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Oak Grove, Mn

I received a call from Wizzy, he told me that the GPC committee has approved having a tomato only event. Some details will still be need to be worked out but it is a go for next fall. Minneapolis area will definitely have a GPC tomato event. I do not know if we will have 1 entry or 1000 entries. I do not know yet what the prize fund will be, it could be anywhere from a ribbon to $???? . I do not know the location yet. All I know right now is that there will be an event and it will be worth more than an early tomato entry. I have work to do.

10/28/2018 1:47:12 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

And insist that it takes place one to two weeks prior to the first weekend in October. You would have more participation if it took place closer to the heart of when larger tomatoes are ripe and it doesn't compete with regular weigh-offs.

10/28/2018 2:32:14 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I am thinking that the first Saturday in September will be prime time for minnesota. With refrigerator storage that will give from the middle of August to the first of September as the window to aim for. Much before the October weighoffs. The date is still open..depending on what businesses, news outlets, and promoters that I can get interested in this. Will know by spring what the plan is. Why am I thinking that 5 growers meeting at a restaurant and weighing tomatoes for a ribbon is so much less stressful than a big event with 1000 growers. Conversation today...the possibility of tomato only event is going to be open to all clubs. Garden Rebel..in you neck of the woods..i think you have the growers that you could potentially have a tomato only gpc event.

10/28/2018 2:44:36 PM

On a cliff in the desert

Congratulations Bob. It will be interesting to see what competition categories you come up. I can think of single and multiple blossom, variety, seed challenge, and prettiest tomato.

10/28/2018 3:43:17 PM

Wixom MI.

First week of September sounds good sept 1 my tomatoes come in around aug 15-25 and growing them higher up come in the first part of September.In Michigan we only have 2 competitive growers ? I would probably have to travel to somewhere else !!!

10/28/2018 3:49:42 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Awesome work Bob!

10/28/2018 4:55:41 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Wow great work Bob. I may have to take tomato growing serious.

10/30/2018 9:24:44 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Bob, don't forget your daytime job. Seems like you could end up being a bit overextended. Your plate has quite a bit on it.

10/30/2018 10:26:25 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

My daytime job is creating difficulties...for the past month have been on 50 hour weeks, now it is moving towards 60 hour weeks. The overtime money is good, but I sure could use the extra 20 hours to get other projects off the ground.Hopefully by January will be back to a normal schedule. Marv, I have a big project ahead...I am a realist though..what I don't get done this year..will have to wait for next. I only have the rest of my lifetime to get it all done. At minimum, the fall tomato only weighoff will be easy. Send fees to GPC, find a spot and let the growers know about it. By myself..I am not going to be able to start a massive tomato festival. It will be up to the contacts that I make thru time to grow it to something big. First year...all I care about is we have a place for the local growers to compete.

10/30/2018 6:15:56 PM

Newcastle, CA

i'll have to figure out how to stuff a tomato in a carry on bag without the TSA freaking out. lol probably has more than the allowable amount of liquid in it. hahaha

10/30/2018 6:49:09 PM

Northwest Indiana

Good job Bob. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

10/31/2018 8:45:27 PM