Buds welcome pumpkin oil growers

Talk about it

Curious about pumpkin oil?

Ken Seguine and Jay Gilbertson, owners of the Hay River Pumpkin Seed Oil company, will be speaking at the Somerset Buds Garden Club meeting at Somerset Township Hall on Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

The oil has already won the 2010 Taste Test award from Cooking Light magazine and the company has sold out their 2009 vintage.

“They agreed to speak back in August and they have had so much publicity at the pumpkin seed oil since, I was afraid they would not be able to keep the date,” said Ruth Steiner, Buds Garden Club president.

At the Jan. 10 meeting, Seguine and Gilbertson will speak about starting their business, as well as answer questions about soil conditions, fertilizer and pests. Attendees will also receive some of the pumpkin seeds to take home.

Pumpkin seed oil is an alternative to fine olive oil — recommended for use in salad dressings, in soups and as a dip for bread. Its dark-red color and nutty flavor come from organically-grown green-and-orange-striped pumpkins specially bred for their “naked” seeds. It’s the seeds that are turned into the oil on their 80-acre farm outside Prairie Farm in northwestern Wisconsin.

The Somerset Buds Garden Club meets the second Monday of each month for lectures, tours and community beautification. Visitors are always welcome. For more information, call Steiner at 715-247-2686.

Tags: communities, somerset, gardening, wisconsin