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Last Updated: May 26th, 2010 - 17:07:52 |
Home prepared pumpkin pie, known as a holiday staple, is in jeopardy of not being served at many Southwest Kansas tables and across the nation, this year.
Heavy rains and poor weather in Morton, Ill., home to the Nestle farmlands, nearly wiped out the pumpkin harvest leading to shortages of the Nestle brand Libby's Pumpkin pie can filling. Libby's is responsible for 80 to 90 percent of the pumpkin pie filling on the market, the company's web site said.
Store shelves were bare earlier this week for Libby's Pumpkin at the Liberal Wal-Mart, Dillon's and Best Market. However, other options exist for local bakers in need of pumpkin pie.
“We are seeing a shortage of a very limited supply of the Libby's canned pumpkin,” said Shelia Lowrie, spokeswomen for Dillon stores. “That goes back to the problem with the growers. For us, customers will be able to find Kroger brand can pumpkin for their holiday baking.”
As of Tuesday, Dillon's had 15 of the 15-ounce cans of pumpkin pie filling on shelves for customers. The cans are priced at $1.25 each.
“What we have seen since the shortage of the can Libby's, customers were purchasing the Kroger brand and it did increase the demand and sales,” said Lowrie.
The can shortage began early into the Thanksgiving holiday. However, Dillon's reacted by monitoring sales at all their locations, said Lowrie.
“We worked to transfer product from store to store or from our warehouse to the stores if we saw need of pumpkin,” said Lowrie.
Dillons also made sure to have pies available in both the frozen foods section and at Dillon store bakeries for customers to purchase.
Best Market general manager Monty Sanders also had trouble filling his shelves with Libby's Pumpkin and the Suhr Fine brand canned pumpkin pie filling. He remembered receiving memos explaining the shortage, earlier this fall.
For shoppers looking for pumpkin pie, Sanders refers them to the frozen foods section. As of Monday, the store had 12 Miss Smith's Classic Pumpkin Pies.
“Once those (frozen) are gone, they are gone for the holiday season,” said Sanders.
For those wanting to make a pie with the can filling, Best Market only had stock of Western Family Brand 29 ounce pumpkin pie canned filling. As of Monday, they had 24 available to purchase for $2.49 each. One can creates two pumpkin pies.
Pumpkin pie canned filling will continue to be in low supply this winter, however, the need will go down after the holiday season, said Lowrie.
Bakers and pumpkin pie eaters might experience shortages again next holiday season.
For full story please see Wednesday's Times
© 2008 Southwest Times
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