In a laboratory deep in the heart of Fillmore, California, a mad scientist named Tony Dighera gave a face to a monster pumpkin … literally.
Photo by Tony Dighera
Tony’s monstrous pumpkins are organic, but that’s not the reason they’ll fetch up to $125 apiece. That’s because these pumpkins aren’t carved, they’re grown into little likenesses of their muse, Mr. Frankenstein himself. Tony came up with the idea to create plastic molds that fit around the pumpkin plant when the fruit’s still small.
Photo by Tony Dighera
But his vision wasn’t … small, that is. He grew over 5,500 pumpkins in his first season on his 40-acre organic farm near L.A. For over 30 years, Tony worked as a tractor operator for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. But his real love was farming, and in 2003, he bought his small farm and struggled to make ends meet as an organic farmer. Then, inspired by a photo of a square watermelon grown in Japan, Tony got the idea to grow his vegetables in shapes, starting with square and heart-shaped watermelons, then imprinting logos onto melons for Whole Foods, then trying his hand at creating a monster. And that’s translating into a monster business … Tony sold his entire crop to suppliers for $75 apiece. Let’s see, roughly 5,000 x $75. Monster math, I mean, monster mash.
That is flippin’ awesome!
What an incredible work of art. And edible too!! This is such a unique and fun project that turned into some serious money. The great thing about Tony’s pumpkins are that you can purchase one already with a Halloween face, enjoy it all October and then turn it into favorite pumpkin recipes. I wonder if the meat has a good flavor for cooking?
Ive seen cute molds for gourds and squash, so it was a matter of time before someone with imagination came up with this idea for pumpkins , just super!! Goes way beyond just scratching your name on a pumpkin when it’s young and watching it grow ever so big.
My father used to put a young cucumber on the vine into a small mouthed bottle and then once it got large, pluck it and ask the neighborhood kids how they thought he got it in there.
OOOOOOOOOOOO Awesome!!!!!! we are a big family of Halloween lovers!! and MJ I love that cucumber in the bottle! The kids in our family would love that!
Great idea!
Good on Mr. Dighera for his new business.