Halloween: Social media pumpkin picking boost for farmers

Social media has been credited with making pumpkin picking popular

A pumpkin picking craze has become a Halloween money-spinner for some farmers, thanks to social media.

There are 100,000 pumpkins being grown in the Vale of Glamorgan, with at least five farms offering a picking experience.

In Flintshire some businesses say they can make £30,000 an acre by offering pick-your-own.

Phil Handley, of the Mostyn Kitchen Garden, said: "It's a great earner and always very lucrative".

He added: "You can plant 5,000 pumpkins an acre. A pumpkin in a supermarket might be a couple of quid, but people will pay more for the outdoor experience and have some fun and pick pumpkins.

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"So our pumpkins are between £2 to £10. If you take an average price of £5, that's £25,000 an acre."

Including refreshments, the figure could top £30,000.

"Pick-your-own is back in fashion, from flowers to fruit and veg," Mr Handley said.

Phil Handley, pictured with his granddaughter, says pumpkin picking is very lucrative

"It used to be big in the '80s and now it's back and more popular than ever because of social media."

Forage Farm, on the Penllyn Estate in the Vale of Glamorgan, is offering pumpkin picking for the third time.

Business was booming, said managing partner Matt Homfray, with ticket sales up 40%.

They are expecting about 4,000 people through the gates over the weekend.

"Social media plays a part in this growing popularity but many of our customers are returning customers," Mr Homfray said.

More than 10,000 pumpkins are grown on the Penllyn Estate with 20 different varieties on offer.

Mr Homfray said: "It can be a lucrative crop for farmers and that's why more farmers are going into it.

"October is dominated by this, but it's about six months of planning and work to get to this stage."

About 5,000 pumpkins can be planted in an acre

The five farms offering pumpkin picking in the Vale of Glamorgan are all within eight miles (12.8km), and the demand is there for there to be so many, said Mr Homfray.

"All the neighbouring pumpkin farmers I've spoken to have been sold out," he said.

The Farmers' Union of Wales said this kind of diversification could bring farming closer to people.

A spokesman said: "For those farms that can diversify into such ventures, it is no doubt a much needed extra income source."

'Instagram popularity'

David and Maria Booker and their son Luca, from Surrey, were among those picking pumpkins at Forage Farm.

"I've seen lots of people put it on social media, and then you want to join in and do it," Ms Booker said.

"And it's nice for farms to share it with us. It makes Halloween more of a family thing."

Maria and David Booker, with son Luca, went picking at Forage Farm

Ceri Russell and daughter Kady, from Barry, loved going pumpkin picking despite getting covered in mud.

Ms Russell said: "I want to find a white pumpkin, so we can carve it. Quite a lot of people put it on Instagram and it's really popular. I've already spent £20."

Ceri Russell and daughter Kady didn't mind if they got covered in mud

Cat Gauci, from Cardiff, who was with her husband Paul and two children, Ivy and Dylan, said all her friends took their children pumpkin picking.

Cat Gauci, pictured with Paul Gauci and children Dylan and Ivy, said her friends all went pumpkin picking

Ms Gauci said: "People are taking pictures of their kids and putting it on Instagram and it definitely adds to the popularity of it."

Daughter Ivy said: "I like being out even if it is really muddy."

Gemma Hill, pictured with Dave Hill and children Jenson and Joseph, said pumpkin picking was "an experience"

Gemma and Dave Hill, from Barry, were picking for a party with children Joseph and Jenson.

Ms Hill said: "We have pictures of the children growing up through the years at pumpkin patches. It's just really nice to look back at those photos.

"It is an experience even if it is more expensive than buying them in a supermarket.

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