Pumpkin

altI originated in Central and South America

My oldest archaeological remains were found in burial caves in Mexico and date to 8000BC.
I was introduced to Europe about 50 years after Columbus began the Conquest of the Americas.
The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, a Greek word for large melon. The French adapted this word to pompom, meaning 'cooked by the sun’.
Native Americans showed the starving Pilgrim Fathers how to grow pumpkins amongst their corn, using fish as a fertiliser. Their first thanksgiving meal in October 1691 has been celebrated with pumpkin pie ever since.
The world record-breaking Cucurbita maxima, can weigh over 450kgs.

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