John Ackerman is a beloved local farmer with a gleaming bald pate that catches the sun like a waxy gourd. His eyes light up when talking about pumpkins, especially the endless varieties grown at ...
A Minnesota horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion Monday of an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California where his massive gourds have won the top prize four years in a row.
Still, Floridians like to celebrate by picking pumpkins and carving them — although it’s best to wait until close to Halloween to avoid the chance of rotting gourds on the front porch.