Grower Travis Gienger not only dunked on the competition Monday in Half Moon Bay with his pumpkin nicknamed “Michael Jordan,” he also set a world record and earned a big payout.
At the Safeway 50th annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off, all eyes were on the Gienger gourd from the start because the Minnesota grower and horticulture teacher had won last year’s contest with a 2,560-pounder that set a Half Moon Bay competition record.
His entry tipped, er, nearly toppled the scales at 2,749 pounds, which is 46 pounds heavier than the previous world champ, a 2,703-pound pumpkin grown in Italy.
Gienger received a $30,000 prize for besting the world record.
Gienger’s winner will be one of the star attractions at this weekend’s Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival, with an appearance in the noontime parade. (Joc Pederson of the San Francisco Giants is the parade grand marshal.) Later, attendees can have their photo taken with the gargantuan gourd. The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Here’s a guide to the all the food and fun.
After the festival, Gienger plans to carve the pumpkin in hopes of getting recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest ever in that category.
