CARROLLWOOD, Fla. — Perched high atop a throne of hay, 969 pounds of gigantic gourd gleam under the Florida sun.
In the weeks leading up to Halloween, hoards of autumn lovers are expected to make the pilgrimage here to admire “Florida’s largest pumpkin.” At least, that’s the title the social media person at Bearss Groves gave it.
There isn’t actually an official ranking of hulking fall produce in our state. But that’s not really the point of Bearss Groves’ annual tradition anyway. For the farm stand at 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., the mission is simple: To track down a massive orange orb that captures the hearts of Instagrammers and passersby. To craft a display that inspires parents to wrangle their children and pets into autumnal attire and come visit. To secure a prize pumpkin hefty enough to outweigh the fact that Florida, even during spooky season, can still feel like a sweaty armpit.
