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Location

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Date Posted

Mission Viejo, CA

Hey I was looking at the Virtual Weigh-Off Rules and they show the stem has to be trimmed to 1".
Then I looked at the Tomato Rules and it appears to state that the stem has to be cut to 1/2".

Which is the correct length? Is it different for the VWO verses an on-site weigh off?

Thanks Gents!

8/6/2019 11:49:13 PM

President - GPC

Should be cut not to extend 1" over the tomato. We were concerned that with a deep or buried stem, growers may wound their fruit trying to cut it so close.

8/7/2019 10:18:11 AM

Lebanon, Oregon

The rules say from the GPC website: Stem must be cut within .5 inches of the specimen. I take that as if the tomato is growing around the stem and there is no safe way to cut it without damaging the tomato, you can cut it 0.5" above where it is safe, or above the tomato.
I just looked at the website. Where does the 1.0" come from? I mean it just came from the Pres. but where is this in writing?

8/7/2019 8:32:49 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Hey, I must of read an old form. It does say 1.0".

8/7/2019 8:36:37 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Two years ago during the winter grow, Wierd
Wint proved that stem length was nearly irrevelent. Common sense...trim it as close as you can without damaging the fruit. The most you will lose for weigh is .005 pounds. Less than the tolerance on most scales that you are going to be weighing on. Sound fruit has been damaged before by trying to trim to an impossible level when the flesh has grown over the stem. Be more concerned with what you are trimming with and the technique. If you use a knife, and it goes thru the stem and goes thru with some momentum into the fruit...damaged tomato. If I live long enough...one of my inventions might be commercialized...OmniBlade. Just use common sense...GPC has common sense. What is a safe level depends on the shape of the tomato. They can look at the pictures and know if you were trying to get that extra .005 pounds.

8/7/2019 8:50:21 PM

Netherlands

The correct length is now 1 inch to make it the same as other giant vegetables. In the past it was the only giant vegetable that had 1/2" so it got changed for this year.

8/8/2019 2:53:04 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

ok great, thank you all for clarifying

8/13/2019 4:20:36 PM