From

Location

Message

Date Posted

President - GPC

Early tomato contests usage ends Sept 31st . Then take your entrees to a weighoff. GROW BIG.

9/23/2022 6:42:38 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Non of mine will make it by the deadline,can someone please explain the reason why it's so early, growers in the south aren't nearly done by sept 30th. There must be a good reason and I'm probably to thick headed to get it! I'd like to see it go until maybe November or so. How about everyone else?

9/23/2022 11:12:40 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Mine are done by September 1, much too cold and frosty after that.

9/24/2022 2:10:50 AM

Grittyville, WA

You want the early entries to go through November, Dan? The southern growers usually complain about disease ending their season not temps. WiZZy-- my early tomatoes caught covid, plus my dog ate them.

9/24/2022 7:34:15 AM

On a cliff in the desert

I thought early tomatoes deadline was October 31 in previous years. I've lost too many seedlings in May to heat, cold, and storms. Rule changes need to be announced before the growing season starts because it looks like the rule changes are going to benefit someone if they are changed during the season.

9/24/2022 4:21:22 PM

San Diego, CA

I agree with Dan S. I don’t understand why tomatoes grown outside of the traditional growing season aren’t accepted beyond Sept 30? Ultimately it’s about documenting achievements, traceability, and record keeping. IMHO I think that rule should be revisited.

9/25/2022 10:54:55 AM

Fullerton, California

I think they figure anything beyond the Sept 31st can be taken to a weigh off. The problem with that is tomatoes don't have the self-life of other CPC fruit classes.

9/25/2022 11:10:39 AM

Central NY

I look at it as you have 9 months to turn in an early entry…a few weeks of weigh offs..can we grow all year?..yup.. can we put lights and greenhouses and compete all season?..probably..but the season is the season and the wonderful reps of the GPC have to have a deadline. Yea, we may still be gardening well into the winter months but these folks are onto ordering trophies and plaques and other great awards , to recognize the growers that entered there fruits into a GPC event. That being said, send an email to your rep…maybe they’ll extend the season for ya. I like the deadline…adds an extra suntin suntin when you are coming down to the wire with an exciting fruit. Either way…can’t wait til next year!

9/25/2022 12:47:29 PM

Norwich, NY

As a first year tomato grower last year I was unaware of the deadline…. As luck would have it I ended up with a 7.31 that missed the deadline by a few weeks. It sucks, but oh well. Personally, I’d like to see the online entry open until the last weighoff, but rules are rules. Porkchop is spot on with what he said.

9/25/2022 6:13:30 PM

Marshfield, Ma, USA

Is the deadline September 30, October 1, or October 31?

9/26/2022 6:05:05 AM

Colorado

Sep 30. Wizz is trying to give us a leapyear in September. :)

9/26/2022 8:52:38 AM

50 Acres

G'Day from the Valley. (Thats for Todd K and Al E. Isupport the longer Early Tomato Season. Originally in the 80's and 90's most of the growers were within a few hundred kilometers of the 49th. Now were globally in circumference and 2 Hemepheres in depth. We now accept artificial envirements and atmospheres as the norm. While some in N. America are awaiting weigh offs others globally are starting their 2023 season. Our global growing season is 16 months plus. We have grown from local weigh offs to Global endorsements from Guiness Records. Hopefully change is coming. please excuse the spelling errors. Jim

9/26/2022 10:16:17 AM

President - GPC

September 30th will be the last day we will accept Early Tomato entrees. After that, they will need to be taken to a GPC weigh off for GPC recognition.

Oct 31st is the cutoff for the 2022 Growing season for all other veggies in the Northern Hemisphere.

The dates have not changed. This is how its been for YEARS.
We need time to accumulate all the weights and award those whom deserve recognition for the convention. No need to send in a request for an extension. Dates are firm.

GROW BIG

9/26/2022 10:37:41 AM