TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A farmer surnamed Lin (林) from New Taipei’s Tamsui District won the heavyweight category at this year’s New Taipei Pumpkin Contest with a 440-kg pumpkin.

According to New Taipei’s Agriculture Department, the city’s annual pumpkin contest is Taiwan’s most prominent gourd competition. This year’s 14th edition attracted more than 150 farmers from across the country.

Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) attended the award ceremony on Saturday, praising Tamsui District for its success in promoting pumpkin cultivation. He noted the planting area has expanded from 7 hectares in 2012 to 72 hectares this year, with annual output reaching 2,158 tonnes, per CNA. He commended the area’s soil, water quality, and air for producing high-quality pumpkins.

Lin, an eight-time champion, said he improved his technique after placing second last year with a 374-kg pumpkin. This year, he selected a blossom surrounded by abundant vines and leaves for pollination, grew only one pumpkin per greenhouse instead of two and used nets to protect the fruit from damage.

The creativity category was won by a farmer surnamed Hsu (徐) from Jinshan District, the flavor category by Kao (高) from Shenkeng District, and the quality category by Tsai (蔡) from Tamsui District.

A farmer surnamed Lin also took first prize at the Wujie Township office’s watermelon competition on Sunday with a 29-kg watermelon and received a cash award of NT$3,000 (US$92).