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Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

I won't be posting replies on this thread. Just wanted to get an idea of how all the different growers interpret this part of the rules. What is the definition of "Close Proximity"? Is there an answer or is it up for interpretation by the judges at each individual site? I would say close proximity means within a couples inches no more.

12/20/2010 1:43:26 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Seems the rules are ever changing and depend on who are the judges, where you are and who you are.

It was not long ago that pumpkins with "35% or so" green on them were declared a squash at GPC events.

12/20/2010 3:33:11 PM

canal winchester ohio

Ryan ,I posted my interpretation of it having judged a few contests but you may not look at it at the bottom of a 65+ post thread so here it is.
This is my interpertation of close proximity. First I'll use your squash in your diary as a example & having judged some competions that would not be a squash "but" that is from the pic & what you see in a pic might differ from seeing it in person. On yours I saw "from the pic" that there was almost 2 complete ribs on each side that was not blue or green but cream white & that would dq it from what I judge a squash.
And as for 'Close Proximity' here's how I judge that. first you can't have a set number of inches up because pumpkins come in all shapes & the most I have seen in 'Close Proximity' was 3 " up from the ground. Here is how I look at it, at the bottom most part of the squash is a area that turns in towards the ground & if you was to place a piece of cardboard at that lowest part the area where it sharply turns inward to ground level is close proximity. If you measure straight down it may be 2" & if you measure the curvature of the pumpkin it may be 3".
Now I'm not talking about where the tape hits the side of the squash when taking a OTT. If we were at a weighoff together it would be easy to point out & I'm sure if you get 3 people together to find that spot you would easily see where the curvature starts.
Thats how I judge close proximity.
And for the overall coloring I know a lot of weighoffs use the grid system when determining % of color.

12/20/2010 3:59:20 PM

canal winchester ohio

And I feel the close proximity is usually white for the same reason that the bottom is white most of the time. If a grower uses a lot of sand the bottom 2" may be buried & thus causing it to be the same color as the bottom & why it's usually only the bottom most part you see is white. And this is the same reason the GPC couldn't set a hard & fast number of inches up. The grower might over do it on the sand & cause the bottom 3" to be white & if the rules said 2" then it would be dq for no other reason than over protection of the base of the squash.

12/20/2010 3:59:30 PM

Long Island,New York

Shouldnt that be up to the GPC? Where are they anyway?

12/20/2010 5:45:18 PM

Rhode Island

for years the debate over was it a grn squash or pumpkin?, haunted just about every weigh-off each and every year.at times some sites used a cock eyed view to justify their own results. wink-wink.

arguments were aplenty,hurt feelings, and yes even out right shouting matches occured quite often.

judges were expected to determine whether a certain percentage of the fruit was green before determining it a grn squash or pumpkin.leaving the door open for all sorts of what ifs and cross eyed speculation from all involved.
an almost impossible task with unsatisfied growers crying foul quite often.

lets credit the GPC with writing a rule that leaves no doubt as to whether its a grn squash or pumpkin. i suggest everyone read it.

to me its pretty simple. if the darm thing is a combination of, or solid blue-grn, or gray color ? its a squash.
if it has any wt-salmon-orange-etc in it? its a pumpkin.

12/20/2010 8:03:35 PM

Deer Park WA

Tough call for sure, we personally believe that as long as it is a solid grey/green then its a squash. Our 2003 834* was solid black/green, but it did have small flecks of white uniformly spread across the entire surface. To us close proximity is how you determine points in a game of horseshoes! To be a squash its either solid green, gray, blue or a mix, if there is any orange its a Punkin/Squampkin.

12/20/2010 11:17:33 PM

Redmond, Washington; U.S.A.

Okay. Said, I wasn't gonna comment. But I have to thank all of you fellow growers for responding. wish you a happy holidays! And I will comment on this a little more when I get back to a computer tomorrow. All of your points are well taken.

12/21/2010 12:29:50 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

MG...how bout "Merry Christmas to Awl!!!" Peace, Wayne
PS...if anyone is travellin, safe travels!!! IF yer stayin Home...be Happy at Home!!! Merry Christmas to awl, & to awl a Good Nite!!!

12/21/2010 3:09:44 AM

bliss,n.y.- heart of Wyoming County

Merry Christmas!!

12/21/2010 7:41:04 AM