October means pumpkins — whether it’s carving them up for Halloween jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin spice lattes or gourd themed decor.
But for some, the tradition is much more than a mere seasonal decoration — it’s a lifestyle, and a fiercely competitive one.
Jay Yohe is president of the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association (PGPA), a group of more than 100 members who are passionate about pushing pumpkin plants to the extreme. Though the process is year-round, fall is, of course, peak season.
“Right now is harvest time for the giant pumpkin growers,” Yohe tells The Independent. “Everybody’s waiting to see what everybody else’s weigh.”
This isn’t just a local sport — the PGPA is part of the wider Great Pumpkin Commonwealth (GPC) with a worldwide membership exceeding 1,000 growers across over 100 clubs, all trying to grow the biggest orange calabaza they can.
The average giant pumpkin weighs around 1,000 pounds, though the world record currently stands at 2,749 pounds – slightly heavier than a Honda Fit.