The Biggest & Best Vegetable Contest

Every August the finest fruits and vegetables grown in Iredell and adjacent counties compete for the title of The Biggest and Best Vegetable in judging hosted by the Evening Farmer's Market in Statesville, N.C.

The vegetable contest began four years ago after a suggestion from master gardener Grady Mills. Since then, vegetables and fruits of every shape and size have earned coveted titles, including a 14-pound Bonnie hybrid cabbage and a 44-pound Stars and Stripes watermelon - the largest entry ever. From squash and blueberries to luffa and eggplant, nearly every fruit and vegetable imaginable can be found in the Biggest and Best Vegetable Contest.

According to Madge Eggena, a director of the Farmer's Market, even 2003's poor weather conditions which made growing vegetables a bigger challenge, couldn't dampen enthusiasm for the event. "Much sweat and care went into this year's event as vegetable growers tended, coddled and coached their crops into becoming prize winners," she said.

The Evening Farmer's Market, held at Pecan Park in downtown Statesville, runs from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of April through the last Thursday in October. The market reflects an emerging trend toward twilight events found around the nation, according to Fred Johnson, a Farmer's Market director. The evening markets "provide a service for downtown business people because they can't make it in the morning," he explains.

The market offers people a great opportunity to unwind after work. Visitors enjoy lemonade, ice tea and pastries while shopping for their vegetables. And because the market is open into the fall months, home gardeners can enjoy purchases of fresh local produce long after exhausting their own home-grown supply. Pecan Park is located in downtown Statesville between Waters and Broad Streets. To learn more about the Biggest and Best Vegetable Contest and the Evening Farmer's Market, call Fred Johnson at 704-546-5324 or Madge Eggena at 704-873-3361.

by Beth Hardy