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Netherlands

I guess squash are a lot easier to grow than pumpkins. At least that is what I gather from the prize money at most US weighoffs.

Here is a list of prize money for pumpkins (1st amount) and squash (2nd amount) at a number of US weighoffs.

Altoona: $1000 - $100
Canfield: $2500 - $200
Cooperstown: $2000 - $250
Elkin: $600 - $50
Frerichs: $3000 - $200
Nekoosa: $2000 - $300
Topsfield: $3500 - $300

Several of these sites offer less than 10% of the prize money to squash. At some of the sites, the 10th place pumpkin brings home more than the 1st place squash. In some cases this means a 400 lb pumpkin is always better than a 1000 lb squash.

I would advise any serious US squash grower to jump the border to Canada where they generally offer a better ratio. Port Elgin offers $2000 for a first place squash.

I'm still trying to figure out if the prize money in Canada is higher because they are better squash growers or if they grow more squash because the prize money makes it worthwhile to do so.

9/10/2007 3:47:36 AM

Waquoit Mass

because its a squash lol

9/10/2007 9:19:22 AM

Waquoit Mass

you know the rodney dangerfield theroy no respect

9/10/2007 9:20:05 AM

Somers, CT

It appears the public has a love affair for orange.

9/10/2007 10:37:08 AM

Ohio

because they're all squash

9/10/2007 10:55:40 AM

[email protected]

Its the color.

The Connecticut Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers has always been proud to offer $500 for the first place Squash entry every year. But I'm still rather embarrassed that the Squash prize is one HALF the orange Pumpkin prize.

9/10/2007 11:18:37 AM

Jericho Vermont

Brad,
I think it is the old chicken or the egg theory. Do higher paying sites have more greenie growers or are there more green growers because of better prize monies. I know in Vermont there are only 3-4 green growers and they usually only grow one plant green and multiple plants orange. My opinion (being an orange lover) is that the prize monies for orange is typically larger because the amount of growers that choose to grow and show orange over green. But that being said I believe green growers deserve there credit too.
John

9/10/2007 12:16:30 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

At Anamosa, color doesn't matter. All pumpkins and squash compete in one division. I believe that last year's 5th place was the beautiful greenie that the Carlson-Petersen team entered.

9/10/2007 1:30:12 PM

Alaska

Money Motivates!! If Bigger money is offered you will have more grown and entered for the CASH. Later Spudley.

9/10/2007 1:55:13 PM

Rhode Island

usually theres more money because its called a something or other giant pumpkin weigh off. green squash will never come close to the competition or interest of pumpkins.
its like comparing an apple to a lemon
sorry thats just the way it is
pap

9/10/2007 3:43:45 PM

Waquoit Mass

in the old days if you had a greenie you ripped it out in disapointment

9/10/2007 4:18:12 PM

Utah

I like orange... and I think most people do too... the public and the growers alike. Pumpkins are "cooler" than squash that's why most everyone uses them so much more than squash for Halloween.

with that said, the UGPG weigh-off is everything in one division also- heaviest wins period... regardless of pumpkin- squash-everything inbetween... like Anamosa.

At our 2005 UGPG weigh off a tweener-"squash" took 2nd place. and in 2006 one took 4th.

I think if re-examained all the weigh-offs that have taken place and switched them to a heaviest win no matter what that the first place squash would be getting less than it does now because it would be lumped in with all the pumpkins and pushed down the prize money ladder. Many weigh-offs put most of their money in the first 3 places... and at most weigh offs the first 3 heaviest are pumpkins.
So one could take the other side of the aurgument and say that since squash get their own division at most weigh offs, squash are actually getting more money and respect than they deserve. So I guess squash growers really do have it easier, right?

Brad, I hope yours contiune to hold on and do well for you and you get the record. It's a nice squash...
Gordon

9/10/2007 4:31:39 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

who cares about sqaush......lol

9/10/2007 5:17:30 PM

Dallas, Oregon

$500 at Canby, we love greenies and so does my dog. lol

9/10/2007 7:34:52 PM

[email protected]

Personally I thing that green looks better carved than orange. It's a hauntingly cool look when the skin a dark grass green & it's carved the right way. Tragically, I do NOT possess much carving talent. LOL

Since this is a matter of personal taste I'll admit to a blaze orange first, grass green second & the middle ground is what it is; only exciting if it's crazy heavy which is most often the case.

9/10/2007 11:37:53 PM

Austria

Greenies got al least the attention here at the weigh offs I have seen that pumpkins do. Reason is they somehow look "cool" and there aren`t as many. Most sites here will not care if the fruit is green, grey or orange, which I personnally think is the best way to handle it. I take up the cudgels for squash.

9/11/2007 3:59:45 AM

Team Munson

GPC prize money for the giants goes like this, every fruit goes into 1 category the heaviest fruit wins regaurdless of color. If that fruit was 100% green they would also get the $500 for biggest true green squash. If it was a world record they would get that $500 as well, in all if a grower of a 100% true green squash had the biggest fruit in the GPC and was a world record (for true green squash) they would win $2,000. If sites would follow this example and a grower had a true green squash that finished in third place at weigh-off they would get the money for the overall third place plus if they would also win the first place money for true green squash. So if this happened at Nekoosa the grower would win $500 for third overall and $300 for 1st place squash. This is just an example and no site is bound by this payment schedule it is a suggestion to award growers who preserve true lines of color be it 100% green or 100% orange.

9/11/2007 8:59:12 AM

Netherlands

In Europe there tends to be less difference between pumpkins and squash. The European championship, held in Germany, will award the biggest fruit first place, regardless of colour.

For several years squash have been among the biggest fruit at European weigh offs. These include the 793 Olsen in 2005, 990 Hume and the 1040 Van Rompaey in 2006. Rumour has it that there is a 1200 lb squash in Europe at the moment. If that is true, that would be the biggest fruit ever grown here and officially weighed.

So, apparantly customs have everything to do with a preference for orange or green. Europe does not have the traditional fall/halloween orange pumpkin background North America does.

9/11/2007 10:29:47 AM

Minnesota([email protected])

Good point Brad...on you last paragraph.

9/11/2007 12:21:46 PM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

The amount for Altoona is incorrect. It was changed to $200 last year but we still only got 1 entry.

9/11/2007 3:19:04 PM

Arroyo Grande, CA,USA

most really big pumpkins really don't have that much orange in them. And all pumpkins come from where???? GREEN ......what

9/12/2007 9:24:13 PM

huntsburg,ohio

ohio valley pays 2500 for largest fruit no matter what color if it would be green you would get 200 extra.Jerry

9/12/2007 10:57:41 PM