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Illinois is far and away America's pumpkin-growing king.
By the numbers: The Midwest state produced 485.1 million pounds of pumpkins in 2024, according to USDA data.
Zoom in: Illinois' climate, soil and location — it's in what some call the "orange belt" — make it ideal for growing pumpkins.
The bottom line: When you crack open that can of pumpkin filling this fall, think of the Prairie State.