Giant pumpkins battle for heavyweight glory and the world record in California

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) – Giant pumpkin growers and their massive gourds will converge on Monday in Northern California for an annual pumpkin-weighing contest, competing for the top prize and a chance to challenge the world record set just last week in England.

What happened

At least 30 growers of giant pumpkins have signed up for the 53rd World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, remarked event spokesman Ronan Fowler.

Among the participants is four-time champion Travis Gienger, a horticulture teacher from Minnesota, whose winning streak concluded last year after he was unable to participate as his pumpkin broke while it was still growing.

Gienger, who this year had to accord with temperatures that dipped below freezing, grew a pumpkin whose circumference is so sizeable it could be a world record contender, Fowler noted.

The bottom line

For now, giant pumpkins battle for heavyweight glory and the world record in California remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.