Giant Pumpkin Winners!

Market Master Dimaun hugs the 145.5# pumpkin

We Have a Giant Pumpkin Contest Winner — Actually, Four!

The big gourd at the Market’s annual contest on October 26 weighed 145.5 pounds, per grower-farmer Billy Caulk of Pine Grove Farms on the Eastern Shore. Anthony Nathe took first prize, with a guess of 145#. There was a tie for second — Jacob Schwartz and Shea Winpigler were each just 1.5 pounds away at 147#, and Jermaine Dent picked up third for his guess of 142#. Congratulations to the winners! On November 2, they picked up their tokens, good at any Market stand, and have bragging rights all year long (well, until next October). 

Big shout-out to Billy for his prize-winning pumpkin; thanks to Pahl’s Farm who furnished the hay bales and mini-pumpkins; and happy faces to 901Arts artists Dez Thaniel and Siré Feaster for making the kids’ decorating activity so much fun. The Market works because of its staff — big thumbs-up to Cat, Dimaun, George, and Sherrell.

What happens to the pumpkin, you ask? The hogs and goats and chickens at Pahl’s Farm will dine well! Each week, as part of the Market’s connection with Baltimore City’s Office of Sustainability, Pahl’s livestock gets to munch on the kitchen scraps that Market-goers bring to the Market. Consider donating! 

Volunteers Ralph Stoddard, Farid Salloum, and Sally Protzman joined Board Secretary Sue Walther to encourage Market friends to take a chance and make a guess, educated or otherwise. Three-hundred-and-seven Market-goers thumped, patted, rolled, eye-balled, and conferred over the pumpkin’s possible weight; the submissions ranged from a low of 25 pounds all the way to one ton! Many individuals signed up for the Market’s quarterly newsletter. Most shared their thoughts on what best describes their Market. Some descriptors include: fantastic, great food, variety, fabulous, diverse, creative, and awesome!

We agree — the people make the Market! ❤️