Short answers, pulled from the story.
The oldest evidence of a pumpkin's existence dates back to between 7000 BCE and 5500 BCE. This evidence was found as fragments in Mexico and marks the plant as one of the earliest domesticated plants on Earth.
A pumpkin is scientifically classified as a pepo, which is a type of berry with a thick shell that encases edible seeds and pulp. The genus Cucurbita includes species such as Cucurbita argyrosperma, Cucurbita ficifolia, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata, and Cucurbita pepo.
The record for the heaviest pumpkin was set in October 2023 at 1,246.9 kilograms or 2,749 pounds. Howard Dill previously set a giant pumpkin record in 1980 with a 940-kilogram fruit of the Dill's Atlantic Giant variety.
Pollination is a critical challenge because the native squash bee, Peponapis pruinosa, has declined in America, probably partly due to pesticide sensitivity. This decline forces gardeners to rely on other bees or hand pollinate to ensure pumpkins develop properly.
Illinois produces 95 percent of the U.S. crop intended for processing and 41 percent of the overall pumpkin crop for all uses. Nestlé operates its Libby's plant in Morton, Illinois, where it produces 85 percent of the processed pumpkin in the United States.
The practice of carving produce for Halloween originated from an Irish myth about a man named Stingy Jack and was recorded in 1866. Immigrants to North America began using the native pumpkins for carving because they were readily available and much larger than the turnips traditionally used in Ireland and Scotland.