It was a dark and stormy night...no scratch that. It was a perfect fall day outside of Central Market Westgate. The grackels were cawing and the sun was shining, and there it sat, proudly awaiting its fate. After weeks of perching in Protein Alley, it was time for our proud pumpkin to come back outside to meet its maker, but not without fulfilling its dreams first.  

The pumpkin's destiny was to raise money to give to the Capital Area Food Bank by selling a "guess the weight" ticket.  $1 bought you a guess, and help it did – overall, $670 was raised! 

Many guesses were made, some good and some bad, but only one could win. Drum roll please...the pumpkin weighed 1,143 pounds!!! Mike Fitzgerald of South Austin was the lucky winner of a $300 Central Market Thanksgiving Shopping Spree! Great guessing Mike!

(Insert sad music here). And now, for the pumpkin's dramatic exit. There it sat in the beautiful morning sun. We cranked up the chainsaw and began cutting, orange flesh was flying everywhere. The pumpkin split open revealing its alien-like insides. The seeds were then harvested and sent back to the farmer to ensure future prize-winning offspring. A moment of silence please...and now let's celebrate Thanksgiving!