Reporters note: I'm on my annual October temporary job at a pumpkin patch in western Washington State. It's the fourth year I've worked at the Black Crow Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze-about 50 miles north of downtown Seattle, near Arlington, WA. It's a family owned plot of five acres of pumpkins, squash and gourds plus another five acre corn maze. The owner comes from a long line of berry and pumpkin farmers.

I've learned this year, from various media outlets, that "pumpkins are out and gourds are in." I've sold a lot of gourds, along with pumpkins and squash, during my four years at the pump...