From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Central Illinois

I saw this question on FB, Per the rules, can I use the flesh of a cull to polish?

9/20/2018 6:55:09 AM

Grittyville, WA

It sounds like the gpc wants to move towards the 'show em as grown' philosophy. But yes they are going to have to define what fits with that vs what is excessive.

9/20/2018 10:37:30 AM

New England

just curious... why?

a Moist towel will clean the skin and remove any debris on it showing the skin in its natural beauty. Why has the trend become using other substances to polish them to a sheen?

9/20/2018 11:16:27 AM

Grittyville, WA

I think as growers we should be in favor of the gpc's less-is-more stance. Here's why: If you go to the weigh off and everyone has followed the same rules and someone else has a prettier pumpkin then you can ask for those seeds or learn what the lineage is... And then next year yours could be that pretty too... without any secret elbow grease. Its not like the rules are stopping you from winning. But they are pushing you towards using the seeds that will look the best naturally as-grown. I dont see a problem with that it just puts pressure to find the right seed. I would think a cull and a rag would be about the same.

9/20/2018 1:58:05 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

The rules just state: "3) No foreign material (i.e.: fungicides, caulking, skin additives et cetera) will be permitted in the weighing of any fruit. "

So washing the pumpkin is allowed, as water is used to remove other substances and will evaporate. It will be gone from the skin. I think that this rule was put in place for safety, to protect the judges and weigh crew from chemicals or slick substances that could cause a pumpkin to slip and fall while being moved. I have heard of people using olive oil, Armor All, car wax and other stuff that would make then very slippery. It also prevents someone from hiding rot or other damage.

There is nothing in the official rules to prohibit polishing with a soft cloth. At least in the rules that are published on the GPC web site. Doing that actually removes and dust, dirt, bug spit, bird poop or other foreign material. If it makes it look shiny, so what? The Howard Dill Award is supposed be for the best looking pumpkin, and shiny looks nice.

If the GPC want's to eliminate polishing pumpkins, that is fine, if they do it before the weigh-off season starts and publish the rules ahead of time. Until they do, they should go by what has been published. Weigh-off season has already started, so they should be going by the published rules. No changing rules in the middle of the game. So if all that was used was water and it evaporated, I see no problem, according to the rules.

9/20/2018 2:52:19 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

The rules end with this statement: "Every provision of these amendments to the GPC Rules shall take effect March 1, 2018. The provisions of the GPC Rules shall be enforced throughout the family of GPC sanctioned sites. The GPC Executive Committee reserves the right of judicial authority to govern all sanctioned GPC sites according to these rules."

This is the up-to-date rule. Nothing prohibits washing a pumpkin or polishing it with a dry cloth.

9/20/2018 2:56:51 PM

Springfield, VT

I think the polishing issue is it makes the pumpkins slippery when oils or waxes are used and hard to handle at the weighoff. Buffing the pumpkin is not an issue

9/20/2018 3:04:16 PM

Grittyville, WA

I dont get the issue I am out there with a rag in one hand and a piece of culled pumpkin in the other to see if I could understand the issue. And I dont get it. By the time the bug poop is off what else am I doing other than working hard and feeling foolish. I cant get any improvement on mine and they look fine to me with no effort. That's my last comment on this topic maybe its an important topic but I really dont understand the issue.

9/20/2018 3:27:11 PM

Mission Viejo, CA

I just use a microfiber towel. once or twice a week over the last few weeks before harvest and it shone like the sun!

9/25/2018 10:26:42 AM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

This debate started years ago, and should be clear now with the GPC directives.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=550474

I used a couple drops of vegetable oil in water and was told “I would DQ you in a heartbeat at our Weighoff” yet he was the guy using Tea Tree Oil Soap in his cleaning solution figuring that it was OK...double standard.

9/25/2018 11:56:01 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Wash your pumpkin Wednesdays and wipe them clean with the microfiber cloth. Polish them up like my boon dockers in basic training.

9/25/2018 1:01:25 PM

JACKSON, WISCONSIN. ; )

My aunts uses the sheets she covers them with to buff the skin... lightly for a week does a nice job... no juice needed... no nothing... just old fashioned elbow grease.....

9/25/2018 9:01:45 PM

Bonney Lake WA USA

Why can but a bleach solution on my pumpkin but I used coconut oil which is a natural antifugal and a great way to get the orange to show in my patch and it is cheating.
Don’t we want them as pretty as they can be? There are new rules being discussed by GPC for there is no clear method and standard. I hope they make it more consistent and fair.

1/24/2019 10:56:16 PM

NILES , CALIF

If possible they should have an orange grower judge, at the sights; it makes for a more knowlegable judge for the orange grower

1/25/2019 4:57:11 AM