Gilroy, CA — Uesugi Farms, a second-generation grower and one of California's top producers of peppers, Napa cabbage and other produce, has announced that it will open its annual Pumpkin Park on Sunday, October 1. One of the Bay Area's favorite fall attractions, the park draws over 100,000 visitors in the month of October, including many who come to watch its internationally sanctioned Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
"We look forward to the opening of the Pumpkin Park every fall," said Pete Aiello, Uesugi Farms General Manager. "It brings back a lot of great memories for me. We've been hosting it since 1985, when my brother, Michael, and I got together with our dad's business partner's three boys, Mark, Bryan and Matt Humphreys. We were sent by our dads to a small plot of land just north of the current location to sell pumpkins beside the highway. The goal was just to keep us out of trouble, so it's amazing what this month-long autumn celebration has become."
The 60-acre Pumpkin Park offers a variety of free and paid attractions including a corn maze, a classic carousel, miniature train rides, an interactive experience called Butterfly Valley, pony rides and a petting corral. There are also weekend concerts and food and beverages are available every day.
"It's great to see all the work we put into the park pay off in the form of excited kids and smiling adults," said Crystal Melton, Pumpkin Park Manager. We love the opportunity to connect with our community and to provide a place where people can enjoy some good old-fashioned fun."
Sanctioned by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, the 27th Annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off will take place on Saturday, October 14, with weighing beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pumpkin growers from around the region will compete for over $25,000 in prize money, with the winner receiving $7 per pound for their pumpkin. Past weigh-offs at the Pumpkin Park have produced some notable results, including a World Record Pumpkin in 2013 weighing 2,032 pounds.
Open at 9:00 a.m. seven days a week, the park's closing hours vary throughout the month. A detailed calendar is available atmorganhillpumpkins.com. Admission and weekday parking are free. Weekend parking is $5 per vehicle. School tours are welcome.
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About Uesugi Farms
Family-owned Uesugi Farms has been in operation for more than four decades. The company relies on its vast experience, wealth of farming knowledge and commitment to quality to deliver impeccable product. The multi-regional operation is spread over 5,000 acres in California, Arizona and Mexico. They annually grow, pack and ship approximately 210,000 tons of bell peppers, chili peppers, Napa cabbage, sweet corn, pumpkins, strawberries and beans.
About Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Park:
Uesugi Farms Pumpkin Park has been in operation since 1985. Starting as a small roadside pumpkin patch, it has grown to over 60 acres and is one of the Bay Area's favorite October family activities. Admission is free and there are a variety of free and paid activities for all ages including hay rides, a corn maze and a weekend concert series. For more information visit morganhillpumpkins.com
Source: Uesugi Farms
