Giant pumpkin wins BC contest by just 1 pound after weighing 1,485 pounds
Jordan Abbate won the 2026 B.C. Giant Pumpkin Contest with a 1,485-pound entry, beating the runner-up by only one pound. The event, sanctioned by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, also saw new provincial records set for giant squash and long gourds.
Why it matters
It highlights the niche but competitive world of giant vegetable growing and the community standards maintained by international organizations.
A giant pumpkin grown by Kelowna resident Jordan Abbate won the 2026 B C Giant Pumpkin Contest in Langley, on Saturday, with just one pound separating the top two entries. Abbate’s pumpkin weighed 1,485 pounds, while Team Halliday’s entry came in at 1,484 pounds.The contest was held at Krause Berry Farm in Langley. According to Castanet, Abbate’s win was also a first for the B C Interior, as no grower from the region had previously won the event in its 13-year history.The winning pumpkin was the result of about six months of regular care. Abbate said he spent several hours each day looking after the plant, including watering, pruning and caring for the soil. The work continued even through winter as he prepared the soil for the growing season.Abbate, however, was not very confident about winning before the weigh-off.
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