North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Clifford Cain - uk yahoo <cc_syorks@yahoo.co.uk>]

Following on from Earnest Plutko's enquiry regarding gooseberry shows 
here in the UK.  Yes they still do take place.
Their history goes back some 200 years when those working in the 
Lancashire cotton mills grew and bred gooseberries for local 
competitions.  They used to be local affairs, but with increased 
transportation, they declined.  In 1845 there where 171 shows today 
there are 11, 10 in Cheshire and 1 in Yorkshire. 
A history of the shows can be found at 
http://www.gardeningmasterclass.co.uk/h02-01-99-05.html
Two main shows; the main show is held at Egton Bridge near Whitby on the 
east coast and takes place on the first Tuesday of August.  (They have a 
website http://www.egtongooseberryshow.org.uk/index.htm  where I leant 
that they have such competitions in Sweden.)  In Cheshire (boundary 
changes, many of the towns where in Lancashire) the Goostry show sticks 
in my mind from childhood.  Back in the early 70's this 9 year old was 
watching the local news on tv and there was a report on the show. Three 
things stuck in my head - a gooseberry show, being held in a place 
called 'Goose tree' and hairy gooseberries.  I wanted to grow red hairy 
ones, so next spring went to Woolworths and bought a plant for two and a 
half pennies; the variety was Careless - green and smooth!  May not have 
worked out as I intended but got me interested.
The main issue with the old varieties is that they are susceptible to 
American gooseberry mildew and the modern resistant berries are small.  
I have to admit to having given up trying to grow the old varieties 
organically; a number of  them are sulphur shy.
Competitions vary, some weigh the fruit in dram weights, the largest 
being 35 grams with is the equivalent of 62 grams / 2.19oz. Others work 
as a knock out competition, two berries going on the beam balance and 
the n challengers adding their heavies berries.
Whilst they did have gooseberry shows in the North East of England, 
their main obsession was with leeks, particularly pot leeks.  Again they 
used to be numerous, but have declined.  Local pubs used to host the 
competitions, prized being the likes of towels and sheets.  I am at 
Gateshead show at the end of the month and will take photo's of the show 
and post them on Flickr.

I know of your giant pumpkin competitions but did the tradition of 
gooseberry shows transfer to the States?

Regards
Clifford
Doncaster, UK