365 Challenge #180

They're harvesting pumpkins in a different area of North Carolina now, so we switched hotels today and got to stop by the fields on the way.

The harvester doesn't usually leave this many pumpkins in the field, but unfortunately this field was planted with ridges, so quite a few pumpkins get left behind and need hand picked.

It was over 100 degrees out there....I felt so bad for all the guys.

The harvester cuts the pumpkin vines with these blades.

Then the pumpkins, vines, and dirt get pulled up this belt. The dirt falls through the cracks and the vines are grabbed by two spinning bars and get pulled away from the pumpkin.

The pumpkins go up the belt, under the driver, and then to the top of the machine where people standing on top pull off any vines that got missed.

Then they get dumped into the storage bin which is being pulled by another tractor alongside the harvester. The storage bin can then dump the pumpkins into semi trucks which take the pumpkins to the Libby factory.

At the Libby factory, the pumpkins get canned within 24 hours.

They cook the pumpkins. Then the entire pumpkin (stems, rinds, seeds, and pulp) is blended up and pressed through a strainer so fine it can strain out even the dirt.

Then it's canned and ready for you  to make pumpkin pie.