THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994 TAG: 9408030120
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Every year, just when you think it's safe to slice into a homegrown tomato, Portsmouth's backyard gardeners start tying up Currents' phones with tales of mammoth melons, whacky watermelons and red peppers that look like Elvis.
``Traditionally, newspaper editors have grimaced at the idea of photographing vegetables,'' former city editor Sam Barnes admitted to readers eight years ago when he threw in the towel and invited them to come on down.
He called it the Incredible Vegetable Contest. Most Currents staffers call it the contest that won't die.
But we know when we're licked. So go ahead and bring in that swan-shaped cuke, that tomato that looks like a baseball glove.
We'll take vegetable entries from 9 to 10 a.m. daily, beginning Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 12, at the Currents office, Suite 100, 307 County St. We'll photograph the produce, weigh it, measure it and record the information while you wait.
But don't bring them in before Wednesday. A photographer won't be here to capture that special moment between vegetable and owner.
Winners in the three categories - Most Humongous, Most Artistic and All-Round Most Bizarre - will receive $25 gift certificates. by CNB