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Ontario

The rules around weighing a fruit twice sound like (from the gpc rule book and various posts here) they were meant to prevent a grower winning 2 GPC weighoff prizes.
Now I know for a fact that some growers have brought something to a GPC weighoff and afterwards brought the same fruit to a non-GPC weighoff. This was never condemned by the GPC or its representatives (as far as I can tell).
Now if it's fine to go GPC then unnoficial, is it okay to go to an unofficial weighoff (such as a local fair) and then bring it to a GPC weighoff afterwards? There's no practical difference to it, I'm curious if there's a legal difference. I had asked a weighoff coordinator a few years back and he seemed to suggest it was a grey area, is this the case that it's up to the coordinator to decide?
Also, you are entirely allowed to display a fruit before it gets weighed (at the roadside or whatever) which is not really different than displaying it at a fair grounds

Anyway, as we near in on weighoff season I just wondered what the rule actually means in a more "grey area" scenario.

[Last edit: 08/23/24 1:56:13 PM]

8/23/2024 1:54:12 PM

Nova Scotia

Yes that is a "grey area" has been way back since the 1980s when WPC started then eventually to GPC trying to establish rules to keep up with everything. Like any other competitions, sports, etc. Always someone testing the loop holes for prize money and so forth I guess? Not sure your scenerio however my personal opinion you would think one weigh off/contest would be enough for a grower? It would be pretty difficult for the "GPC" to police so many other NON GPC events around the World today! And trust me there are many! I believe GPC doing it's best to avoid duplicate entries site to site.

8/23/2024 3:39:49 PM

Ontario

Well that's kind of my point, the rules state no weighing twice, but so many sites are not within their jurisdiction, so it's really unclear if they mean it, or if they mean no reweighing at GPC sites

8/23/2024 9:09:29 PM

Fullerton, California

No specimen will be allowed into competition at a GPC site if that specimen has been previously entered at another competition.

I have always taken this rule to mean any other competition, GPC or not.

8/24/2024 12:04:37 AM

Gourd Zone, WA

Seems like you could display it somewhere before or after the gpc competition but raking in the prize money from multiple sites would be unsportsmanlike.

8/24/2024 12:07:25 AM

Nova Scotia

Ya JohnnyB that about sums it up. I have no issues with any grower who is able to produce multiple pumpkins, etc and enter each one separately only once at any contest. Also definitely have on display later wherever for the public to enjoy. Some growers are fortunate not having far to travel to sites, while many others not so. GPC since Day 1 has tried to establish weigh off sites strategically throughout the land. It also helps to a degree to spread sites around and take some pressure off "older" sites. I remember the days when Windsor would have 40-50 pumpkins alone! Topsfield up to a 100 at one time! Just imagine the time to inspect, measure and officially weigh that many? One sore lifting crew and scales. Oh the good ole days lol.

8/24/2024 7:13:30 AM

Westmoreland, KS

https://gpc1.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GPC-Rules-and-Handbook-2024.pdf

page 18

6. No specimen will be allowed into competition at a GPC site if that specimen has been previously entered at another competition.

This does not say at another GPC competition so if someone weighed a fruit at the State fair that was not a GPC site state fair they still should not be able to weigh it at a GPC competition.

This is a "grey" area because it is up the the site coordinator/judges to disqualify the fruit. Other growers could bring this to the judges/coordinators attention but if they don't have all the information about the other random weighoff this leaves them in a tricky situation. However, weight one fruit at 2 gpc competitions is strictly prohibited and can easily be confirmed.

8/24/2024 9:09:13 AM

Nova Scotia

OK let me throw this one possible scenerio out which has maybe happened before or easily could? Grower takes a nice big orange pumpkin to a local Fair say around 1,000 lbs. and wins or places what have you, then week or so later enters it in a GPC contest knowing probably won't win or even be in contention but win HD Award? Any thoughts? Because as a long time site sometimes I have no idea/proof if that grower did previously enter it elsewhere? The last thing any of us want to do is to accuse/suggest that to grower and be wrong! Like I said before hard to police sometimes. Thanks.

8/24/2024 10:09:28 AM

Mission Viejo, CA

I don’t think that scenario changes anything Danny. I just took a squash entry to the fair. It didn’t get weighed but did win prizes. It won’t win a thing at our GPC weighoff in 4 weeks but it won’t be going.

8/24/2024 10:47:47 AM

Westmoreland, KS

Yes Danny very hard to police as the rule states that 1000 pound fruit would/should be labeled as exhibition. Which should make it ineligible for the award.If the grower has issues the site could contact their gpc rep which would back up the site for dqing the fruit

[Last edit: 08/24/24 4:33:43 PM]

8/24/2024 2:23:14 PM

Ontario

So, if the gpc is fine with it being exhibition, then they have no problem with it being an official weight so the rule is entirely about fair and equal prize structure?

8/24/2024 3:33:21 PM

Nova Scotia

Thanks Jake appreciate the feedback, even as an original GPC site and founder we still have these "curve balls" thrown at us. If some grower gives me the heads up that a particular specimen was entered before in a contest will definitely rule it as exhibition only. But as always most of us come from rural isolated places and hard to monitor. However overall GPC running a well greased machine!

8/24/2024 3:35:04 PM

Westmoreland, KS

I don’t think there is anything wrong with getting an official weight as an exhibition fruit I’ll ask in the next gpc meeting so we have clarification and will report back.

8/24/2024 4:32:58 PM

Nova Scotia

No there is not nothing wrong with anything getting weighed etc, as all sites welcome entries and participation of course for the future. Just have to keep it clean, fair and fun for everyone to enjoy have a good time. And trust me I do not envy you and all others on GPC committee these days! Only reason I pitched in here is to make it known and clear hopefully how GPC rules operate and avoid any confusion/confrontations in the future. Been there and done it back in the day, next thing it hits the news. Back then in dinosaur years lol it was separating pumpkins from squash believe it or not? Keep up the great work.

8/24/2024 6:15:20 PM

Littlerock, WA

This is a rule that needs clarification, because it can be interpreted either way. The GPC Committee will be meeting tomorrow morning, and we will discuss it. We are always looking for ways to make the rules more clear, so thank you for bringing this to light. Whenever you have a rule question, please email the committee or your regional representative and we will gladly help. -Cindy Tobeck

8/24/2024 7:26:07 PM

Nova Scotia

OK cool Cindy good to hear and thanks so much on clarification and way can be interpreted. Like many things today unfortunately. When $ involved today at some weigh offs GPC or not, need to be nipped in the bud or pinching vines off before any potential conflict arises? The last thing we all want is some "innocent" grower who had a great season not knowing understanding rules, etc! And yes for future contact the GPC rep but some still not aware of that. I just had to address this because NDV made a good point.

8/24/2024 8:51:20 PM

Eugene,OR

Great response Cindy!

8/24/2024 11:31:01 PM

Syracuse, NY

(*_*) eg

[Last edit: 08/25/24 3:14:10 AM]

8/25/2024 1:22:45 AM

Ontario

Yeah I didn't even think about addressing a GPC rep, I just figured the plethora of knowledge on here, someone would have an answer

8/25/2024 8:51:14 AM

Nova Scotia

No harm in asking to be better prepared for Fall contests. Get it out there so others can chirp in with their experience and situations they have run into.

8/25/2024 2:10:25 PM

Kutztown, PA

Just a quick comment: Most fairs want to keep your pumpkin a week which means one trip to drop it off and another to pick it up. Most fair prize money is minimal. Not sure if a blue ribbon and county bragging rights is worth the trouble. To each his own, I guess.

9/3/2024 11:25:57 AM

Grittyville, WA

That reminds me of a pumpkin I took to our fair then displayed it at a gpc event location. I dont remember if I weighed it officially or not but I think it was just an exhibition at both events, and I didnt get any money from either event. I think I originally intended to display it at the local fair, and then take it to a gpc event, and then take it to a different gpc event site for display only. At some point it loses the fun, and I can understand why people in the circus business get way more grouchy than you'd assume.

9/3/2024 12:55:31 PM

Kutztown, PA

You could leave the pumpkin at the fair grounds I guess. They discourage that, but do let you know that if you leave it, you loose it. That means no seeds. I guess you could cut a hole in the back of it when you leave it, scoop out some seeds and let them dispose of it. I just don't want to make two two trips to the fair, waiting both times to unload and load. I'm old and impatient. Of course, I'd be more than proud just to get one through the season and have to make a choice on where to take it.

9/4/2024 3:33:57 PM

Syracuse, NY

If you can still grow, you're not old, you know...eg
Ha ha ---PS---You forgot the ' in i'm patient. eg

[Last edit: 09/04/24 9:50:17 PM]

9/4/2024 9:48:50 PM

Kutztown, PA

Yeah - I guess you're right on both counts. If you can do all this work you can't be that old. If I just had someone to bury vines for me and an editor I'd be all set. LOL

9/5/2024 8:37:33 AM

Syracuse, NY

Lol---eg

9/5/2024 11:08:14 PM