Pumpkin weighing 2,471 pounds wins California contest after being lowered into arena by crane

A Minnesota horticulture teacher remained the reigning champion Monday of an annual pumpkin-weighing contest in Northern California where his massive gourds have won the top prize four years in a row.

Travis Gienger, of Anoka, Minnesota, beat his closest competitor by 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) to clinch the victory at the 51st World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.

His winning gourd came in at 2,471 pounds (1,121 kilograms), falling short of the world record he set last year with a pumpkin weighing 2,749 pounds (1,247 kilograms).

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Gienger, 44, said that as he has done in the past, he focused on having healthy soil and well-fed plants but that a cold fall with record-breaking rain likely impacted his pumpkin’s growth.

“We had really, really tough weather and somehow, some way, I kept on working,” Gienger said. “I had to work for this one, and we got it done at the end, but it wasn’t by much.”

Gienger and his family drove his gargantuan gourd for 35 hours to California. He said the giant pumpkin’s next stop will be in Southern California, where a team of professional carvers will do a 3D carve on it at a Halloween event.

It comes after Halloween fans have been warned of possible pumpkin shortages. The possible scarcity of pumpkins in stores is also likely to inflate prices, suggesting that even if you manage to find a pumpkin, considering a less expensive substitute might be wiser, reports the Mirror .

Gardening guru Chris Bonnett from Gardening Express suggests that now's the time to get crafty with other items for an unforgettable and eerie Halloween celebration, regardless of how the pumpkin situation unfolds. He said: "Due to a shortage of pumpkins this year, people might want to explore alternative ways to decorate their homes and gardens this Halloween."

"It's interesting to note that back in the 19th century, it was actually turnips that were often hollowed out and carved with spooky faces to mark the occasion. Nowadays, a variety of other fruits and vegetables can be used alongside pumpkins to create unique and diverse Halloween displays ."

He also warned: "Regardless of what you're carving, remember to always be cautious when using sharp tools and ensure children are closely supervised by an adult during the process."