Massive 1,500-Pound Pumpkin Arrives At Bearss Groves

TAMPA, FL — Customers' jaws dropped and eyes widened as Bearss Groves farm stand in North Tampa welcomed the latest contribution to its annual pumpkin patch Thursday morning.

In what's become a seasonal tradition, Bearss Groves owner Barry Lawrance combs the country to find an impressively sized pumpkin to use in the farm stand's fall pumpkin patch display, which attracts hundreds of families who await their turn to take an Instammable photo in front of the huge pumpkin.

However, this year, the farm stand at 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd. topped all previous years. The 1,500-pound pumpkin that arrived by truck from Michigan is the largest pumpkin the farm stand has ever displayed and currently holds the record for the largest pumpkin in Florida.

To put its size into perspective, the giant gourd contains enough pulp to make 500 pumpkin pies.

In business for more than 100 years, Bearss Groves offers seasonal fresh farm produce, plants, herbs, fall mums and other farm-grown flowers as well as pumpkins where generations of families have purchased what will be carved into their Halloween jack o' lanterns.

But residents who want to take a free photo in front of the pumpkin better hurry. The pumpkins, mums, gourds and hay bales will only be available at Bearss Groves for a few weeks. Then they'll be replaced with Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias and garland.

Bearss Groves is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.