For Release: September 17, 1999

Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402

PROVIDENCE - The Sixth Annual Rhode Island Giant Pumpkin Championship will be held on Saturday, October 9 at Schartner Farms in Exeter. Unloading of the biggest pumpkins grown in Rhode Island will begin at 10 a.m., with the weigh-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

The Rhode Island Pumpkin Growers Association, an association of competitive giant pumpkin growers, and the Department of Environmental Management's Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing is holding the increasingly-popular event, which, for the first time, is being sponsored by Shartner Farms.

Stephen Volpe, DEM's Deputy Chief of Resource Marketing, said, "There will be refreshments in a beautiful farm and nursery setting, so bring the whole family for a day of enjoyment and a view of the biggest pumpkins you have ever seen. Don't forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on during the weigh-off." The event, which has drawn larger crowds each year, has outgrown its previous home at John Castellucci's farm in Smithfield. Castellucci has been growing giant pumpkins for years and was the first in Rhode Island to push for the statewide contest.

A new record for the largest pumpkin grown in Rhode Island was set last year by Warren Cole of Warwick, with a 920-pound pumpkin at the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts. A new record for the largest pumpkin at the annual Rhode Island State Giant Pumpkin Championship was set last year by Tim Adams of Richmond, with an 830-pound pumpkin. The New England record is a 929-pound pumpkin grown in New Hampshire, and the world record is a 1092-pound pumpkin grown in Ontario, Canada.

Those interested in competing in this year's event or receiving additional information can contact Don Langevin of the RI Pumpkin Growers Association at 508-222-9069, or Ron Newman of DEM's Division of Agriculture and Resource Marketing at 222-2781 ext. 4518.