Going for gourd: B.C. pumpkin grower looks to defend his title in U.S. competition

A pumpkin-grower from Richmond, B.C., is “going for gourd” this weekend, heading to the U.S. to defend his title.

Dave Chan has been growing giant pumpkins in his Richmond garden since 1982, when he sent a letter to a prominent grower in Eastern Canada.

“I got a letter back from him in one week and a few seeds,” Chan recalls.

“My first pumpkin was 278 pounds, which was half the world record back then. Now, that wouldn’t even qualify for anything.”

Chan spoke to reporters on Friday while preparing his latest gargantuan gourd for a journey to Bellevue, Wash., where he competes in weigh-offs annually.

Last year, Chan’s largest pumpkin weighed in at more than 2,200 pounds – enough to take the competition’s top prize.

This year’s entry isn’t quite as heavy. Chan estimates it weighs around 2,000 pounds, but he thinks it stands a good chance of defending his title.

A second giant pumpkin, weighing roughly 1,600 pounds, will also make the trip stateside this year.

On Friday, workers used a crane to load both gourds onto a flat-bed truck for the journey.