Pumpkin pie, pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin body butter: It’s a pumpkin party in Gainesville.
From pumpkin spice seasoning to actual fresh pumpkins, shoppers have an array of items to choose from starring the great gourd at stores like Trader Joe’s.
But some UF students might have already had enough.
UF industrial engineering junior Lauren Neely, 20, certainly has.
“Everything is pumpkin-flavored now,” Neely said.
Neely said she first noticed the fall flavor at Starbucks, which she liked, but soon McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts had it, too.
She said she specifically noticed the power of the pumpkin in the Trader Joe’s newsletter, which included numerous pumpkin recipes in the publication.
“It’s too in-your-face,” Neely said.
Others disagree.
For example, a manager at Trader Joe’s in Butler Plaza said some local customers are ordering pumpkin products by the case.
UF telecommunication senior Jeanie Fletcher, 21, said she thinks the scent and food helps people get into the fall spirit.
Still, she won’t be rushing over to Trader Joe’s.
“I’ve never been a huge holiday person,” Fletcher said.
But UF animal science freshman Courtney Crosby, 18, said she is OK with the pumpkin craze.
“It’s expected for pumpkins to come out in the fall,” Crosby said. “It’s the go-to theme.”
Although she’s not the biggest pumpkin fan, Crosby said she still likes the scent of pumpkin.
“It makes it feel like fall,” Crosby said.
A version of this story ran on page 8 on 10/22/2013 under the headline "Pumpkin spice maybe not so nice: Fall products invade stores"
Pumpkin spice flavored groceries sit on the shelves of Trader Joe’s in Butler Plaza on Monday. The store has embraced the season and is currently selling many pumpkin-flavored ingredients and food products.
Pumpkin spice flavored groceries sit on the shelves of Trader Joe’s in Butler Plaza on Monday. The store has embraced the season and is currently selling many pumpkin-flavored ingredients and food products.
