Message Board - BigPumpkins.com

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

I´ve read the announcements of
revised Early Tomato Entry Rules and
an new Early Tomato Entree Website but
can find neither new rules nor new website.

All I´ve found is a new implemented excel chart thats look alike a sample for future entries.

3/19/2019 3:53:32 AM

Norfolk, UK

Hi Udo,

No not seen new guidelines but just the xls following your comments:

https://gpc1.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Tomato-Form.xlsx

Given some of the changes, the revised guideline must be in draft form. They’ll need them to go with the form, to reflect the new asks.

Not see those tho.

Good spot on the updated xls.

3/19/2019 3:33:52 PM

Jane & Phil

Ontario, Canada

I clicked on the tomato form file & scrolled down to line 260 in the file. What are those attached to the file? Looks like some kind of flags or something. I think they are links to something, but I was scared to click on it for feared it would cause problems. Can anyone explain this?

3/20/2019 8:26:43 AM

President - GPC

OK All, we have a new Early Tomato Weigh Off Form. We will no longer accept written paper entrees as they are too much work to try and interpret the handwriting. So you can save this form as is, and then delete the info adding in your own current info. As far as pics go, just do the insert pic from excel and insert the pic, size it down and move it to the appropriate spot. Worked well for me. Also, on tomatoes that are 6 lbs or more, we are wanting more pics than less pics. Remember you are trying to Prove your tomato is a NON DMG. And if its a state or WR, its very important on the pics. Since this is new, let us know any improvements that can be made. Enjoy and Grow a BIG ONE>
GPC

3/20/2019 12:22:47 PM

President - GPC

Yes you have to have excel to submit and its tied to our data bases as well, thats why.

3/20/2019 12:23:41 PM

bnot

Oak Grove, Mn

My macbook does not have excel. I now also have another computer that runs windows that does have it. If Excel is required, two years ago, I would not be able to enter a tomato.

3/20/2019 6:10:05 PM

Norfolk, UK

Hi Bob,

On your Mac, you may be able to import into Numbers and “export” back into Excel for return (https://www.macworld.com/article/3223727/software-productivity/how-to-open-microsoft-excel-spreadsheets-in-apple-numbers-on-a-mac.amp.html). May not be bullet proof tho.

Thanks,
Douglas

3/20/2019 6:36:37 PM

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

-Inserting pictures into an excel sheet is bad!
-There are different laws about certified scales in Europe,
that have to be mentioned!
- at least one picture with a measuring tape is a "MUST HAVE"!
- metric measurements must be mentioned in the rules!
- virtual tomato weigh off need to be public ( no more secrets)

- no more handwriting is good
- contact info instead of signature of the witnesses is good
- more pictures are good
- new interpretation of the stem cuttin rule is good

-converting the excel form for other programs would be helpful

3/21/2019 3:07:01 AM

mdab

Poland

Yes converting the excel form for other programs would be helpful - e.g. OpenOffice Calc.

I know OpenOffice Calc supports the excel format but some discrepancies may occur after saving from OpenOffice Calc to Excel.

Where can I find the new interpretation of the stem cutting rule?

3/21/2019 4:53:00 AM

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

There is a sample picture in the excel chart.

3/22/2019 11:34:37 AM

President - GPC

We will come out with specs for what pics we want, basically the same as before, but more pics the better. Our philosophy is all fruits are DMG until they meet the rule requirements, not the opposite... Inspection by two knowledgeable growers. Stem length cutting, we will allow .5 inches from top of fruit so one doesnt have to risk cutting into the fruit. However if it can be cut shorter without risk, is must be cut.

Please remember that Early Tomato weigh offs is a option to allow growers to weigh fruits early due to ripening. If the committee sees the Early Weigh Offs being abused and rules not followed, we may vote to change to eliminate it. Other growers must TIME their fruits to make the weigh offs.... So lets work together to make sure all bases are covered and legit. GROW BIG.

3/22/2019 12:46:51 PM

President - GPC

Also, why are pics in excel a bad idea. I did a test and once can resize, and drag to the windows allowed.

3/22/2019 12:48:18 PM

Wolfpack83

central Nc

Wizzy can you update the pdf concerning the rules? They still say one witness, but you are saying 2 knowledgeable witnesses? So if I want to weigh a 4# personal best do I need to call other competitive growers several counties away to come verify, or can I use 1 witness at the grocery store? I understand what you are saying for the most part, but that section confused me.

3/22/2019 1:23:44 PM

wile coyote

On a cliff in the desert

It almost sounds like you have to have a club event to get at least 2 of the knowledgeable growers in your club together so there will be 2 knowledgeable growers there for us lesser experienced growers for early tomato weigh off.

3/22/2019 1:41:18 PM

bnot

Oak Grove, Mn

I have chatted with Wizzy earlier on this. The reasons for the changes makes sense to me. I would think that the strict scrutiny with be with the higher weights and state and national records. If you grow a 3 pound personal best, the only one you are cheating is yourself if you try to bend the rules. If you are claiming a record or on the GPC list for tomato payout, everyone should feel good that it is a sound tomato. We can figure out what to do if someone does not have access to excel. Maybe send the pictures to someone that does. Going electronic should save much time. Can you imagine how many hours it takes to manually enter all the early tomatoes. Lets work with the changes and make tomato growing bigger.

3/22/2019 7:46:43 PM

mdab

Poland

We have to wait for the exact details - in the form there is only info that witnesses have to understand the GPC tomato rules. I think if two "knowledgeable growers" will be required it will be an out of reach for many growers. For example, in my case, the nearest tomato grower lives about 150 miles from me.

3/24/2019 11:37:43 AM

wixom grower ( The Polish Hammer)

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Sorry for the late reply.
We had our annual Crazy-Growers.de meeting at the weekend.

Inserting pictures into the excel chart seems bad to me, because you´ll have to downsize dramatically and almost all details get lost.
But it will be ok for a first overview, if there is a rule that the grower has to sent full size pictures, if required.

At least one picture with a measuring tape is a "MUST HAVE"!
to verify the size of the tomato.

3/26/2019 4:01:50 AM

Wixom MI.

I have never used excel so i need to look into it still. I agree with udo one picture should have a tape measure around it ! You can tell alot by seeing a tape measure around it. Also i may have a problem with getting a knowledgeable witness like someone from the pumpkin comunity ? For me the two closest growers are over an hour drive from me and each other and trying to get two of them to agree to witness a tomato may be very difficult. Maybe for a state record or a record tomato i can but not likely for a 5lb or 6lb tomato ? Need to clarify a suitable witness ?

3/26/2019 9:49:01 AM

President - GPC

All great ideas that will be discussed this Sunday at our GPC meeting. Def add of pic of tape around tomato. And we will define more for the rules and publish.
GROW BIG

3/26/2019 12:28:26 PM

Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

Concerning the existing rule: Any Tomato challenging the world record (to be eligible for GPC bonus money) must be
verified by a GPC rep, either in person or by his/her designate.
If your measuring and estimating leads to a state record or more than 6 lbs ( 2,722 kg ),
I would recommend to contact the GPC representative of your area and he could help to find witnesses or agree to candidates you´ve nominated.

3/27/2019 1:24:43 AM

Norfolk, UK

Yes, ‘knowledgeable’ witness is tricky. Not sure of GPC reps that are anywhere near me, or at least many hours drive. I had thought of Veg Judges who do shows here in UK as closer - but there’s a big difference in rules. A tear - even if not leaking as an example - is a dmg in their normal judging! They normally look for uniformity, perfect condition, no scars etc.

3/27/2019 4:31:56 PM