The world’s largest pumpkin is named Michael Jordan, was grown in Anoka, Minnesota and took first place at the 50th Annual Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay Monday.

The 2,749-pound gourd not only earned grower Travis Gienger a $30,000 first place prize and bragging rights for a year, it also topped the world’s previous record-holding pumpkin by 47 pounds. 

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Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.