Why Pumpkin Patch Sales Dropped This Year: 7 Hidden Reasons Farmers Are Feeling the Pinch

A Tough Fall Season for Pumpkin Patches Everywhere

This has been one of the most challenging fall seasons many farmers can remember. Across North America, pumpkin patches that were normally buzzing with families, laughter, and full wheelbarrows suddenly found themselves facing something unexpected — a sharp drop in agritourism sales, even when farm visitor traffic seemed strong.

Farmers reported smaller pumpkins, unpredictable weather, reduced spending, and more visitors choosing cheap retail pumpkins over U-pick experiences. For some, pumpkin patch revenue dropped by 15–20% or more. Others had their busiest crowds ever, yet still made less money because buyers weren't purchasing like they used to.

When you look deeper, it becomes clear: this year wasn’t just “a slow season.” It was a perfect storm of conditions that exposed the hidden vulnerabilities in the fall agritourism model — from the weather impact on farms to the economic worries families are carrying.

Let’s break down the biggest reasons behind this year’s decline and what we can learn from it.

Weather Destroyed the Most Important Weekends

In agritourism, weather isn’t just an inconvenience — it’s often the single biggest factor that determines success. And this year, the weather hit pumpkin farms hard.

Across the Midwest, Pacific Northwest, and even parts of Oklahoma, farmers saw their busiest weekends wiped out by nonstop rain, unusual heat, or sudden storms. October only gives pumpkin patches four or five weekends to make nearly all their fall income.

Losing even one weekend can slash pumpkin patch revenue dramatically. Losing two is devastating.

Farmers reported that the season started with blistering heat, followed by weeks of heavy rain. Families who would normally spend hours on hayrides, photo spots, corn mazes, and U-pick pumpkins stayed home, shifting outings to warmer or drier days — but those days never came.

This year proved again that weather impact on farms isn’t just about crops. It affects:

• Visitor turnout

• Length of stay

• How much customers are willing to buy

• Atmosphere and excitement on the farm

  
  

Even farms that had great marketing, strong social media, and loyal visitors simply couldn’t overcome weekend washouts. And when your whole business model relies on those small windows, the results are painful.

Smaller Pumpkins Led to Smaller Profits

Even the farms that did get steady crowds noticed something else: pumpkins were much smaller this year. And that created another big problem — one that affected revenue even when visitor numbers were high.

Many farmers price pumpkins by the pound, which works beautifully in a normal year. But in a tough growing season, when pumpkins come out smaller, per-pound pricing collapses.

Dozens of farmers reported that their pumpkins weighed far less than usual. Even with strong farm visitor traffic, the total agritourism sales from pumpkins dropped sharply because customers simply couldn’t buy heavy pumpkins that didn’t exist.

A farmer summed it up perfectly:

“Foot traffic was way up… but income was way down.”

Smaller pumpkins = smaller receipts. And without those big, heavy pumpkins that normally drive a large portion of pumpkin patch revenue, many farms saw a 20–30% reduction in sales — even on sunny days.

This year’s poor growing conditions didn’t just shrink pumpkins. They shrank profits, and they exposed a risk in relying too heavily on weight-based pricing during years when the crop simply doesn't cooperate.

Economic Uncertainty Is Causing Visitors to Spend Less

Even though many farms reported strong farm visitor traffic, overall agritourism sales dropped because families were simply spending less money. Guests still want to enjoy a day out at the pumpkin patch, but they are far more cautious with their wallets this year.

Across the comments, farms noticed the same pattern:

• Visitors bought admission but skipped add-ons

• Fewer purchases of treats, drinks, and merch

• Smaller or cheaper pumpkins chosen

• More “browse but don’t buy” behaviour

  
  

Military towns were especially hard hit because the government shutdown reduced household confidence. When spending tightens, the first things families cut are extras—cider donuts, hayrides, farm animals feed, photo props, and even upgrading to larger pumpkins.

This explains why some farms had crowds but still saw a drop in pumpkin patch revenue compared to past years. The demand for experiences was strong, but secondary spending—the heart of farm fall festival income—declined sharply.

Big-Box Retail Competition Is Getting Stronger

Another major factor affecting pumpkin patch revenue this season is big-box stores selling pumpkins at extremely low prices. One farmer mentioned Walmart offering large jack-o’-lantern pumpkins for just $3.50.

That’s a price point no small farm can sustainably match.

Families who are already shopping for groceries naturally grab the cheap pumpkin on the way out. This trend has directly contributed to the U-pick pumpkin decline reported by small farms.

This creates a tough reality:

• Farms cannot win on price

• Farms can win on experience

  
  

This is where strong agritourism business strategies become essential. A farm must market what Walmart can never copy—hayrides, photo areas, animals, open fields, fresh air, memories, and the joy of picking your own pumpkin. The product alone won’t save the season; the experience will.

Community Tragedies and Emotional Climate Impact Spending

One farmer from Michigan shared a heartbreaking reason for lower agritourism sales—a mass shooting in their local community just before fall events began. When tragedies strike, the whole town becomes subdued. People stay home, families avoid crowds, and local spending drops dramatically.

This emotional climate directly affects:

• Local turnout

• Event attendance

• Appetite for celebration

• Willingness to spend

  
  

Agritourism relies heavily on families being in the mood to enjoy outdoor activities. When a community is grieving or tense, even the most established farms see a decline in farm visitor traffic.

This is a reminder that external events—far beyond weather or pricing—can influence the entire season’s success. Agritourism isn’t just a business; it’s deeply connected to the emotional well-being of the surrounding community.

Changing Buyer Behaviour (More “Silent Purchases”)

One surprising trend this year is the shift in how customers actually buy their pumpkins. Several farmers reported that while their farm visitor traffic was steady—or even higher—many guests avoided the traditional U-pick experience altogether.

Instead, they quietly bought pumpkins from roadside stands, 24/7 kiosks, or grab-and-go displays without staying for long.

This shift hurts pumpkin patch revenue, because the U-pick model isn’t just about the pumpkins… it’s about the upsells.

When families walk into the field, they usually end up buying:

• Hot chocolate or cider

• Fall treats

• Hayride tickets

• Photo passes

• Merchandise

• Animals feed cups

• Farm store goodies

  
  

But when customers choose the “silent purchase” method, they bypass everything that makes agritourism sales profitable.

This new customer behavior is likely influenced by:

• Budget concerns

• Busy schedules

• Social anxiety or crowd avoidance

• Rainy or unpredictable weekends (weather impact on farms again)

• Desire for quick, convenient purchases

  
  

The result?

A farm may see “good traffic,” but overall sales still drop because guests aren’t engaging in the full agritourism experience. For many farms, the U-pick pumpkin decline wasn’t caused by lack of visitors… but by lack of participation.

Takeaways: The Hidden Challenges Agritourism Faces This Fall

This season revealed how fragile a pumpkin patch business model can be. Even farms with excellent marketing, beautiful fields, and steady visitors still saw decreases in agritourism sales and on-site spending.

When we look at all the farmer feedback, a few clear realities emerge:

A. Agritourism relies heavily on weather timing

You can have a perfect crop, great decorations, and strong promotions—yet one rainy Saturday can slash your pumpkin patch revenue by thousands. Weather impact on farms remains one of the biggest risks in fall tourism.

B. Per-pound pricing is vulnerable

When pumpkins grow smaller due to heat, drought, or poor growing conditions, your U-pick model becomes unpredictable. Smaller pumpkins = lower income, even if your farm visitor traffic is high.

C. Customer spending power is shifting

Inflation, local economy issues, military base shutdowns, and general uncertainty all reduce impulse purchases. Families want the experience, but they’re buying fewer extras.

D. Competition from cheap retailers is real

When Walmart sells pumpkins for $3.50, customers will compare—even if your farm offers a better experience. This year showed that pricing alone cannot sustain agritourism revenue.

E. U-pick pumpkin decline doesn’t always mean failure

Farmers who diversified with 24/7 farm stands, greenhouse displays, storytime events, and indoor activities managed to soften the blow. The farms that relied only on pumpkins struggled the most.

At the end of the day, this season taught us something important: Agritourism is strongest when the experience—not the pumpkin—is the main product.

What Farmers Can Do Next Season (Solutions)

After hearing so many farmers share the same struggles this fall, it’s clear that the drop in pumpkin patch revenue isn’t just about pumpkins — it’s about how fast the agritourism landscape is changing.

The good news is this: with a few strategic adjustments, small farms can protect their agritourism sales and actually earn more next season.

Here are practical, proven steps you can take:

A. Diversify Your Revenue Streams

Pumpkin sales alone are too vulnerable to weather and crop quality. Add simple, low-cost experiences that families value:

• Hayrides or wagon tours

• Photo zones

• Kids’ craft corners

• Petting areas

• Food stalls (kettle corn, hot cocoa, churros)

  
  

These additions increase visitor spending even when U-pick pumpkin sales are down. Farms like Tanaka Farms and Southern Belle Farm thrive because visitors buy the experience, not just the crop.

B. Switch to Bundles, Not Per-Pound Pricing

Many farmers noticed smaller pumpkins this year. When you rely on per-pound pricing, a light crop automatically lowers your income.

Flat-rate bundles protect your earnings:

• “Pick Any Pumpkin – $10”

• “Family Pumpkin Pack – 3 for $25”

• “U-Pick + Hayride Bundle – $18”

  
  

These models keep agritourism sales predictable even when growing conditions aren’t.

C. Create Weather-Proof Activities

Weather ruined peak weekends for farms across Oklahoma, PNW, and the Midwest. You can reduce this risk by adding attractions that work even in rain:

• Covered storytime or kids activities

• Decorated greenhouse walkthroughs

• Indoor photo booths

• Farm shop tastings

• Mini corn sandbox areas inside barns

  
  

Your farm visitor traffic becomes more stable because families know they won’t waste their trip.

D. Don’t Compete With Walmart — Market What Walmart Can’t Offer

Walmart can sell pumpkins cheaper. But Walmart can’t offer:

• Family memories

• Hayrides

• Animals

• Farm smells, sights, and sounds

• Nature

• Seasonal magic

  
  

Market the experience, not the produce.

Your message should be: “Come make memories — pumpkins are just the beginning.”

This shift alone boosts agritourism sales dramatically because you’re no longer competing on price.

E. Strengthen Community Engagement

Local emotional climate plays a bigger role than most farmers realize — especially when the community goes through hardship. Building stronger ties with local families helps stabilize farm visitor traffic:

• Partner with schools

• Offer weekday field trips

• Host fundraiser nights

• Create calm sensory-friendly days

• Give discounts to military families or first responders

  
  

People remember farms that care. And they reward you by coming back year after year.

Conclusion: A Tough Year, But a Turning Point for Agritourism Farms

This season has been one of the most challenging years for pumpkin patches — with weather disruptions, smaller pumpkins, intense retail competition, and economic uncertainty affecting agritourism sales across the country.

Many farms saw high attendance but lower spending. Others battled rain, heat, or uneven U-pick harvests. Some communities were emotionally shaken, and that quiet mood carried into the fall season.

But this year also revealed something important:

👉 Families still want farm experiences.

👉 Farm visitor traffic is still strong.

👉 People still crave connection to nature.

The key now is adapting.

By diversifying revenue, offering weather-proof experiences, improving pricing models, and focusing on what makes small farms truly special, you can protect yourself from unpredictable seasons and rebuild your pumpkin patch revenue stronger than ever next year.

Farming will always have risks — but agritourism gives you more ways to win.