Whenever you see a pumpkin, it’s likely that jack-o’-lanterns and trick-or-treating come to mind. However, if you’re looking for a delicious and healthy vegetable that can easily be added to your diet, you should look twice at that pumpkin patch.

Filled with beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium, pumpkins contain substantial nutrients that fight cancer, boost immunity and regulate blood pressure.

Texas leads the nation as one of the highest pumpkin producers, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture. A little known fact is that pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites. Nowadays we can carve, roast the seeds or make a pie from them starting in late summer. The pumpkin season ends in November, so you better act quickly.

Select small pumpkins for cooking because they can be tastier. Pumpkins that are around after Halloween are too stringy to cook or eat, so you should toss them out. Keep the seeds though to cook. Select pumpkins which feel plump, not blemished, and still have their stems intact.

To find out where you can pick up this year’s pumpkin crop visit the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Picks Web site at www.agr.state.tx.us/picktexas/farm_market/austin.htm or visit your local farmer’s market.