Danny Vester and Commissioner Steve Troxler
Danny Vester of Spring Hope grows them big. The Nash County native is the only North Carolinian to grow three pumpkins over 1,200 pounds each, breaking the state record twice. This week at the State Farmers Market in Raleigh, Vester broke a world record previously set more than a decade ago at the Alaska State Fair. His cantaloupe weighed 65.9 pounds, besting the next biggest on record of 64.8 pounds.
“I always like to see North Carolina at the top of everything we do,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “There’s a lot of science that goes into growing large produce like this, Danny has experimented and put in a a lot of research to grow these fruits and vegetables. Thank you Danny for bringing this record back to North Carolina.”
Commissioner Troxler witnessing the official weight for the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth
The Great Pumpkin Commonwealth is the official group that holds the giant fruit and vegetable weigh-offs. The group establishes standards and regulations that ensure quality of fruit, fairness of competition, recognition of achievement, fellowship and education for all participating growers. The official weight of the cantaloupe was certified by them.
The Commonwealth also holds a Great Pumpkin/Watermelon Weigh-off Competition during the N.C. State Fair in Raleigh. This year’s competition will be held in the grandstand on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 4 p.m. Last year’s competition set state records for largest watermelon at 316 pounds, and largest pumpkin at 1,485.5 pounds. This year’s competition pays a $2,500 bonus to anyone who can break the world record for watermelon.
Danny Vester with son Ethan (left), daughter Megan Brown and sister Sandra Bryant (far right).
North Carolina Giant Vegetable Growers with Commissioner Steve Troxler