The Story Behind the Giant Veggies in Alaska
ALASKA - If tales about 138lb cabbages, 65lb cantaloupes, and 35lb broccoli stalks sound far fetched to you, let me introduce you to the growers who put these produce giants on display at the Alaskan State Fair.
It's "definitely a freak show," the Alaskan State Fair's Crop Superintendent Kathy Liska told NPR. "Some things [are so big], you can't even recognize what they are."
What makes these veggies so massive you ask? A big part of the answer is the highly unique growing conditions created by Alaska's climate. Steven Brown, an Agricultural Agent at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, explained that Alaskan growers enjoy 20 hours a day of sunlight during the summer months. This gives Alaskan produce a longer photosynthesis window each day, resulting in more plant material and a sweeter taste.
"People often try our carrots here, and they think we've put sugar on them," Brown said.
Scott Robb, the grower who holds the largest cabbage record and 4 other world records for his produce, says that its not just a matter of climate however.
"Let's face it: You're not going to win the Kentucky Derby with a mule or a Shetland pony," says Robb. "If you don't have the right genetic material, you're never going to achieve that ultimate goal...If you were to go visit somebody who was growing a giant veggie for this fair, I think the thing that what would impress you is how much science and technology goes into this."
Of course in typical Alaskan fashion, there's also the matter of protecting the vegetables from the hungry gaze of a wandering moose. According to Brown he spent several sleepless nights guarding his cabbage plants from the creatures before constructing an electrified fence to keep them out. And I thought crows and pests were bad enough!
According to NPR there are two rounds of crop competitions in the Alaskan State Fair, with separate contests for pumpkins and cabbages. Grand prize winners are afterward donated to the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center.
AndNowUKnow would like to thank photographer Clark James Mishler and the Alaskan State Fair for generously allowing us to use these images in our story.
