Mike Pfannenstein, produce and floral specialist for St. Cloud, Minn.-based Coborn's, provided some insight leading up to fall for our pumpkins merchandising feature. Here's more of his perspective on making the most of this unique produce item this season.
Q: When do you start showcasing pumpkins in your produce departments, and how long do you keep them around?
A: We typically like to have stores displays set up the weekend after Labor Day. This year might be a little later, as growers got a later start with late spring, as some Minnesota farmers got hailed out. This will force us using other states that have product. We display pumpkins through Halloween, then advise stores to have displays down right away the next day.
Q: What kind of pumpkins typically move the best, and has that changed at all over the last five years or so?
A: The large style jack-o-lantern pumpkins sell very consistently each year, but we sell lots of pie pumpkins ... as well. Those display well inside and outside the house. Painted pumpkins are another item that sells well. Great table decoration or somewhere in house that may have fall décor.
Q: Do you normally merchandise pumpkins for use in cooking or for decoration?
A: Mainly decoration. Some will use for cooking, but (we) see more of that closer to Thanksgiving for those wanting to make a fresh pumpkin pie.
Q: What are some of the most creative ways you’ve seen store/produce teams use pumpkins?
A: We try and have a display in (the) front entrance to store, neatly displayed using the tier look, where pumpkins are hand stacked at three levels going up the side of the building. It sets the tone for guests entering the store with a fall theme.
Q: What are some other produce items that can be cross-merchandised with pumpkins?
A: We like to add a floral mum display the first month with the pumpkins as a tie-in, which looks really nice. Other items we will display with pumpkins, at select stores, might be hay bales, corn stalks, mini pumpkins, gourds, white and color pumpkins as tie-ins.
For more pumpkin merchandising perspective, check out insight from Pfannenstein and eight other produce retail professionals in our recent feature story.
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