(CNN) — It’s like a pre-game celebration for Halloween: Friday is national pumpkin day!
Pumpkins are a very flexible fruit, used to make bars, cookies, coffee, cheesecake, pasta and oatmeal.
And of course, pumpkin spice is a popular flavor loved by millions across the U.S.
Before it was the name for a carved pumpkin, ‘jack-o’-lantern’ referred to either a night watchman or the light from a will-o’-the-wisp. #NationalPumpkinDay https://t.co/0QXAf27lcS pic.twitter.com/0osUIS8HLx— Merriam-Webster (@MerriamWebster) October 26, 2018
In addition to its edibility, pumpkins are also fun for families to carve and decorate for trick-or-treaters.
The U.S. produces 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins total — with Illinois making the most.
