Abby VanGinkel of Niagara, Wis., looks over the large selection of pumpkins at the Sleepy Hollow pumpkin farm at 6306 Chapman Road in Niagara. (Theresa Proudfit/Daily News photo)

Pumpkin seems to carry the signature fragrance, taste and color of autumn.

Whether a pumpkin spice connoisseur or just someone who enjoys displaying a jack-o-lantern, you can’t help but notice October is here and the pumpkins are everywhere.

Local grocery stores have an abundance, pumpkin farms are loaded and there appears to be a pumpkin stand every couple miles through town. Plenty of varieties are available to choose from as well, with area vendors offering pumpkins like Gladiators, the standard round orange type, or more unusual kinds like the French heirloom Cinderella and the white Lumina.

Extending the theme, local grocery stores, coffee shops, and bakeries have growing displays of pumpkin spiced lattes, pumpkin breads, soups, pies, pasta, baked seeds and even pumpkin-flavored beer.

“We are going crazy with pumpkin over here,” said Nathan Miles, bakery manager at Tadych’s Econofoods in Iron Mountain. “We have pumpkin-raisin-walnut cookies that seem to be selling really well. We have pumpkin bars, muffins and the pumpkin pies have been flying off the shelves.”

For those who like to cook or bake for themselves, it is good to know which pumpkins are preferred in terms of taste rather than appearance. Some experts say the best for baking pies are the New England Cheddar, Baby Pam, the already mentioned Cinderella and sugar pumpkins. For soup, the Porcelain Doll and Baby Bear are recommended, with the Baby Bear having the added bonus of being the right size to become a serving bowl.

But Joey Swanson of the Big Red Barn in Niagara, Wis., said most customers just want pumpkins to carve. For that, the best choices have a thinner shell and less flesh, strings and seeds, such as the Gladiator, Autumn Gold or Hobbit varieties.

Swanson said they plant seven varieties of pumpkins in May and begin harvesting in mid- to late September.

“Pretty much everything is picked now, and we keep them in a cooler,” he said, adding the unique “warty pumpkin” is his personal favorite.

While orange still is most common, these days pumpkins can be found in white, green, yellow, red, tan or even blue.

Abby VanGinkle of Niagara found her Cinderella pumpkin at the Sleepy Hollow pumpkin farm on Chapman Road, also in Niagara. VanGinkle passes by the farm daily, stopping to look at pumpkins and play with the kittens. The preschooler said she likes to

decorate her jack-o’-lantern with “paint and gold glitter.”

Want to get fancy with that jack-o-lantern? Thousands of internet sites are available with advice on carving or other decorations, from the classic scary cutouts to elaborate, mask-like faces and other designs.

It can become quite the seasonal craft, converting pumpkin to Halloween creation.

Deanna Michaud, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Norway schools, recently asked her students what they liked best about pumpkins.

“I like to carve them, so I can put them outside for Halloween,” Annika Gustafson said.

Riley Beeck answered, “Because you can carve faces on them and you can get them from the pumpkin farm.” Matthew Nowack likes pumpkin pie.

While some have complained the pumpkin craze has gotten a little out of hand, it will last a limited time before giving way to Christmas, only about 80 shopping days away.

Theresa Proudfit can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 45, or tproudfit@ironmountaindailynews.com.