Fortna, a 64‑year‑old teacher in Lancaster, planted the first Fortna White seed in 1950 after leaving the classroom to tend his own garden. His wartime service under General Patton had left him with PTSD, and he found solace in the soil, turning gardening into a daily ritual that steadied his nerves.
After Fortna died in 1990, his daughter Sue Ellen Majer contacted the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum to safeguard the remaining seeds. The museum’s Heirloom Seed Project, staffed by more than 50 volunteers, stored the variety and ensured its genetic integrity.
The Seed Savers Exchange received the Fortna White seeds from Landis Valley and evaluated the variety through its Collection‑to‑Catalog pipeline. The organization deemed the pumpkin worthy of wider cultivation, adding it as a featured "From the Collection" variety in its 2024 catalogue.
Gardens across Pennsylvania now grow the Fortna White, prized for its mild flavor and ideal texture for Thanksgiving pies. The heirloom’s popularity has spurred a new generation of growers to weigh in on its cultivation.
Seed Savers Exchange will host a virtual workshop in October to teach growers how to cultivate the Fortna White pumpkin, ensuring the legacy continues beyond its original family roots.