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Summer is the time for county fairs. Have you ever had an urge to enter any of your produce to be judged at the fair?

Ross Penhallegon, Oregon State University Extension Service horticulture agent and an experienced produce judge, has a number of hints for entering produce at local fairs this summer.


Get a copy of the fair exhibitors' handbook. This will contain the exhibition rules for fruits and vegetables-the "who,what, when where and why" of your particular county fair competitions.

Choose a group of fruits or vegetables closely alike as possible in color, shape and size. Judges prefer uniformity.

Entries should be free of blemishes. Do not enter produce scarred by garden pests. Discard vegetables marred by disease, rough handling or careless cultivation.

Select normal-sized vegetables that are ready to be consumed or cooked, at their best and most flavorful.

"Vegetables and fruits should be what's excepted by industry," said Penhallegon. "Just go look at what is sold in the grocery stores and then pick your produce for contest accordingly."

Choose specimens typical for the variety in shape, color, and size. For example, tomatoes are expected to be evenly round-don't select oblong tomatoes that look more like squashes in shape. Save the strange specimens for the"weirdest vegetable" contest.

For more information about entering produce for competition, contact local county fair offices or local county offices of the OSU Extension Service.

Colleen Taylor, Manager
2610 Grove St
Baker City, OR 97814

Phone: (541) 523-7881
Fax: (541) 524-9567
E-mail:
www.bakercounty.org/fair_/fair.html