Richdale Farm Delivered Pumpkins to Virginia Mansion

Governor Spanberger proclaimed October as Virginia Pumpkin Month during the annual harvest celebration.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration of harvested orange pumpkins and dried corn stalks against a rustic wooden gate, representing Virginia's agricultural autumn harvest. — Richdale Farm delivered a shipment of pumpkins to the Executive Mansion in Richmond to mark the beginning of Virginia Pumpkin Month. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Richdale Farm of Wytheville delivered pumpkins to the Executive Mansion in Richmond. This annual event recognizes the state’s agricultural contributions and marks the start of October as Virginia Pumpkin Month.

Why it matters

The ceremonial delivery highlights the economic importance of Virginia’s pumpkin industry to the state's agriculture sector. It also serves as a formal kickoff for local autumn festivities and agricultural awareness.

Virginia's fresh market pumpkin production reached a value of $16.9 million in 2025. The state ranks seventh nationally for total pumpkin production value.

The players

Governor Spanberger

She is the Governor of Virginia who presented the proclamation designating October as Virginia Pumpkin Month.

Richdale Farm

This is an agricultural operation based in Wytheville, Virginia, managed by Eric and Aaron Crowgey.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

This state agency oversees the regulation and promotion of Virginia's agricultural products and organizes the annual mansion delivery.

Virginia Pumpkin Growers' Association

This organization represents the interests of pumpkin farmers across Virginia and coordinates with state officials on harvest recognition.

The details

Aaron and Graham Crowgey of Richdale Farm conducted the delivery alongside the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Virginia Pumpkin Growers' Association. The event celebrated the end of the harvest season that began around Labor Day 2026.

Pumpkin harvesting began around Labor Day in September 2026.
The delivery to the Executive Mansion took place on September 28, 2026.
October 2026 is officially designated as Virginia Pumpkin Month.

Culture Shift

The tradition follows a pattern set by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services annual harvest recognition protocols. These events maintain the visibility of local agricultural producers against the backdrop of industrial food supply chains.

Residents can expect increased availability of locally grown pumpkins throughout the month of October at regional markets. The designation encourages consumers to prioritize purchasing from the nearly 400 growers operating across the state.

The takeaway

Consumers looking to support the local economy can find seasonal produce directly from Virginia's farm network throughout the month. October serves as the primary window to engage with the state's seventh-ranked national pumpkin production value.