National Pumpkin Seed Day

National Pumpkin Seed Day celebrates the crunchy seed found inside pumpkins, also known as pepitas, and the many ways it can be enjoyed. Observed on the first Wednesday of October, the day arrives during pumpkin season, when seeds are often saved for roasting rather than discarded.

Pumpkin seeds have a long history as a food. Archaeological findings in central Mexico have traced them back to 7000 B.C., and they can be eaten on their own or added to dishes such as salads, yogurt, and oatmeal. An ounce contains 8.5 grams of plant-based protein, according to Fleming Island & Beyond.

SuperSeedz Gourmet Pumpkin Seeds founded National Pumpkin Seed Day in 2016. The company’s founder, Kathie Pelliccio, began making pumpkin seeds in her kitchen with a cast-iron pan, using them as additions to salads, yogurt, and oatmeal. Fleming Island & Beyond describes the holiday as an opportunity to highlight the seeds’ culinary versatility and nutritional qualities.

How to Observe National Pumpkin Seed Day

Celebrate by enjoying pumpkin seeds as a snack or adding them to a salad, yogurt, oatmeal, or another favorite dish. If you are carving a pumpkin, save the seeds for roasting. You can also give an old recipe a pumpkin-seed twist, share a recipe with friends, or learn more about the history and uses of pepitas.

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