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Pumpkins of every size, shape and color have taken over the fall landscape at Nalls Produce in Franconia, where an “immense” supply is fueling a 30-year seasonal tradition.

Small shipments begin arriving in August, followed by far larger deliveries during the second week of September. Valerie Nalls said the pumpkins come from farms near Harrisburg and Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, as well as Maryland, southwest Virginia and as far away as Illinois.

The harvest fills Pumpkin Hill, a free children’s entertainment area, and the Pumpkin Wall, a photo backdrop showcasing heirloom varieties.

Nalls said more families have been visiting the attractions, with a particular increase during the week that she attributed to the government shutdown. The business is pleased to offer a free outdoor activity as some families face financial uncertainty, she said.

Customers use pumpkins for pies, soups, baked goods and coffee flavoring, with the pulp, seeds and shells all serving a purpose. Others become jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween displays on tables and porches.

Getting the crop to market requires intensive manual work. Each pumpkin must be picked by hand, placed in a cardboard bin and stored in a dry area protected from moisture and the elements. Nalls said the business had not experienced a shortage tied to farm labor issues related to immigration enforcement, possibly because it works with smaller farms.

Pumpkins have been cultivated in the Americas for more than 7,500 years, with early seeds discovered in Mexico. Native Americans used pumpkins as an important food, dried the shells to make containers and extracted oil from the seeds. Europeans later carried pumpkins from the Americas to Europe.