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Man Wins Contest For Biggest Pumpkin In California

HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) — A California man is this year's winner of the Half Moon Bay giant pumpkin contest, becoming the first in-state gourd grower to dominate the patch in 11 years.

Ron Root's prize-winning pumpkin tipped the scales at 1,535 pounds and measured 410-and-a-half inches over the top. That wasn't a weigh-off record but hefty enough to beat out the 59 other entries.

Secrets On How To Grow Giant Pumpkin: KNX 1070's Diane Thompson Reports

It was the Citrus Heights man's fourth time as a participant. He grew his pumpkin from seeds provided by a previous year's winner on land donated by a pumpkin patch near his home.

For his orange thumb, Root will get $9,210 -- $6 per pound -- plus another $1,000 for producing the biggest California pumpkin.

The contest, now in its 37th year, also drew contestants from Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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