Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm Masters the Art of Farming Colorful, Tasty, World-Class Pumpkins
We may not get very many signs of the seasonal change to fall in the Bay Area, but the colorful display of coastal pumpkins and October's Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival stands out as one of our essential fall traditions. Half Moon Bay, a coastal Bay Area California town and notable agricultural and farms stretch along Highway 1 in San Mateo County has long earned its self-billed title as World's Pumpkin Capital. Here the warm days and fog-cooled nights create perfect conditions for growing a cornucopia of pumpkin varieties and color.
Families, 4H kids, chefs and connoisseurs make their way to catch the fall color of orange, along with a palette of everything in between, that dots the farmlands, often traveling to pick up the perfect pumpkin or spot the biggest pumpkin on the lot.
At the center of it all, is Farmer John and the Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm, notably the most famous pumpkin farmer and his seasonal patch located on Highway 1 just north of Highway 92.
Farmer John – aka John Muller, a third-generation California farmer, Vietnam veteran, and former mayor of Half Moon Bay—is a real working farmer and the proprietor of this special pumpkin farm, which has been a seasonal destination for 20 years. Year-round, he operates Daylight Farms with his wife Eda near downtown Half Moon Bay but opens the gates to the public for this special treat just for the fall.
Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm is always well-appointed with pumpkin displays, perfect for photo ops for the season. You won’t find pony rides or bounce houses here, just pure farm fun. Farmer John says he prefers to focus on agriculture, children learning and families talking and sharing stories about growing pumpkins and working the farm. To add to the learning you may find a hay pyramid, a Native American tepee, or an Ohlone hut, all part of the history, culture and landscape that make this such a magical area.
Farmer John Muller started the pumpkin farm as an education effort for children and their families to experience a working farm and learn how and where pumpkins grew. His initial program involved a school group planting a few pumpkins in the spring. In October, the students came back and harvested the pumpkins as a fundraiser for their school. After seeing the success of the program, Muller opened Farmer John's Pumpkin Farm to the public every year.
The farm’s community involvement continues, as it hosts under-served youngsters and school field trips almost every day of the week. Children each receive a pumpkin and are read the story “Spooky Square Pumpkin” – one of John’s favorites. The story teaches children about both pumpkins and people, and embodies Farmer John's mantra, “Pumpkins are like people. They come in all sizes and colors. But on the inside, we’re all the same.”
The pumpkin farm produces 60 different varieties of pumpkins as well as squash and gourds for decoration and cooking. The pumpkins come in shades of orange, yellow, green, blue, butter and white. There's even been a specially grown pale pink “Porcelain Doll” ornamental pumpkin, with a portion of its sales going toward funding breast cancer research through the Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation. The pumpkins are priced by John and his staff according to size, quality, and quantity.
Recipe: Check out Farmer John’s Pumpkin Soup!
What's in a Name? Names of new pumpkin varieties grown at the farm tell the story:
- Atlantic Giants (250-500+ lbs.)
- Cinderella and Fairy Tale
- Jack Be Little
- Lumina (White)
- Porcelain Doll
- Red Kabocha, Red Kuri
- Sugar Pie
- Jumpin' Jack
Editor's 2020 Note: Due to COVID19, Farmer John's Pumpkin Patch and the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin festival has been canceled for 2020. Pumpkins grown in Half Moon Bay and at Farmer's John's Pumpkin Farm are available in local community markets. Ask about and look for Half Moon Bay grown varieties. And remember some pumpkins are grown as edible produce, others are grown for decorative purposes. Ask your grocer, or refer back to our website as we look to feature beautiful and tasty "edible" varieties and world-class recipes.
Farmer John's is located at 800 North Cabrillo Highway in Half Moon Bay. Open daily from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. now through Oct. 31. Find more information at www.farmerjohnspumpkins.com.
The Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival is held every year in October. One of the oldest and largest local festivals in California, it features a famous display of gigantic champion pumpkins and a weigh-off, the Great Pumpkin Parade, expert pumpkin carvers, music, and other entertainment. A world-class pumpkin fest in food and drink – in the World's Pumpkin Capital.
