Blame Hurricane Irene for the Great Pumpkin Shortage of 2011.

The northeast may be pressed for Jack-O-Lanterns this Halloween.  Farmers' pumpkin patches were wiped out by Irene.  Wholesale prices have doubled in upstate New York; some farmers are trying to import pumpkins from other parts of the U.S. to make up for the shortfall.

Pumpkins typically have to be ready to ship by mid-September, because demand plummets after Halloween.

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The Midtown Atlanta skyline is shown in the background as an employee works in Cargill's new office, Jan. 16, 2025, in Atlanta.  (Jason Getz/AJC)

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