Now a standing tradition at Bearss Groves, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., Tampa, the longtime fruit and vegetable market has once again put a giant pumpkin on display, with this year’s gourd weighing in at a whopping 1,500 pounds. Arriving by truck from Michigan on Oct. 12, it is the largest pumpkin the farm stand has ever displayed and currently holds the record for the largest pumpkin in Florida. Yearly, Bearss Groves owner Barry Lawrance combs the country to find an impressively sized pumpkin that customers and patrons can take a free photo with for a few weeks. The pumpkin, and Bearss Groves, which has been in business for more than 100 years, sits under a massive oak tree, estimated to be more than 400 years old. Bearss Groves is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
