- Title: Pumpkins galore! Brits gear up for Halloween
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: COLCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) FOXES FARM PUMPKIN PATCH PUMPKIN IN CRATE PARTNER AT FOXES FARM PRODUCE, EMILY FRENCH PUTTING PUMPKINS INTO WHEELBARROW CRATES OF PUMPKINS AT THE PUMPKIN PATCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTNER AT FOXES FARM PRODUCE, EMILY FRENCH, SAYING: "We grow thousands and thousands of pumpkins each year that we distribute on a wholesale basis around the country. And we also have two pick your own patches, one in Essex, one in Colchester and one in Basildon. And we have got, as you can see, thousands and thousands of pumpkins in varying shapes and sizes, all left on the ground, ready for the customers to come on in, grab a wheelbarrow and pick as many pumpkins as they like." PUMPKIN PATCH DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PUMPKINS IN CRATE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTNER AT FOXES FARM PRODUCE, EMILY FRENCH, SAYING: "Halloween used to be more of an American idea that's come over in the UK definitely over the last five years, and we've noticed a big thing here, which I'm sure everyone has in the UK. Of it not just being for Halloween. So people come here as an autumnal event." FRENCH WALKING WITH WHEELBARROW, PUTTING PUMPKINS INTO IT PUMPKINS AND HAY BALE (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTNER AT FOXES FARM PRODUCE, EMILY FRENCH, SAYING: "For pumpkins, it's a bit like people - beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes the uglier pumpkins go before the prettier pumpkins, shall we say." KNOBBLY PUMPKIN DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PUMPKINS VARIOUS OF BOARD SHOWING THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTNER AT FOXES FARM PRODUCE, EMILY FRENCH, SAYING: "It does seem that every year a particular type of pumpkin is maybe more popular than the previous year's. So last year we had a big trend for the Crown Prince, which are the grey pumpkins. I think people were making them as ghosts and things like that. This year, a particular trend I've noticed is that people are wanting to paint their pumpkins more. So we actually here have hidden some golden pumpkins that we've spray painted and people have loved the game of finding the gold pumpkins." GOLD SPRAY PAINTED PUMPKIN BEING PLACES ON PILE OF PUMPKINS GOLD SPRAY PAINTED PUMPKIN GREY COLOURED CROWN PRINCE PUMPKINS AMONGST OTHERS IN THE PATCH GREY COLOURED CROWN PRINCE PUMPKIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) PARTNER AT FOXES FARM PRODUCE, EMILY FRENCH, SAYING: "So I'm not entirely sure how Brexit will affect us, but we do use a lot of agency workers for our wholesale pumpkins, for the harvesting. So it possibly could affect that, in terms of our sales and distribution, we do that UK based, so we should be less volatile." FORK-LIFT TRUCK MOVING CRATE OF PUMPKINS CRATES OF PUMPKINS PUMPKINS IN CRATE FORK-LIFT TRUCK DRIVING AWAY, CRATES OF PUMPKINS
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 13:46
- Keywords: Pumpkin Halloween Foxes Farm Colchester Essex pumpkin patch
- Location: COLCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- City: COLCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GJO0P
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are ready for Halloween at the pick-your own pumpkin patch in Essex.
Foxes Farm owner, Emily French, said they plant their pumpkins in May so that they are ready for harvest from September each year as part of their Autumnal event.
The farm features an eight acre corn maze amongst the pumpkin patch for visitors to race round before picking up a pumpkin or two.
French said each year they find new trends for their pumpkins, this year painted versions are especially popular, following last years' trend of the grey-coloured Crown Prince pumpkins.
Once the pumpkins have been harvested they are distributed to garden centres and shops around the country as well as the ones that remain at the farm's own pumpkin patches.
The Foxes Farm pumpkin patch will remain open until Halloween, and will be hosting special fancy dress date on 31st.
(Production: Gerry Mey, Marissa Davison) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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