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President - GPC

It is with great pleasure the GPC Executive Committee announces the continuing event with the New York Botanical Gardens (NYBG). For the past several years we have had great success working with the NYBG to bring the 3 biggest pumpkins/squash and their growers to New York City for an expense paid trip with the top fruits on display at the New York Botanical’s Haunted Garden in New York City.
This event has evolved through the selfless efforts of prior GPC Champions & GPC Committee members. The fact that all growers & sites have worked as a united team makes us an invincible force pushing our beloved sport/hobby into the main stream. Without your loyalty, selfless hard work, & vision for the future this would have never been possible & the GPC, would like to Thank You!

9/6/2018 11:42:19 AM

President - GPC

Description of Event:
•    Top 3 Fruits, be it Pumpkins or Squash in the GPC during the specified time will be eligible to make the trip to the NYBG. This event is open to all GPC sites & growers World-Wide.
•    2 people for each fruit will get transportation for them & their fruit from their residence to the NYBG & back home (sorry fruit stays). If it is a Team Grow, only two people will be considered for the opportunity of the expense paid weekend.
•    Allowable expenses will include mileage (if driving), airfare, meals, tolls, scheduled tours and accommodations. All expenses need to be submitted to GPC for reimbursement consideration. Alcohol tabs, Room service, and or other extraneous expenses will be subject to approval by the GPC and may not be reimbursed.
Prizes:
•    4 nights hotel stay in New York City at the Grand Central Hyatt - covered
•    All meals for duration of trip - covered
•    All transportation in NYC - covered
•    All site seeing in NYC with the group- covered
•    Media exposure for your fruit - covered
•    All your seeds professionally extracted, dried, & mailed home to you - covered

9/6/2018 11:43:00 AM

President - GPC

Recognition:
1. The GPC will have branding (logo or text mention, depending on space) on the following:
•    4x9 event cards (10,000+)
•    Daily Handouts distributed to Garden guests (15,000+)
•    Fall Calendar of Events (100,000+)
•    Signage at NYBG (250,000+)
•    Email blasts about the event up to five (500,000+)
•    Inclusion in social media posts on Facebook and Twitter

9/6/2018 11:43:24 AM

President - GPC

Disclaimer:
•    Fruits must arrive at the NYBG by no later than 5pm EST on the Arrival date listed below.
•    If a site will not release a qualifying entry in time to make this deadline we ask that you notify the GPC & your participating growers by the end of the GPC registration period, so they will have ample notice.
•    The GPC will still have sanctioned weigh-offs past the Load-in date, listed below, but any fruit that would have qualified will not be eligible for the trip for this event.
•    The GPC will make every effort to get the biggest 3 fruits to the event, if the 3rd &/or 2nd place fruits will push the cost over the budget in this agreement we reserve the right to bring in other top fruits within travel consideration, Winners fruit must still be available if within the budget.
•    If the largest fruit does not attend the NYBG event the grower will not be eligible for the trip to the NYBG event.
•    To decide, we ask that any fruit that would make the top 3 on the last weekend prior to the event contact the GPC by no later than 6pm EST on the Load-in dates listed below. If we do not have enough lead time it is very possible qualifying fruit(s) and growers could be left out of this opportunity.
•    We respect the grower’s rights to anonymity but at the same time please understand it is very hard to plan in such short notice.

9/6/2018 11:43:57 AM

President - GPC

     2018      2019      2020
Load-in Date    10/09/2018    10/15/2019    10/13/2020
Arrv Date 5PM 10/17/2018    10/23/2019    10/21/2020
GrowerWknd 10/18>21/2018 10/24>27/2018 10/22>25/2018

9/6/2018 11:45:59 AM

President - GPC

Details on the GPC Website. Good Luck to All.

9/6/2018 11:46:40 AM

Team Munson

So the "load in date" is the cut off for official pumpkins to be eligible for this event giving the GPC time to make arrangements. If a grower has a pumpkin that they feel will be in the top 3 & want to be part of this event what will they need to do that will satisfy the requirements of eligibility?

9/6/2018 2:44:18 PM

President - GPC

To decide, we ask that any fruit that could make the top 3 and make the load time, be pre-weighed ahead of the date (inline scale) and GPC contact made if its weight worthy. If the grower takes it to a weigh off and the fruit can still make it to NYBG for the load in date, it will be considered for the trip. If the fruit cant make it in time then, it is very possible qualifying fruit(s) and growers could be left out of this opportunity.

9/6/2018 6:08:17 PM

Rudolph

Load in date is way to soon this year, if that's the date we need to have the fruit weighed and ready for shipment I don't think I'll be eligible if I had a nice fruit that makes it.

9/6/2018 6:10:27 PM

Rudolph

I know those are the dates they gave you guys but she's going to be rushed this year

9/6/2018 6:12:29 PM

President - GPC

Agree Josiah, NYBG bases their Haunted Garden Event upon the Columbus Day Holiday. I tried to alter it but was turned down. Same with the fruit they want, Im trying for Watermelon this year too since it looks like we have a few good ones contending. Still awaiting the answer. Will see.

9/6/2018 7:37:57 PM

South Bloomfield, Ohio

Bummer. If I were still growing, my weigh-off would take precedence over the NYBG.

9/6/2018 7:49:12 PM