Thanks to a strong crop a University of Illinois Plant Pathologist says there should be plenty of pumpkins to go around for all your Thanksgiving baking.

Illinois is the leading pumpkin producer in the country, growing both jack-o-lanterns and processing pumpkins. U of I Pumpkin Expert Mohammad Babadoost says there were a few concerns earlier in the season about fruit rot, but that damage was minimal.

Illinois has about 15,000 acres dedicated to processing

Two years ago, heavy June rains wiped out a good portion of the Illinois pumpkin crop. Babadoost notes the near perfect conditions through harvest have helped produce healthy totals.

Pumpkins cover about 25,000 acres in Illinois. They produce 20-30 tons per acre.