EGVGA
European Giant Vegetable Grower’s Association
Weigh-off Rules and Regulations
Article 1 – Weigh-off sites
1) An EGVGA weigh-off site must be situated in
2) Each EGVGA weigh-off site must be represented by an EGVGA board member or country coordinator.
3) Each EGVGA site is responsible for their own prize structure and registration fees.
4) The EGVGA will provide certificates for all specimens entered at an EGVGA weigh-off.
5) The EGVGA weigh-off site will provide the EGVGA board with the official weigh-off results, preferably with pictures of the specimen with grower.
6) A weigh-off site can determine from which regions or countries contestants will be accepted with the exception of the European Championship in
7) Except for the European Championship in
8) Growers can enter an indefinite number of specimens in any given EGVGA weigh-off. Only the best entry per category qualifies for a prize. The other entries per category will only be for exhibition purposes (EXH).
9) Each EGVGA weigh-off will be open to all giant vegetable categories. To this end each EGVGA weigh-off should have a certified scale up to
Article 2 – Judging
1) The EGVGA rules will be strictly enforced for the number of entries, weight, soundness of fruit, colour and certification of the weigh scales.
2) Each site will be responsible for three judges. One judge must be an EGVGA representative (board or country coordinator, or EGVGA member especially appointed by the board for this function), and two experienced growers.
3) The judges’ decisions are final. All of the judges must have a full understanding of the EGVGA weigh-off rules. A printed version of the rules must be available for all of the participants at the weigh-off.
Article 3 – Specimens and Growers
1) The specimen entered must have been planted and grown by the exhibiter. The judges will determine the validity of the possible absence of a grower. The grower in absence must make this known to the site coordinator before judging starts.
2) Only one entry per grower/grower’s team will qualify for a prize. More than one entry per household is possible if the specimens are clearly grown by different individuals at the same address.
3) All extra specimens officially weighed will not qualify for prize money but will qualify for the overall EGVGA European rankings and therefore be eligible for the EGVGA awards.
4) Each giant vegetable category has its own rules. A number of rules are the same for all categories:
a. The specimen must be sound, healthy and undamaged. Entries must be free from rot, holes or serious soft spots. Any suspect part of the specimen may be investigated by the judges in presence of the grower. Damaged specimens cannot win a prize and must be classified as “damaged”(DMG).
b. The specimen must be free of all foreign matter such as sand, stones, fungicide, wax, etc.
c. For all specimens grown on a vine, the vine attached to the specimen may not be longer than
d. No specimens may be weighed with ropes, pallets, etc included in the weight.
e. The following rules are specific to each category. A grower wishing to enter a category not listed below should contact the weigh-off coordinator a week in advance for the official rules.
Squash/Pumpkins/Marrow – these specimens must be weighed on a certified scale accurate to
Long gourds – these specimens must be measured with a metal measuring tape from the top of the fruit to the point (without any part of the vine). It must be measured in a straight line and not along the curves of the fruit. Light tears in the skin are acceptable.
Sunflowers – sunflowers are measured from the bottom of the stalk (where the roots meet the stalk) up to the top petal on the flower head. It must be measured in a straight line. A metal measuring tape is used to measure sunflowers.
Corn – corn is measured from the bottom of the stalk (where the roots meet the stalk) up to the top of the tassel. Leaves that might be higher than the tassel are not measured. Corn must be measured in a straight line. A metal measuring tape is used to measure corn.
Tomatoes – tomatoes must be measured on a certified scale accurate to
Beetroot and carrots – no foliage at all is allowed. They can be weighed on a certified scale accurate to
Onions – Onions should be free of their roots and the foliage must be trimmed off above the bulb and below the first leaf joint.
Article 3 – Colour
1) An EGVGA weigh-off can choose to weigh squash and pumpkins in one category or two separate ones.
2) Squash is qualified as being 100% grey, green or blue. This includes the ribbing, the blossom end and around the stem. This does not include any netting or discoloration caused by contact with the ground. The judges will take into account that some squash show minimal amounts of white striping.
3) Pumpkins are all fruit not specified as squash.
4) EGVGA weigh-off sites will chose a pumpkin for the prettiest pumpkin certificate. This fruit must be of the Atlantic Giant type. It should be 100% solid orange (or orange-red) or as close as possible, have a nice shape and be heavier than
Article 4 – Miscellaneous
1) The EGVGA offers certificates to all contestants at an official EGVGA weigh-off, regardless if the contestant is a member of the EGVGA or not. On the other hand, the post weigh-off awards for largest European specimens is reserved exclusively for EGVGA members.
2) Any problems that might arise during a weigh-off will be temporarily solved by the weigh-off coordinator and EGVGA representative. A report will be sent to the EGVGA board for further investigation.
3) In some cases it is possible for a weigh-off to be affiliated with more than one association. The EGVGA board will decide if this is feasible and if there are no conflict of interests.
4) The EGVGA provides a set of rules, certificates and general help to all EGVGA weigh-offs. At this point the EGVGA offers this service free of charge. The EGVGA does not currently sponsor prize money.
