Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Pumpkin Crises: Defeated



Last week (or so) I received a Tweet from Meredith regarding a lack of canned pumpkin in her grocery store.

I had decided that since it'd been snowing in her little corner of Colorado since last April, it was a simple case of canned pumpkin blocked by blizzards of snow.

All jokes aside--after all, lack of pumpkin at this time of year is no laughing matter-- I assumed I wouldn't be affected by such troubling times. The pumpkin crises certainly wouldn't hit close to home. It was just so....inconceivable.

Until....

I was in the isle this morning to get pumpkin for a batch of Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins (sweetly pictured above), only to find the shelves empty.

I had to go to three different stores before I found the elusive Libby can. I quickly bought 5 (29 oz)cans.

I would have bought more but it was all my arms could hold.

I immediately came home and Googled the issue at hand and sure enough there is a canned pumpkin shortage, people!

And, apparently, this is old news:

Check here, here, here, and here.

I wouldn't panic, the word around the net is that the Libby people are churning out more pumpkin as I type, but really, as you might've noticed by my stock piling philosophy, I'm inclined to panic.

If you're a baker, and enjoy all things pumpkin, you better get it while you "can".

BTW: Last year I tried my hand at using fresh puree from baking pumpkins and it was fairly simple. Just not as simple as opening up a can. And really @ $1.89 for a 29 oz can, you can't beat Libby!

Well, I gotta run...the muffins kids are calling me.

13 comments:

Carpool Queen said...

I just ate my second one. Oh dear, these are delicious. Nadia the Gym Nazi will not be happy tomorrow morning as I'm dragging my muffin top around.

I have five cans o' pumpkin left. What's our next recipe?

Tracey said...

So that's why there were only 2 cans at the store. Of course, I bought both of them. I suddenly have this urge to hoard cans of pumpkin. That can't be a sign of quality character.

Anonymous said...

oooh, they look so yummy! k2

Candace said...

Huh. I thought it was just me...

Tiffani said...

I can honestly say that I've never once bought a can of pumpkin...however, I'm much inclined to do with such yummy recipes going around!!!

Hopefully, Georgia's shelves will be full!

really.truly said...

Thanks for sharing about that...I'm going to stock up. Pumpkin is so good for you too. My boys love pumpkin pie.

Kristin said...

Well. A pumpkin shortage? I might have noticed if I was good at baking, but alas - I am not. I'll take anything someone wants to bake for me, though! :)

Tanya said...

The shortage is probably due in part to my massive stocking up. I always crave pumpkin muffins in late spring and I can NEVER find canned pumpkin (nor fresh pumpkins for that matter!) at that time of the year. This year, I decided to stock-pile. I think I have 8 cans of pumpkin in my basement. :)

Such The Spot said...

No way. I had no idea, although I did run into that problem earlier this month myself. That just won't do though. Not when pumpkin breads, and bars and cookies and muffins are in such high demand in this house at this time of year. Thanks for the heads up. Now when Jeff raises his eyebrows at me for buying out the entire stock of pumpkin - I'm blaming you!

Lori said...

I had no idea! I'm going to stock up on pumpkin tonight. Nothing better than pumpkin bread... yum! :)

Gretchen said...

Mercy! Must get out to my local Kroger today to see if I'm in trouble or not.

Anonymous said...

I'm going to start hoarding pumpkin so I can sell it on the black market when people get REALLY desperate for pumpkin!

Anonymous said...

I used my last can last week.. Im going to go searching for some more pumpkin this week! Those cupcakes look awesome!