Lee, I don't know where you get your pies, but I believe there is a difference in the taste. Pumpkin has a pumpkin type flavor with different spices than the sweet potato. Just my opinion. The produce man at a stand near here has a farm. He told me that the light colored pumpkins(more of a beige color) are the pie pumpkins. Down here he calls them creole pumpkins. Reminded me of a giant squash. Pat