Food & Recipes

HALF MOON BAY (CBS 5 / AP / BCN) ― Thad Starr's giant pumpkin really began putting on weight in August. A lot of weight.

The pumpkin gained about thirty pounds a day on its way to victory Monday at the 35th annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off in Half Moon Bay.

Starr's pumpkin finished at 1,528 pounds, beating the contest record he set last year by four pounds.

"We really pamper them," Starr, 41, of Pleasant Hill, Oregon, said about the pumpkins he raises, adding that the secret to growing big pumpkins is good soil.

Starr, a stay-at-home dad, said he also sought advice from other growers in his area before growing and harvesting his winning pumpkin for the second year in a row.

Tim Beeman, a spokesman for the contest, said Starr's pumpkin was four feet, four inches tall with a circumference of about 15 feet.

Starr beat out dozens of other west coast growers from Washington, Oregon and California. Beeman said seven pumpkins came in at more than 1,000 pounds.

Forklifts were used to place the giant gourds on a 5-ton, industrial-strength scale. Starr said he bought a trailer to transport his giant gourd.

At $6 a pound for the winning pumpkin, Starr is taking home more than $9,000. 

The giant gourd and other large pumpkins will be on display at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival on the city's historic Main Street this upcoming weekend, Oct. 18 and 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beeman said Half Moon Bay holds the festival as the World Pumpkin Capital, producing more than 3,000 tons of pumpkins ever year and shipping them around the world.
 
"We're just bursting out in orange here," Beeman said.

Half Moon Bay boasts beautiful fall weather along with the pumpkin harvest-inspired food, decorations and activities, he said.

"The festival itself to me, I call it the feel good festival because everyone is happy and in a great festive mood," Beeman said.

Pumpkin pancakes, cheesecakes, pies and other goodies will be sold along with other food and drink during the festival, also famed for the pie eating contest, expert pumpkin carver, costume contest and variety of harvest-inspired arts and crafts.

With food, beverage, parking and games run by local non-profit and community groups, the festival is also a fundraiser. Beeman said the groups raise about $500,000 from operations during the pumpkin weekend. 

"It's a very special event," Beeman said. "It means a lot to the community."
 
Information about the festival is available by calling (650) 726-9652 or online at www.miramarevents.com. Admission is free.

Here are the complete results and prize money awarded from this year's pumpkin weigh-in:

OPEN DIVISION
1st --Thad Starr, Pleasant Hill OR 1,528 lbs. $9,168.
2nd -- Leonardo Urena, Napa CA 1,404 lbs. $2,000.
3rd -- Joel Holland, Puyallup WA 1,262 lbs. $1,500.
4th -- Jim Sherwood, Mulino OR 1,260 lbs. $1,000.
5th -- Ben Fillmore, Ukiah CA 1,205 lbs. $ 500.
6th -- Lee Hudson, Napa CA 1,168 lbs. $ 500.
7th -- Pete Glasier, Napa CA 1,081 lbs. $ 500.
8th -- David Miller, Cazadero CA 913 lbs. $ 500.
9th -- Jack & Sherry LaRue 912 lbs. $ 500.
10th -- Ronald Root, Citrus Heights CA 905 lbs. $ 500.

SAN MATEO COUNTY DIVISION
1st -- John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 900 lbs. $ 500.
2nd -- Eda Muller, Half Moon Bay 834 lbs. $ 300.
3rd -- Lorraine Valladao, Half Moon Bay CA 523 lbs. $ 200.

SPECIAL PRIZES:
Most Beautiful Pumpkin
Jerry Porter, Salinas CA $ 500

Biggest from State of California
Leonardo Urena, Napa CA 1,404 lbs $1,000.

Biggest From the Coastside (Montara to Pescadero)
John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 900 lbs. $ 500.

Biggest From a San Mateo County Farm Bureau Member
John Muller, Half Moon Bay CA 900 lbs. $ 500.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.)