MEXICO, OSWEGO CO. (AP) -- Farmers in upstate New York say their pumpkin crop was ready for harvest about two weeks early this year.
But growers tell The Post-Standard of Syracuse that people shouldn't worry. The warm summer and a good amount of rain at the right time has made the crop healthy.
Experts say even pumpkins that ripen early will stay fresh through Thanksgiving if stored at cool temperatures.
Growers began harvesting around Labor Day.
State agriculture officials say New York's pumpkin crop covers around 6,000 acres.
Last year, growers produced about 750 million pounds of pumpkins.
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