The heavyweights of the vegetable world battled it out last week during festivities at the 2008 Alaska State Fair. You've heard of our giant cabbages, but what about a 24-pound mushroom, or the truly impressive 907-pound pumpkin?

Let’s see, at Anchorage prices, a mushroom of that size would cost about $72. The pumpkin? More than a house payment.

Entrants into the Giant Cabbage contest get a substantial payout if they have the winning specimen - $2,000 for first place. But growing, harvesting, and transporting crazy-big vegetables to the fair must call for more than monetary motivation.

Maybe it’s the excitement of seeing what 19 hours of light a day can produce. Or maybe it’s the pride that comes with showing off a vegetable as big as the state itself. Unpredictability and risk could motivate others. These giants can grow so quickly that it isn't uncommon for them to explode just before fair time. Bring on the coleslaw!

Teamwork may not be a motivator, but it's one consequence of this "sport," as the Alaskan children’s book The Giant Cabbage illustrates. In this classic folktale, moose gains the help of several wildlife friends in order to get his giant cabbage to the fair. The story uses repetitive language and introduces children to problem-solving, Alaskan wildlife, and even includes a recipe for cabbage soup.

No matter the motivation of its entrants, the Giant Veggie contest sure garners a lot of attention, from young and old, residents and visitors. I've always found the display area busy, with folks gathered round to take photos. This year's entries were smaller than usual, due to lower summer temps. Still, the state radish record was broken (15.985 lbs.) and the blue-ribbon cabbage weighed in at a respectable 79 pounds. (The state record was set in 2000 with a 105.6 pound cabbage.)

While impressed by their size, I do wonder if the flavor of these vegetables is diminished by their larger-than-life stature. I must admit that seeing them doesn't bring on immediate cravings for pumpkin pie or turnip greens. Rather, I'm left wondering if there's a booth where I can find a 10-pound funnel cake. Just to get a photo, you know.

For more on Alaska’s Giant Veggies, check out these videos at the state fair web site. Or read this article at the Anchorage Daily News.



A giant turnip


A 24-pound mushroom


A typical cabbage held up in comparison to a giant Alaska cabbage