STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A popular gardening competition on Staten Island is branching out this year, offering local growers more opportunities to showcase their green thumbs across 19 distinct categories.
Isabelle DiFiore with a football-sized eggplant she grew for the Richmond County Fair in 2025. It took first prize in the eggplant category and best in show, a feat against formidable home-farmed produce from Staten Island growers.
The expanded contest, developed in response to feedback from previous participants, now features a comprehensive lineup of produce categories including beans, beets, cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, figs, gourds, pumpkins, squash, and onions.
Pepper enthusiasts will find dedicated divisions for both sweet and hot varieties, while tomato growers can compete in five specialized categories: cherry, saladette, beefsteak, heirloom, and best San Marzano. Organizers will also present a special award for the “BIGGEST TOMATO!”
The competition celebrates local culinary heritage with a unique category: “Staten Island’s Best Cucuzza!” – honoring the Italian squash (also known as gagootz) that has become a staple in the borough’s food traditions.
Cucuzza are a baseball-sized squash colloquially known as a word that sounds like “gagootz.” The can grow to great lengths, sometimes five or six feet, as they dangle from vines and grow downward. The are edible and used in stews.
All entries must be Staten Island-grown. A professional judging panel will evaluate entries based on appearance, weight, and size.
Here is a run-down of what growers should expect:
Advanced registration is required and closes at 12 p.m. on Aug. 29.Drop-off dates: Aug. 28–29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Historic Richmond Town’s Visitor Center (enter via St. Patrick’s Place & Center Street).Entries must be grown by the exhibitor; artificial or synthetic foliage is not allowed.Optional: Include notes stating the variety of each entry.Judging: A professional panel will evaluate entries based on appearance, weight, and size. Ribbons awarded per class.Categories may be split further depending on entry volume.Enter the contest by going to this link — historicrichmondtown.org/locally-grown-contest.
Jessica B. Phillips was one of the judges at last year’s contest which featured prizes by Clark’s House of Flowers. Pamela Silvestri
Grace Selogy of Historic Richmond Town, a grower herself and caretaker of chickens, will lead the judging panel and serve as the tie-breaker judge. Joining her are Aly Stoffo (the Glam Gardener), Alan Pieluszynski (Ecological Operations Manager at Historic Richmond Town), and Jessica Phillips (Executive Director of Historic Richmond Town).
Categories may be further divided based on entry volume, and in case of ties, judges will collaborate to select winners based on overall impression.
At the 1984 Richmond County Fair, the hospital bed lead, carrying a guy with a surgical mask happened to be the winner of the bed race at the 1984 fair.(Advance/SILive.com)Richmond County Fair information
Staten Island’s Richmond County Fair is held this year on Saturday, Aug. 30, Sunday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 1 from noon to 8 p.m. It has been a community tradition since 1895, continues its legacy of showcasing local products, entertainment, and competitions.
Admission is $15 for adults, $7 for youths and $12 for seniors. Members of Historic Richmond Town receive a discount.
For the past 45 years, Historic Richmond Town has hosted this significant cultural event, which serves as the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. The fair typically attracts more than 15,000 visitors during the holiday weekend.
Historic Richmond Town’s courthouse is one of the main buildings on the campus. Silvestri
Proceeds from the event support vital preservation efforts, including the maintenance of 40 historic buildings, 112 acres of parkland, and a collection of over 100,000 artifacts at Historic Richmond Town.
Visitors planning to attend should note that ticket sales end daily at 7 p.m. A free shuttle service will operate from the Staten Island Mall Commuter Lot, with the last shuttle departing at 7:45 p.m.
The fair will proceed rain or shine, and no refunds will be issued due to weather conditions. Organizers recommend wearing supportive footwear for comfort while exploring the grounds.
Pets are not permitted at the event, though ADA service animals are welcome. Smoking is prohibited throughout the fairgrounds. Accessibility varies throughout the historic site, and detailed information can be found at historicrichmondtown.org/accessibility.
For additional information about the Richmond County Fair, visitors can check historicrichmondtown.org or call 718-351-1611, ext. 101.
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