WINKLER, MB
The Brandts of Winkler gathered at the Bethel Heritage Park this weekend to share the very last watermelon and Papsi of the season before they consume nothing but pumpkins for the next eight months.
“Or maybe even ten months, depending when our delivery from Mexico arrives,” said Peter Brandt. “You know I’m going to enjoy this watermelon while I can.”
Mrs. Anita Brandt, on the other hand, is relieved to be moving on to pumpkin.
“Making all that roll kuchen was a real chore,” said Anita Brandt. “Besides, it just wasn’t the same without the Roger’s Golden Syrup this year.”
Anita is already poring through her cookbooks to procure the best pumpkin recipes for the next eight to ten months.
“Peter would have me making pumpkin pie every single weekend,” said Anita, “but call me a rebel, I prefer a little variety.”
Pumpkin season typically follows watermelon season, although more adventurous Mennonites sometimes supplement it with rhubarb season or maybe even chokecherry season.