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Walton N.y.

as many of you know we're trying to form a new site in cooperstown n.y. and we have several options of the exact location but what i would really like is an opinion from the growers that will more than likely come to this site think about what some of you have sent me as requests that will make this a great show #1 a scale callibrated and certified to 1/10th of a lb #2 a covered area over and around the scales big enough to allow photos to be taken while the fruit is on the scale #3 the dreaded color rule if a pumpkin is 75%pumpkin colored as specified by aproved colors gpc they're a pumpkin everything else is a squash #4 prize money $1000 for 1st pumpkin down to $50 for 10th place squash $250 for 1st down to $50 for 3rd other giant veggies $100 for 1st $50 for 2nd classes to be added or removed with participation #5 a pumpkin regatta or pumpkin boat races #6 a show mc to announce entry #1 growers name growers town and a few words from grower also to present awards #7 a grouping of the top 3 entries of each class for photos #8 would you be willing to pay $25-30 to enter any or all classes and get a site tshirt or hat please contact either me or andy wolf with comments farm@eznet.net or sundstrom@pronetisp.net

11/2/2003 10:42:48 AM

Long Island,New York

I fail to see how your color rule is any better than Oswego Randy. Starting from the ground up you should listen to the people...25% greenish in October should NOT be a squash....reclassify the squmpkins for GPC standings when the results get called in...now's your chance to start off right !!!

11/2/2003 1:07:27 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I strongly agree that a pumpkin should be 75% or more orange and 25% green or less. I feel that if a pumpkin is anything over 25% green it's a squash. I have heard different growers at Oswego complain about pumpkins being classified pumpkins when growers at the Oswego weigh-off felt they where a squash. I've been to Oswego once before I started growing pumpkins and I didn't like how pumpkins where classified. This is why I travel 375 miles to Altoona, Pa. At Altoona, there very, very good at what is a pumpkin and what is a squash.
Also at Altoona, Pa. The top Ten growers win money. But what I like best of all is, the top ten pumpkin growers also get a plaque. The size of the plaques go down in size as to the weight of the pumpkins as well. I'm proud of the two plaques hanging on my wall. About two months after the weigh-off, Marv Hicks sends a name plate with the weight and your name to attach to the plaque you win. I like this.

11/2/2003 1:53:47 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I disagree with a $ 25-30 entering fee. At Altoons, Pa. they charge nothing to enter. They sell hats and T-shirts and sweatshirts as well. We could call the Cooperstown weigh-off New York State Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, or Central New York Giant Pumpkin Growers Association. We could have a $15.00 or $ 20.00 per year memebership. You would get a quarterly news letter, seeds in March from all the growers who offer them to the club like the same thing PGPGA does

11/2/2003 2:01:43 PM

Long Island,New York

Hey Brat...what you say doesn't exactly make sense...Altoona classifies thier fruit properly>>>if its 100% green/blue its a squash. If its a changer its a pumpkin. A squash is very obvious. A squmpkin is a pumpkin. They would reclassify for a shot at GPC monies and standings...........

11/2/2003 3:31:28 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

LIpumpkin, All i'm saying is that if you have a pumpkin that is 30 percent blue and green, bluish or grenish or more it should be classifed as a squash and not to run against other pumpkins

11/2/2003 6:37:27 PM

Western NY

oh boy. first off, a few important points:

NOTHING is set in stone. we are still kicking around ideas. which is why we need the input of those who may possibly attend. I started the mass emailing a few days ago to get feedback from people about something that is likely to go from the drawing board to reality really soon. I have received several responses so far, all positive, and nobody has let me know how they feel on the color issue. we need to do this in a democratic fashion. like i said before, by the growers, for the growers. everyone's opinion is valid if they will be involved, but we will go with what the majority of people want.

would you consider going to cooperstown? if so, we want to know what you think.

if not, there is the seconday matter of forming a new york state grower's organization. we need constructive input, folks.

more to come later.

Andy

11/2/2003 6:59:33 PM

A PUMPKIN that is 30% blue and green, bluish or greenish should NOT be classified as a squash. Trying to "purify" the pumpkin category is all fine and well, but lets not do that by ruining another category (squash).

GPC or whoever else has the right to make up rules the way they want. We as growers know these rules and decide to take our pumpkins where we wish. I have no issues with the 75% rule ... my issue lies with what the judges do to the squash category. If you have a 75% rule, disqualify a pumpkin not meeting that standard, but don't ruin another category in doing so.

11/2/2003 7:05:40 PM

Walton N.y.

as andy said,we've been contacting growers and asking for their imput my list of demands were the results of people that gave me a responce to any of my questions about what would make a good site and that's the list i came up with but nothing is set in stone as of yet but andy and i do need a fairly rigid list of what we want to present to the chamber of commerce to show them that we do indeed have a plan and this is what we want as for the entry fee that can be redone and as far as the color thing the growers i asked didn't really care as long as everyone was judged the same

11/3/2003 6:54:40 AM

Oz

what is a white/orange/green fruit?
it started white then 33%(est)went green,and 33% went orange.

11/3/2003 8:42:52 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

I agree with Pumpkin Brat as to if you are a member paying a yearly fee (that I would pay in a heartbeat), enter fee should be waivered, as far as Cooperstown, I think that It a decent spot.
New York State Giant Pumpkin Growers Association would be a real great name too!

7/29/2004 4:08:57 PM