We have reached the season of “Everything Pumpkin”!

Not only grocery stores, but general and specialty shops, cafes and coffee kiosks celebrate this not so humble food. This array of pumpkins can put us in the mood for Autumn even when the Southern Arizona temperatures are still in the 80s and 90s. Pumpkin pies, breads, cakes, cookies, soups, casseroles and the ubiquitous lattes are in the forefront of many restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, coffee shops and even online.

Cucurbita is the genus that includes the “fruits of fall” pumpkins, squash- es and some gourds. There are five domesticated species of pumpkins — Ficifolia, Maxima, Argyrosperma, Moschata and Pepo. We are more familiar with the common names such as Sugar Pie, Fairytale, Long Island Cheese and Big Max. Native to North

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