AGGC : What is it, why is it, and what it is not.

Every once in a while, I'll get a phone call or an email the prompts me to reiterate exactly what the Atlantic Giant Genetics Cooperative is. I received one of these today. Below are the top 5 questions asked of me regarding the Atlantic Giant Genetics Cooperative :
 
1. What is it?
 
The A.G.G.C. persists mainly as a web site. This web site consists of information on over 3000 pumpkins and squash, 780 growers, and almost 100 weigh-off sites. It features general info, hierarchy tree, progeny trees, photos, all kinds of neat queries and articles and a whole lot more. It's purpose is to enable the user to research and select AG pumpkin strains in an easy and enjoyable manner. It is the best web site of it's type. Hell, it's the ONLY web site of it's type.
 
2. Is it a governing body like the GPC or WPC?
 
Not at all. The A.G.G.C. does not establish weighoff rules or standards. It does not determine whether or not your pumpkin should have been DQ'd at your local weighoff. It also does not participate in any squash/pumpkin judging debates. If it did though, it would lump all pumpkins and squash into one big category AND BE DONE WITH IT!! Good grief.
 
2. Who is the target audience?
 
The A.G.G.C. was never intended to appeal to the masses. Just how many people in the world really need to know the genetic background on the 815 Checkon pumpkin? Answer : not freakin' many. The site is designed to appeal to a relative few individuals who have a genuine need for detailed info on the Atlantic Giant pumpkin.
 
3. Is it free?
 
No. Enrollment is limited to those willing to donate pumpkin information on a consistent basis or by making a donation of the  ungodly sum of $10 US dollars. Either method pretty much gets you eternal membership. Not a bad deal considering membership fees of many pumpkin organizations and the usable resources you gain. Your donation dollars go mainly toward web server rental costs so don't bitch about it.  
 
4. Why not get sponsors and make the site free to it's members?
 
Again, the site was not conceived to draw in every person in the world that can spell the word 'pumpkin'. I cannot stress this enough. For one thing, a very large user base would slow down the site's response. For another thing, I would prefer to limit access to those would really need it. Such individuals don't mind paying a few bucks for information you simply cannot find anywhere else in the world. I like to think of the A.G.G.C. as a small, elite, pumpkin club. I'm not saying that it is, just that I like to think of it that way.
 
5. Are you making a profit from the web site?
 
You've got to be kidding. The web server rental alone ends up costing me a couple hundred out-of-pocket dollars a year regardless of donations. Quit asking stupid questions.
 
6. Who does the work?
 
I designed, created, and maintain the web site. It's data is driven from a database maintained by a computer program I developed  6 years ago called CucurByte. Information is donated by many different individuals and entered into the database by Rock Rivard and myself.
 
 
More work than you can imagine has gone into what you see on the A.G.G.C. web site. It will always remain unsponsored, privately owned, unaffiliated, and legally protected for many seasons to come. Enjoy it and learn from it.
 
Mike Nepereny
A.G.G.C.
 
 
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