4/8/2011
If you’re a person who has a proverbial “green thumb,” then the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) wants you to get busy this summer and grow a state-record fruit or vegetable.
“Working in the garden is good for your health, and eating what you grow in the garden is even better,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “With today’s food safety concerns, there has been an upturn of home gardening and if you set a record, we want to record and share it.”
WVDA has kept records of the largest fruits and vegetables since 1996, and sees new records set nearly every year.
“This program is a lot of fun for the participants, and the public gets excited when they see some of the gigantic produce grown every summer,” said WVDA Marketing and Development Director Jean Smith. “We’ve seen how popular the giant pumpkin contest is at the West Virginia Pumpkin Festival. I’m sure this program will also be interesting to farmers and non-farmers alike.”
Of course, results won’t be known until later this year, but aspiring gardeners need to get started now if they want to claim a record this fall.
The contest is open to any fruit or vegetable grown in West Virginia during 2011. Entrants should send photos of their prize plants to Connie Tolley, WVDA Marketing and Development Division, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, WV 25305,
ctolley@ag.state.wv.us. A visit by a WVDA representative will be necessary to verify the size of the produce.
Current record holders:
Potato – 3.16 lbs. – Gwen Wilson, 2000
Tomato – 3.65 lbs. – Glen Knox, 2010
Sweet potato – 10.98 lbs. – Terry and Connie Dillion, 2010
Watermelon – 142.5 lbs. – Walter Jones, 2005
Basil leaf – 18 sq. in. – Susan Sauter, 1996
Sunflower – 12 ft.-11 in. – Barry Miller, 2009
Zucchini – 10 lbs. – Johnna Grapes, 1996
Pumpkin – 1,157 lbs. – Scott Wotring, 2006
Apple – 1 lb., 8.5 oz. – George S. Orr and Sons, 2002
Rutabaga – 9 lbs., 6 oz. – Shawn and Christy Bittinger, 1998
Turnip – 9.26 lbs. – Donald G. Thompson, 2001
Radish – 4 lbs., 2 oz. – Bill Whitt, 1998
Mushroom – 9.83 lbs. – Phillip D. Smith, 1999
Elephant Garlic – 1.25 lbs. – Shawn and Christy Bittinger, 1999
Cantaloupe –15.23 lbs. – Phyllis O’Neill Smith, 2007
Cushaw – 57 lbs. – Gail Cline, 2008
Ear of Corn – 12 ft.-1/8 in. – Nathan Sharp, 2009
Stalk of Corn – 13 ft.-2 in. – Nathan Sharp, 2009
Cucumber - 41 inches – Howard Hager and Ann Buffington, 2010
Contact Information
Buddy Davidson, Communications Officer
304-558-3708; 304-541-5932 (cell)
bdavidson@ag.state.wv.us