World record for heaviest pumpkin shattered with a staggering 2,749lb gourd

At the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California, a massive pumpkin named Michael Jordan has broken the world record for the heaviest gourd, earning its grower Travis Gienger a prize of $30,000. Weighing in at 2,749lbs, the pumpkin beat the previous record by 47lbs. Gienger, a horticulture teacher from Minnesota, attributed the pumpkin's enormous size to extra care and 12 daily waterings. He invested around $15,000 in the pumpkin's care and transportation to the competition. Gienger, who has been growing pumpkins since he was a teenager, has won the championship three times. The World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off has transformed from a lighthearted contest between Circleville, Ohio, and Half Moon Bay, California, into the Super Bowl of pumpkin weigh-off competitions worldwide. Gienger named his winning squash after the basketball legend Michael Jordan, and noted that it resembled a basketball when it first started growing. He also highlighted that Jordan wore the number 23 jersey, matching the year 2023. Gienger's intention is to bring joy to people through his hard work and impressive pumpkins.