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Southern Illinois

the other nite i found a pumpkin web site that had pumpkins for sale,300 to 500 lb were 50 cents a pound,500 to 1000 pounds were 1.00 dollar a pound,what i would like to find out is there a market for thes big pumpkins,do people really pay 1,000 dollars for a pumpkin,has any body ever wanted to pay that much for your pumpkin,i personally would not sale my pumpkin that i raised for that price,i would want to keep the seed,i guess there is no difference from a person wanting to sell a big pumpkin,are a person that would chase the weigh sites for money,is there people that do that,if there is how much money have they one in one season,i personally would like to have 10 seeds from the biggest pumpkin grown that year than 1,000 dollars ,if i would win at a weigh off,if you win at a weigh off and you accept the money would it be considerd a sport are a business,john and ken need to get a bp weigh off site where we can all go and weigh our pumpkin and win some good seed.

9/27/2002 8:33:19 AM

Deer Park, WI

The whole money for pumpkins thing gets to be a real hot issue. It actually bugs me when people rip each other apart for their views on growing for money. I make no secret of it that the lure of prizemoney has an impact on my growing. Of course my #1 reason for growing is the sport, commraderie, relaxation and personal satisfaction. But i aint gonna ignore the fact the these babies can be a profitable investment. Think about it this way, if you will. Last year I scored $750 for 2nd @ Nekoosa with my one and only remaining big pumpkin. Later in the day, a professional carver offereded me $400 ($0.50/lb) for the fruit. He told me it would be displayed at a hi-profile restaraunt in downtown chicago. It took about 0.001 seconds to make up my mind on this issue. I walk away with an extra $400 and thousands of people get to enjoy the beauty of a professionally carved 800lb pumpkin. No Contest! I spent a whole summer with that fruit, and was very attached to it. But all things come to an end, and what a happy ending it was. Had i brought it home with me, it would have sat in my yard, where the same two people that drive by each day would have saw it rot into a pile of mush. No thanks. cont........

9/27/2002 10:05:34 AM

Deer Park, WI

Before leaving, the carver took my name and address, with a promise to send me my seeds. The seeds showed up in my mailbox sometime in late November (albeit a litte moldy). He also promised to bring me a picture of the final product to next year's weighoff. I cant wait to see it! I grow pumpkins for profit. There's no shame in that. I also consider myself a capitalist, and if theres a way for me to make a buck or quite a few, im going after it. There's a real niche for giant pumpkin growers. We are few and far between in the real world. Its opportunity knocking! The added bonus is watching the excitement on the kids faces when they roll out of my driveway with a pumpkin big enuf for them to live in. I sell them dirt cheap, when compared to commercial field pumpkin growers. Many of your std. 15 lb carvers can gor for as much as $1/lb. Price gouging!! But having very little cost into the hobby (a few bucks for fert + pesticide) allows me to offer a 300lb fruit for $25. Its a smoking deal to the customer (many have commented on that) and all profit for me. Now you naysayers tell me this is a bad thing, a double-dare you!

9/27/2002 10:15:00 AM

South Hill, Virginia

I agree with Joze. There is nothing wrong with making good honest money. My wife would love it if I could find a way to make my hobby pay for itself:)

I'm really not that old but things have really changed in the last 20 years. We're supposed to feel guilty about everthing. You make money...you should be ashamed. Our country gets attacked....maybe we did something to provoke this? What a bunch of crap.

I'm more of a libertarian when it comes to the issue of prize money. If you don't want prize money fine, don't accept it. If you like the prize money then good for you, I hope you win some.

9/27/2002 10:34:41 AM

Indiana

My situation is a bit different than that the normal growers. If I dont sell my pumpkins, I cant grow, period. My contest decisions are made mainly based on if I think I can win enough to more than pay for the trip. I would only attend one contest with my largest of the year if it was not big enough to win enough money to pay for the trip. I grew pumpkins long before I found out of any contests besides the "Grabill Country Fair" .....they paid a wopping 3 bucks. I grow for me, not the next door neighbor, nor the contests. That is why 1097.5 is official to me whether or not anyone agrees. A few years ago, I was impressed with a 141 lber that I grew.....babble...babble....babble.....

This year was a good year, next year may be different.

Heavyhitter,
I was offered 5000 for my 1097.5.....boy I wish I could have taken them up on that one.....it would have paid for my whole year's tuition.

Tom Beachy

9/27/2002 11:44:57 AM

Long Island,New York

Giant pumpkins....just another crop.............G

9/27/2002 6:49:07 PM