Pumpkins aren’t just the spooky Halloween doorstop décor on porches across America this week, they are a perfect partner of dairy – and not just in pumpkin-spiced lattes or dollops on slices of pie. According to IDFA’s Dairy Delivers®, dairy companies, distributors and retailers economically support American vegetable farmers, including pumpkin farmers, in a number of ways.

Nearly 1,035 vegetable farming jobs, including those of pumpkin farmers, depend on spending by the dairy industry or dairy industry employees. This includes about 290 jobs on farms growing crops, like pumpkins, that are used in making fall favorites like pumpkin ice cream. These jobs are the result of purchases directly paid for by dairy companies.

Nearly 750 jobs for farmers, farm hands and other farm workers are supported when dairy employees and supplier employees purchase pumpkins and other vegetables at local stores, farmers markets or food co-ops.

All told, the dairy industry helps generate $98.28 million in wages and almost $192.25 million in economic impact for American pumpkin and vegetable farmers.

Dairy Delivers®

IDFA is taking these deep dives into the data of Dairy Delivers®, its economic impact tool, to demonstrate dairy’s economic power and its ripple effect on other American industries.

Access IDFA’s Dairy Delivers® here.

Members with questions may contact Dave Carlin, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy, at dcarlin@idfa.org.