An Algarve grower has secured the title of ‘pumpkin king’, taking the top prize at a national giant vegetable competition with an extraordinary specimen weighing 905 kilograms.
José Rui Santos, from Albufeira, was the star of the eighth edition of O Maior da Minha Aldeia (“The Biggest in My Village”), held on Sunday, September 13 at Senhora do Salto Natural Park in Aguiar de Sousa, Paredes.
His enormous pumpkin was the heaviest ever entered in the competition, comfortably earning him the €1,000 first prize.
To put its size into perspective, the pumpkin weighed roughly as much as a small car.
Second place went to António Almeida with an 861kg pumpkin, while Virgílio Ribeiro finished third with an entry weighing 729.5kg.
Santos did not travel north with just one oversized piece of produce. The Albufeira grower also won the melon category with a 7.95kg fruit.
More giant Algarve produce
The Algarve had another reason to celebrate in the watermelon competition.
Cláudia Fernandes, also from Albufeira, won with a 71.5kg watermelon, while Santos added yet another podium finish with a 67.5kg entry. Maria Inês Dias, from Paredes, took third with a comparatively modest 25kg watermelon.
The largest tomato belonged to Fernando Martins Dias, from Paredes, whose entry weighed 1.333kg. Diogo Barbosa was second with a 1.175kg tomato, followed by José Dias with 1.165kg.
This year’s competition attracted 27 growers, including 19 from the municipality of Paredes.
Organised by Paredes Council in partnership with Aguiar de Sousa Parish Council, the competition is officially recognised by the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, an international organisation overseeing giant vegetable weighing events.
Cash prizes were awarded to the top three growers in each category, with the biggest rewards reserved – appropriately enough – for the giant pumpkins.
