Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) is a winter squash native to northern Mexico and southern United States, where it is especially popular at Thanksgiving and Halloween. While scientifically considered a berry, it is used as a vegetable. Pumpkins are round with deep orange to yellow skin, orange pulp and many light-colored seeds in the center.

Pumpkins get their orange color from carotenoids, including and alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, copper, manganese, iron, vitamin C and E, and the B vitamins - thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, folate and Vitamin B6.*