Pumpkin Flavor Pumps in Extra Profit for Businesses

WILMINGTONSunday marks National Pumpkin Day, and the fall decoration does a bit more than just sit on porches.

Market research firm Nielsen said pumpkin-flavored product sales increased 14 percent in 2013.

Port City Java CEO Steven Schnitzler said the orange decoration brings in more green for the business.

"These days you can get strawberries in January, and you can get asparagus in the middle of winter, and it seems like nothing has a season anymore. Fall is the one season I think that has a season--and pumpkin, more than anything else, says 'fall', he said.

Kilwins Ice Cream in downtown Wilmington sells pumpkin ice cream and fudge.

"We've actually had a little bit of problem selling out the ice cream recently...so it's very popular, said production worker James Nelson.

This pumpkin popularity piqued customer Danielle Fosters interest.

"I love pumpkin...I love pumpkin bread....I had actually had a pumpkin muffin this morning, she said.

Foster is not the only one buying the muffins. Schnitzler said Port City Java sold more than 20,500 pumpkin muffins in 2013.

"It's far and away the number one selling muffin this time of year, he said.

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Pumpkin Flavor Pumps in Extra Profit for Businesses