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NE Arkansas

I'm asking the GPC to consider adding cantaloupe to the list of GPC fruit. I have met resistance in even having it considered. With the email response I received, saying they need to see more lopes at weigh offs to consider it. Well frankly I have never seen a marrow at a weigh off so that answer doesn't sit right. I feel like the GPC continues to add cooler weather fruit. Over the years I see many clubs selling lope seeds but until this year I have never seen a marrow seed in a auction. I think the GPC needs to add some warm weather fruit.

1/20/2019 3:17:07 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Sounds good to me. I bought some lopes to grow at the GWG silent auction. I was planning on growing them regardless if a GPC fruit.

Maybe some small container vegs should be added for growers wanting to compete but don't have the room to grow.

1/20/2019 3:32:43 PM

Colorado

Marrows are a good idea because they have a lot of European followers which helps with intersest in gpc contests-at least that's my guess. Cantaloupe is a great fruit and I assume the gpc will welcome it aboard soon just not two in a season.

1/20/2019 4:34:54 PM

Grittyville, WA

The way I see it the gwg should perhaps pool together some prize money and the ribbons and run it as a national competition that can be entered from anywhere that has a certified scale (perhaps with the help of a sponsor). The gpc should let entries be made at their weigh offs it doesnt take much work to weigh a cantelope and if the scale is already there its not a big expense... Is it? The bushel gourds helped balance things out but I agree the marrow thing will tip the bulk of the categories back to the northern frontier states. Cantelopes would even that out.

1/20/2019 4:45:05 PM

Savage, MN

I would like lopes to be a gpc fruit. It would be comparable to marrows like you said. I will be growing them this year and taking to a weighoff.

1/20/2019 4:53:03 PM

Grittyville, WA

Cantelopes in 2020 sounds fair & fun.

1/20/2019 4:53:04 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Anamosa used to have a cantaloupe category, but they dropped it a few years due to lack of interest.

1/20/2019 6:09:56 PM

Georgia

What a timely post, as I just bought cantaloupe seeds at the Southern Iowa auction last night. I am behind you one hundred percent Jeremy. Most Americans have never heard of a marrow and certainly do not eat them. When I was reading that cantaloupes like soil temps over 70 and can withstand 90 degree heat, I was like I am all in.

1/20/2019 6:58:51 PM

Whitehall

Add the lopes. I'm trying some this summer.

1/20/2019 7:32:48 PM

NE Arkansas

Republic, Mo still has a lope division. I just think since you can grow a lope in 50-100 sq ft... Small areas give more people the opportunity to grow it. Just my thoughts. Plus you can eat them when you are done. Don't get me wrong I also like the idea of container veggies too like onions, heavy peppers, or heavy cucumbers

1/20/2019 8:12:09 PM

Grittyville, WA

Are they ok for eating? I thought maybe the large ones were not so great... Marrows are food too. . . It's all good. Cantaloupes certainly would be the smallest of the "big" fruit, but the are big.

1/20/2019 9:23:09 PM

Muddy Waters

YES Long live the LOPE It is now a contest to stay for good at WWGG

1/20/2019 9:30:26 PM

Muddy Waters

Cantaloupe contest
Danny Vester 65.9 lb World RECORD! $300 & WR plaque
Nick Mccaslin 59 lb $50
Jeremy Lindley 49.3 $25
Harry Howard Hurley 28.6 lbs

1/20/2019 9:31:39 PM

NE Arkansas

Yes they are actually really good. We used my 46.65 and 49.37 at a big get together this summer. Just let them sit a few days after they turn yellow to finish rippening up

1/20/2019 9:44:02 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Around here the cantaloupes have all been eaten by October. There would have to be something as is done for tomatoes for our area to be able to weigh one. I have no problem personally weighing cantaloupes. Why would the GPC not want to do it. Are cucumbers part of the GPC yet? How about giant potatoes? Carrots and onions too?

1/20/2019 10:37:26 PM

Grittyville, WA

I did grow one last year to a big store bought size but it rotted before I could eat it or weigh it.

1/20/2019 11:25:14 PM

Morgantown, WV

Yes, they are delicious. I'll keep growing them whether I have a category at the weigh off or not.

In the past, I have gone to weigh offs that allowed early grown tomatoes to place for prize money. Though they were officially weighed on a calibrated scale, many thought that it should be physically AT the weigh off to count for prizes, otherwise it should be entered simply as an early tomato, and that is now how it is done.

I see a similar issue with cantaloupes. While I agree, they do give hot weather and limited space gardeners a new category to shoot for, there will be an issue with having late season fruit at most weigh offs.

How do you propose a weigh off category that at most weigh offs will have no physical entries, considering that the bulk of them are northern climate and/or late season?

1/21/2019 8:50:03 AM

NE Arkansas

Dustin you could run them just like the GPC does with tomatoes. Early on certified scales with a video and a first place ribbon at the weigh offs.

1/21/2019 7:57:30 PM

Spring Hope, N.C. - USA

i like the thought of lopes also .It would give alot of people something to compete with.

1/22/2019 9:52:52 PM

NE Arkansas

Glad to see the World Record holder chimming in asking for competition. Great job last year Danny! Hope you have a great 2019!

1/23/2019 3:49:24 AM

On a cliff in the desert

Do butcher shops, delis, and grocery store scales go up to 60+ pounds? I was thinking about this if cantaloupes were going to be done like early tomatoes.

1/23/2019 1:48:40 PM

Bloomington Indiana

I take my fruits to UPS. The girls here love it.

1/23/2019 3:56:30 PM

NE Arkansas

UPS, USPS, FedEx, and my local Walmart goes to 75 lbs. Most chemical, co-ops, or ag companies have certified scales also. Just like with Mark's WWGG contest. We have to submit a video of the scale before the lope goes on, with the lope on it and all 4 sides to show no damage or manipulation if the scale.

1/23/2019 6:13:06 PM

Iowa

Seems like this would be a good fit for GPC category. As mentioned before, just would have to come up with alternative weigh process as most are done before the fall weigh-offs. Maybe there needs to be a cantaloupe festival out there that would hold a weigh-off.

1/23/2019 7:45:10 PM

Morgantown, WV

The grocery store took me back to the meat department to weigh mine. Local Ag stores were certified, but no digital readouts, only old school bar weights. Was the most fun part of the whole process to be honest :)

1/24/2019 8:47:50 AM

Weatherman

Bring this all up at The Big Show.

1/24/2019 10:23:21 AM

NE Arkansas

Some of us can't afford to go to "the big show".

1/24/2019 3:54:58 PM

Liberty nc

Bring on the lope!

1/24/2019 9:33:57 PM

Valencia Spain

I support cantelopes too

1/26/2019 3:44:03 PM

Valencia Spain

But so far not brilliant eating, maybe too much water

1/26/2019 3:44:44 PM

NE Arkansas

Westham once they turn from green to yellow and you weigh them, put it in the kitchen floor for 5 days and then cut it. That seems to let it rippen all the way thru

1/26/2019 10:47:28 PM

Valencia Spain

OK thanks I will try that

1/27/2019 5:03:33 AM

Bloomfield, Iowa

I am definitely hoping it becomes a GPC recognized fruit. 1st year out and I have had a blast.

9/3/2019 11:21:17 PM