An enormous pumpkin nicknamed sa国际传媒淢amasa国际传媒� grown in a Richmond, B.C., backyard has won first place in one of North Americasa国际传媒檚 most prestigious pumpkin weigh-offs, tipping the scales at more than a tonne.

Grower Dave Chan, 78, says sa国际传媒渁 lot of good sciencesa国际传媒� went into his victory on Saturday in the National Pumpkin Weigh Off in Wheatland, Calif., where Mama weighed in at 1,003 kilograms, or 2,212 pounds.

The retired dentist says he and his wife Janet Love analyzed soil samples throughout summer to ensure the pumpkin was receiving the right nutrients.

They loaded Mama and another giant pumpkin onto a trailer and drove more than 1,300 kilometres to attend the weigh-in, which organizers say has been held since 1921.

Chan, whosa国际传媒檚 been growing giant pumpkins for more than 40 years, won $28,000 sa国际传媒� thatsa国际传媒檚 US$9 per pound sa国际传媒� as well as a flashy championship belt, worthy of a heavyweight champion.

He says he and his wife will use the money for a trip to Italy, where they plan to meet the grower of the worldsa国际传媒檚 heaviest pumpkin, which weighed in at 1,226 kilograms in 2021.

Chan says theysa国际传媒檒l continue their U.S. road trip with sa国际传媒淢amasa国际传媒� and her smaller trailer mate, which weighs about 725 kilograms, and will take part in another competition this month at Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco.

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