Giant Pumpkin Weighs 773 Taiwanese Catties, Breaks Record; Lin Chien-hsun of Tamsui Repeats as Pumpkin King

Central News Agency Report

(Central News Agency reporter Huang Hsu-sheng, New Taipei, June 13) The Tamsui District Farmers' Association held the National Giant Pumpkin Competition today. Lin Chien-hsun, a local farmer from Tamsui, optimized planting density, mastered pollination timing, practiced vine pressing, and implemented pest and disease control to grow a massive 773 Taiwanese catty pumpkin—breaking his own previous record of 732 catties and winning the heavyweight division for the second year in a row.

The New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau released a press statement stating that the National Giant Pumpkin Competition is the most prestigious pumpkin contest in Taiwan. Lu Chun-hung, Chairman of the Tamsui Farmers' Association, said the event promotes technical exchange and quality improvement. This year, over 150 farmers participated, including competitors from Taoyuan and Nantou, in addition to New Taipei City. Cranes were even deployed to set up the exhibition area.

According to the Agriculture Bureau, Lin Chien-hsun from Tamsui won the 'Heavyweight Division.' Not only did he achieve back-to-back victories, but his pumpkin weighed an astonishing 773 Taiwanese catties (approximately 463.8 kilograms), surpassing his own 732-catty record from last year.

Lin Chien-hsun said that growing giant pumpkins requires meticulous attention to detail, including vine pressing and pest control. He noted that due to hotter weather this year, many farmers over-irrigated their crops in an attempt to maintain moisture, leading to pumpkin cracking.

In the 'Creative Division,' Wu Chen-hua from Tamsui took first place. Huang Chin-cheng from Shenkeng won the 'Edible Pumpkin Quality Division,' while Hua Ming-huang from Sanchih claimed the top spot in the 'New Taipei Quality Division,' which evaluates both appearance and weight.

Democratic Progressive Party legislator and New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui attended the award ceremony and purchased local agricultural products such as Tamsui pumpkins and Sanchih honey to show her support. She emphasized that production and marketing should be integrated, using innovative concepts to build city branding and identity. She advocated for government-led collective efforts to attract consumers through local stories and create a more sustainable consumption cycle.

Later, Kuomintang New Taipei mayoral candidate Lee Sih-chuan also visited the venue and happily posed for photos with champion Lin Chien-hsun. He praised the Tamsui Farmers' Association for revitalizing fallow land through pumpkin cultivation, calling the results remarkable and beneficial for both tourism and agricultural development in Tamsui. He highlighted that the initiative restores land value and promotes agricultural growth, and expressed hope that New Taipei farmers will continue refining their cultivation techniques to one day grow a 1,000-catty giant pumpkin.

The Agriculture Bureau announced that the winning high-quality pumpkins will be publicly displayed at the Golden Waterfront Plaza behind Tamsui MRT Station over the next two days. Visitors can enjoy interactive activities such as game booths, lucky draws, and pumpkin DIY experiences. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150613