Seasonal Smackdown: Pumpkin Palooza

Calling all home cooks and pumpkin, gourd, and winter squash lovers!

Join us for the coziest addition to our three-years-running smackdown series: Pumpkin Palooza—a harvest-happy community gathering celebrating peak-season cucurbits and the good food that grows from good agriculture. Home cooks will bring their best dishes—made with locally sourced pumpkins, gourds, or winter squash—to compete for the highly coveted title of AOOA 2026 Gourd Guru.

Fresh-roasted, farm-grown pumpkins and squash only—no canned puree, no tin-can trickery, no shortcuts. If it didn’t grow on a vine nearby, it’s out of line!

This event is all about coming together to celebrate what we grow locally and the joy of participating in and supporting good food and good agriculture!

If competing isn’t your thing, come join us as a taster! Sample a rich lineup of pumpkin-forward dishes, cast your vote, and help crown the People’s Choice Gourd Guru. Along the way, enjoy fun raffles featuring goodies from our competitors and occasional surprises from our illustrious celebrity chefs.

At the end of the event, two winners will be crowned, one selected by our Celebrity Judges and one chosen by People’s Choice. Let’s give ‘em pumpkin to talk about!

Each winner will receive a trophy and a thoughtfully curated basket of farmstand and culinary treats, including: AOOA in-house distilled liquor, seasonal vegetables, AOOA merch, D’Artagnan charcuterie!

Contestant Registration is open through October 11.

WHY WE SMACKDOWN: All revenue will go towards our Fresh Food for All program, which combats food insecurity by supplying nutritious, organic produce to local Orange County food pantries and feeding our neighbors in need. AOOA donates fresh organic produce during our growing season (March to November) and pastured eggs over the winter.