How to pick a perfect pumpkin
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.25.2007
It's all about pumpkins right now at Brian & Andy's Pumpkins and Trees.
This is the 10th year the autumn oasis has set up along Broadway just west of Rosemont Boulevard. And its myriad pumpkins, straw bales and festive orange and white lights turn selecting pumpkins into an event.
The search for that just-right one gets intense the week and a half before Halloween, says Kelly Sauer, whose husband, Brian Sauer, is one of the founders of the business. "We'll be just slammed."
All of the pumpkins come from Southeastern Arizona. There are about six varieties of orange pumpkins (including the huge one featured on our cover), and a range of colors including white, the Cinderella Red Pumpkin, the Australian Blue Pumpkin, and this year's hottest trend —the Fairy Tale Pumpkin, which has a coachlike shape befitting Cinderella's ride to the ball. .
Here's Kelly Sauer's advice on choosing pumpkins:
● Look for a healthy stem. That usually means the pumpkin is freshly picked. Stems also make it easier to pull off the top of a jack-o'-lantern.
● Make sure there are no punctures or holes in the skin.
● Check for firmness all around. You don't want any soft spots.
● Smell it. You don't want any odors.
● Scarring is normal. A lot of people say it spurs creativity — they can use that scar for a mouth or whatever.
"Pumpkins are like people," she said. "They all have unique qualities and I guess that's what makes them special."
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