News & Tech

Black Friday may have to wait for the real retail scramble - there is a pumpkin pie shortage! Blame it on the rain. According to a United Press International report, "Heavy Midwestern rains have destroyed much of the U.S. pumpkin crop, putting pumpkin pies in short supply on supermarket shelves."

Pumpkin Pie Shortage - Thanksgiving, Christmas Scramble (Image: WENN)

Nestle revealed that heavy rains at their farm in Morton, Illinois made it difficult for them to bring in the full pumpkin crop. They hold between 85-90% of the market, according to published reports and that means a shortage. In California, Daymond Rice, a spokesman for Safeway Inc.'s Vons markets, tells the Los Angeles Times that the chain had enough pumpkin to get through Thanksgiving.

"However, we are concerned that we may not have enough -- or will not be able to acquire enough -- product to get through the full holiday season. It remains yet to be seen."


An Associated Press report reveals that Nestle said this week that it would "not pack any more pumpkins this year, which means it may be hard to find its canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling product until next year's harvest."