WESTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — There's pumpkins aplenty in western Massachusetts, as a summer dry spell was followed by rains that boosted the crop for local growers

Leo Aloisi, owner of Hanging Mountain Farm in Westhampton, tells The Republican (http://bit.ly/Rwspuz) that a generally dry early part of the season was followed by rains in August that allowed the pumpkins to grow.

And he said when more rain came in September, he'd already started picking, so it wasn't a problem.

A lot of rain can promote fungal diseases that thrive in standing water.

Ruth Hazzard a vegetable specialist at the University of Massachusetts Extension said, like Aloisi, a lot of growers were able to harvest early because of a long, warm growing season.

She said, overall, it's an excellent crop and there's no danger of shortages.