Pumpkin Website Updated

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2009

Everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins, from selection to carving tips to the vegetable's history is available on an updated University of Illinois Extension website, "Pumpkins and More" at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins/.

"The revised site is available in time for the prime pumpkin season," said Jane Scherer, U of I Extension urban programs specialist and director of its websites. "It includes information on pumpkin farms and festivals in Illinois and Indiana.

"It is also designed for use in the classroom, containing several links for fun activities to use with youngsters in school or at home."

Nutrition information is part of the website as well.

"The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene," Banks noted. "Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health."

Recipes for pumpkin dishes are also available on the website.

The website was designed by Ron Wolford, Extension Unit educator, Urban Horticulture and Environment, and Drusilla Banks, Extension Specialist, Food Science and Nutrition Programming.

Source: Jane Scherer, (217) 244-2849, jscherer@illinois.edu