California's pumpkin country to celebrate its spooky fruit October 5-6

The fair is sponsored by the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis Club.Photo byJulia RaaschonUnsplash

The Manteca Pumpkin Fair will be held in downtown Manteca on October 5 and 6 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission and parking are free.

A pumpkin growing contest, a pumpkin carving contest and a car show will be included in the fair, which is sponsored by the Manteca Sunrise Kiwanis Club. There will also be a paint & sip party and a kids zone. Proceeds from the annual event have benefited numerous local charities.

California's pumpkin country

Manteca is located in San Joaquin County, where more than 70 percent of California's pumpkins are grown, mostly for use as jack o' lanterns and other ornaments. A winery in Lodi, another community in the county, will host a pumpkin festival on October 12. Illinois is the American state that produces the most pumpkins, but they are grown in all states, even Alaska.

A versatile fruit in the kitchen

Pumpkins are a fruit which can be used in various ways in the kitchen. YouTubers have posted several recipes for pumpkin milkshakes and smoothies, which may be more appealing on hot days than pumpkin spice lattes.

For colder days, there are recipes for pumpkin eggnog and pumpkin cider, as well as pumpkin soup.

There are also recipes for pumpkin cornbread, pumpkin cranberry bread and pumpkin banana bread.

According to the Mayo Clinic, pumpkins are rich in the following nutrients:

• Vitamin C
• Potassium
• Fiber
• Beta-carotene, an antioxidant which the human body converts into vitamin A and which gives the pumpkin its orange color

The clinic also says pumpkin seeds are rich in copper, folate, iron, magnesium, niacin, selenium and zinc.