Grower nets his third world record
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island — He notched the world records for growing the heaviest pumpkin and longest long gourd. Now, Joe Jutras has achieved a unique growing hat trick, with the world’s heaviest squash.
After previously breaking two records, Joe Jutras got his third last weekend with a giant squash that weighed more than a tonne. His green squash tipped the scales at 2,118 pounds at Frerichs Farm in Warren, Rhode Island.
Jutras’s other titles came in 2006, when he broke the record for longest gourd, with a 3.21-metre gourd, and in 2007, when he broke the record for largest pumpkin, with a fruit that weighed 1,689 pounds. Both previous records have since been surpassed, but Jutras is the only grower to break world records in the three most competitive categories.
“It feels great,” Jutras said. “It’s really been a goal of mine to try to achieve this.”
Jutras has been working on the trifecta for a decade, since his pumpkin win.
He was close to his goal a few years ago, but then a squash on track to break the record split.
Now 62, Jutras recently retired from his work as a high-end cabinet maker to devote more time to his hobby.
Jutras noted that other growers had won several world records for fruits and vegetables before, but in categories such as carrots that are not as competitive.
He credits a new soil cultivation technique and a seed from last year’s worldrecord breaker for this year’s win.
Ron Wallace, a multi-time pumpkin record breaker, called Jutras’s feat “unbelievable.”
Wallace said Jutras’ accomplishment showed the best of the hobby. “It’s about people competing and pushing the boundaries,” Wallace said.
Jutras said his fruit is headed to New York City, where it will be displayed at the New York Botanical Garden this month.
In February, he will receive a coveted “green jacket” honour for his squash record at the annual convention in Oregon of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth, considered the NFL of giant fruit and vegetable growing.
Asked what he plans to do next after achieving the hat trick, he said he’s been thinking about the bushel gourd.
“I think the record now is about 279 pounds,” Jutras said. “That might be something I might want to get into a bit.”