The fattest pumpkin in Europe comes from Belgium this year
Published: Sunday, Oct 13th 2024, 16:30
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Belgian pumpkin grower Mario van Geel came out on top at the European Pumpkin Weighing Championships in Ludwigsburg near Stuttgart with a massive specimen weighing several tons. With his 1,152 kilogram pumpkin, he relegated the German champion Matthias Würsching from Einhausen in Hesse (997.5 kilograms) to second place. Third-placed David Frommelt also comes from Germany (949.5 kilograms).
Belgian van Geel had already won the European Championship title in 2019. Luca Stöckl from Bavaria was successful last year.
Europe's largest pumpkins are weighed every year at the show weighing at the pumpkin exhibition at the Blühenden Barock Ludwigsburg. Breeders from Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, France and Belgium take part.
Traditionally, the giant pumpkins are cut up together with numerous other specimens at the slaughter festival at the end of the exhibition, while others are styled into oversized works of art at the carving festival on October 20.
This year that does not apply to the new European champion pumpkin from Belgium: it will be on display up to and including Thursday, but will then be taken back to Belgium to take part in another competition.
©Keystone/SDA
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