If tales about 138-pound cabbages, 65-pound cantaloupes, and 35-pound broccoli stalks sound far fetched, you haven’t met the growers who produce these giant vegetables. Kathy Liska, Crop Superintendent at the Alaska State Fair, says some crops are so big you can’t even recognize what they are. What makes these veggies so massive? 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 Alaska growers enjoy 20 hours a day of sunlight during the summer months. This gives Alaskan produce longer photosynthesis window each day, resulting in more plant material and a sweeter taste. “People often try our carrots and think we’ve put sugar on them,” said Brown. Scott Robb, the grower who holds the record for the largest cabbage, says it’s not just a matter of climate. “If you don’t have the right genetic material, you’re never going to achieve that ultimate goal. I think you would be surprised how much science and technology goes into this,” said Robb. 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. Every year, there are two rounds of crop competitions at the Alaskan State Fair, with separate contests for pumpkins and cabbages. Grand prize winners are afterward donated to the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center. This year, the Alaska State Fair will be held from August 15 to September 1 in Palmer, Alaska.
