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Pumpkin Seeds

“The order came next day just like you said. The pumpkin seeds were enormous and just the right amount of salt. Great Deal Thanks”

— Aaron, Bronx, NY May 6th, 2009

About Pumpkins and Pumpkin Seeds

The pumpkin of the gourd family is most commonly thought of as a delectable pie or a jolly jack-o-lantern fruit for Halloween, but it also contains edible seeds. A coarse, annual vine of the New World origin was widely distributed over central and northern Mexico and the southwester United States in pre-Columbian times. Archaeological remains of pumpkin seeds, rinds, and fruits have been found in the valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, dating back to 8750 B.C. The pumpkin formed an integral part of the corn-bean-squash complex which supplied the main diet of several pre-Columbian civilizations. The species was already widely grown in the Americas when the first Europeans arrived. The long lasting pumpkin must have been an attractive food for primitive peoples lacking adequate means of food preservation. The fruits, seeds, and even flowers provided nourishment.

During the sixteenth century, the pumpkin was introduced to Europe, where it was planted extensively from England to Italy. Later, it was taken to Asia Minor, Africa and the Far East. The crop is now cultivated extensively in many tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world. It should be noted that pumpkins are not usually served as table vegetables since they are coarse and strongly flavored, a fact that makes them most appropriate for baking and for pumpkin pie.

Pumpkins have the distinction of being the largest fruits of the plant kingdom, at times reaching weights in excess of three hundred pounds, with huge circumferences of five to six feet.

In the last twenty fives years, the nutritious seeds rich in fats and protein have become more important as a health and snack food. The seeds are flats, white elliptical, three-quarters to one inch wide with a thin seed coat. The seeds can be readily separated from the pulp, facilitating their use. The seeds may be eaten like nuts, raw or roasted. The seeds are often called pepitas. Today, pumpkin seeds are readily eaten not just as a great tasting snack food but for their tremendous health benefits. Pumpkin seeds are very high in protein and Vitamin A.