staff at Pilot Plant (Paul & Gary) ¨  Staff at WARS (Clarence, Joe, & Mike) ¨  Summer intern Kristy Dye ¨  ODA Specialty Crop Block Grant