At Krause Berry Farm in Langley, Jordan Abbate’s 1,485‑pound pumpkin tipped the scales, beating Team Halliday’s 1,484‑pound entry by a single pound on Saturday, 2026.
Abbate, a Kelowna resident, devoted six months to the plant, spending several hours a day watering, pruning and preparing soil even through winter, turning the pumpkin into a living work of art.
The victory is historic: it is the first time a grower from the Interior has won the BC Giant Pumpkin Contest, which has run for 13 years.
Contest host Jeff Pelletier, who had predicted that the event’s scale could challenge records, watched the weigh‑off and noted that a 1,149‑pound squash set a new provincial record while a 131.5‑inch long gourd broke a BC record.
Abbate admitted he had little confidence before the weigh‑off, but when the scale read 1,485 pounds he felt "very satisfied". His friend, Cassidy Murrell, finished tenth with a 756‑pound pumpkin, highlighting the breadth of competition from the Kelowna area.
The contest will conclude with the awarding of trophies and certificates, and Abbate’s pumpkin will feature in the BC horticulture showcase next month.