Traditional Pumpkin Pie Goes Organic

Start a new Thanksgiving morning tradition with Thanksgiving Morning Pumpkin Muffins, courtesy of The Farmer's Market Collection: Above and Beyond (Photo: Business Wire)

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Demand for organic pumpkin continues to soar, and all indications are that the sweet and spicy scent of more than one million good old fashioned pies freshly baked with organic pumpkin will waft throughout homes across America this Thanksgiving.

“More and more consumers are cooking with organic pumpkin because of its pure, rich taste and abundance of nutritional benefits,” says Tracy Miedema, marketing director for Farmer’s Market Foods. “This year’s Thanksgiving feasts will include a record number of pies baked with organic pumpkin,” says Miedema. “Here at Farmer’s Market Foods, we’ve been tracking this growing trend and it’s not one we see slowing down any time soon,” she adds.

At Farmer’s Market Foods, maker of the number one brand of organic pumpkin, sales of organic pumpkin have risen 60 percent annually for the past three years. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), per capita pumpkin consumption has risen 25 percent since 2003. www.farmersmarketfoods.com

Farmer’s Market Organic Pumpkin and Organic Pumpkin Pie Mix contain no fat, trans fats or cholesterol, and are excellent sources of fiber and the disease-fighting antioxidant beta-carotene. At only 50 calories per half-cup serving, Farmer’s Market Organic Pumpkin contains 10 grams of carbohydrates and 6mg of sodium. Farmer’s Market Organic Pumpkin Pie Mix contains 100 calories per one-half cup serving, 25 grams of carbohydrates and 0 mg of sodium.

Farmer’s Market Organic Pumpkin and Organic Pumpkin Pie Mix can be found at natural food stores and select supermarkets in all 50 states for about $2.29 a can, and on Amazon.com by the case.

Additional products sold under the Farmer’s Market brand include Farmer’s Market Organic Sweet Potato Puree and Farmer’s Market Organic Butternut Squash.

Farmer’s Market is offering consumers a free recipe booklet filled with a variety of recipes made from its Organic Pumpkin and other delicious organic products. To obtain the free booklet, send an email to recipebooklet@farmersmarketfoods.com. In the subject line, type “Recipe Booklet,” and include your name and address in the body of the message. Or, mail a letter or postcard with your name and address to: The Farmer’s Market Collection, Farmer’s Market Foods, PO Box 817, Corvallis, OR 97339-0817. And hurry…recipe booklets will be available only as long as supplies last!

Farmer’s Market Foods, headquartered in Corvallis, OR, manufactures and distributes a line of certified organic canned vegetable and fruit products, all of which are allergen, wheat and gluten free. Farmer’s Market Foods is wholly owned by Stahlbush Island Farms, Inc., which also markets sustainable frozen fruits and vegetables under the Stahlbush Island Farms brand. Both Farmer’s Market Foods and Stahlbush Island Farms brands can be found at natural foods stores and select supermarkets throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.farmersmarketfoods.com or www.stahlbush.com

Start a new Thanksgiving morning tradition with Thanksgiving Morning Pumpkin Muffins, courtesy of The Farmer’s Market Collection: Above and Beyond

Thanksgiving Morning Organic Pumpkin Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tbsp cinnamon 1/4 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp ground cloves 3 eggs

1 can Farmer's Market Organic Pumpkin

3/4 cup oil 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup walnuts

Cinnamon /Sugar Topping

2 tbsp sugar 1/4 tsp cinnamon Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice and cloves. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until well combined. Add pumpkin and stir to combine. Add oil gradually, stirring to mix well. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix. Do not over-mix. Add raisins and walnuts, stirring just to combine. Fill 12 large muffin cups or 16 mini-muffin cups 3/4 full or two mini-loaf pans and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon/sugar topping (this will make tops hard and crunchy). Bake for 30 minutes or until tops are firm.

Susan Schneider & Associates

Susan Schneider

(847) 438-4465

prwhiz@aol.com