From towering fruits to colossal sculptures, the world’s largest food crop and livestock attractions captivate visitors with their impressive size and cultural significance. These monuments celebrate various crops’ rich heritage and economic importance across different regions.
Here’s a list of some of some of the biggest statues that have been dedicated to foods and the farms that produce them:
The World’s Largest Pistachio
Location: Alamogordo, New Mexico
Standing 30 feet tall, the trademarked World’s Largest Pistachio at McGinn’s Pistachio Tree Ranch pays homage to the region’s thriving pistachio farming industry. Tim McGinn, the ranch’s owner, initially said he wanted to honor the memory of his father, who founded the pistachio and grape farm.
New Mexico, California, and Arizona produce 100 percent of all the commercially grown pistachios in the world, with $16 million contributed to Arizona and New Mexico.
The World’s Largest Cow
Location: New Salem, North Dakota
Salem Sue, the World’s Largest Holstein Cow, stands prominently above Interstate 94 near New Salem, North Dakota. Erected in 1974 by the New Salem Lions Club to promote local Holstein herds, this 38-foot-tall, 50-foot-long fiberglass sculpture quickly became a popular roadside attraction. Inspired by the success of the World’s Largest Buffalo in Jamestown, North Dakota, Salem Sue was built to honor area dairy farmers and their high-quality milk production. The statue, visible from five miles away, cost around $40,000 to build and was funded by local dairymen, farmers, and businesses.
The World’s Largest Pecan
Location: Seguin, Texas
The saga of the world’s largest pecan began in 1962 when a dentist built a 1,000-pound, five-foot-long pecan in Seguin, Texas, in honor of Spanish explorer Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. This pecan held the title until 1982, when Brunswick, Missouri, built a 12,000-pound, 12-foot-long replica of their patented Starking Hardy Giant pecan.
Despite Brunswick’s reminders, Seguin continued to claim the title. In 2011, Seguin finally unveiled a new 16-foot-long pecan at the Texas Agricultural and Heritage Center, reinforcing that everything is bigger in Texas.
The World’s Largest Chile Pepper
Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
Near Hatch, New Mexico, in Las Cruces, stands the world’s largest chile pepper, stretching over 47 feet in length at the Big Chile Inn and Suites. This vibrant sculpture, made from concrete and steel, celebrates the area’s agricultural prowess and cultural identity. Created by local artisans and engineers, it is a testament to the community’s deep-rooted connection to chile farming and its flavorful contributions to global cuisine.
The World’s Largest Peach
Location: Clanton, Alabama
Known as the “Peach Capital of Alabama,” Clanton is home to one of the world’s largest peaches, which stands over 130 feet tall. The Big Peach, is actually a giant peach-shaped water tower that’s become a well-known symbol of the city.
Painted to resemble a peach with vibrant colors, a stem, and a leaf, it has become a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Clanton’s agricultural heritage.
The World’s Largest Potato
Location: Idaho
Originally launched in 2012 to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission, the truck’s immense popularity transformed it into a yearly tradition and a pop culture icon. This 4-ton potato travels the country promoting Idaho potatoes. Alongside its promotional mission, the truck supports small charities through its A Big Helping program.
In total, the truck weighs 44,320 pounds, and would have taken 7,000 years to grow (if it was a real potato), and would offer up 20,217 servings of mashed potatoes.
The World’s Largest Peanut
Location: Ashburn, Georgia
Although many towns boast large peanut monuments, the King of Giant Peanuts reigns supreme from its cylindrical brick perch along Interstate 75 in Ashburn, Georgia. This iconic symbol, designated the Official Peanut Monument of Georgia by state law, cannot be obstructed from public view.
The original monument, erected on February 15, 1975, was designed by A.R. Smith, Jr. and dedicated to Nora Lawrence Smith. Despite being knocked down by Hurricane Michael in October 2018, it was rebuilt in steel and restored to its original spot in June 2023.
The World’s Largest Apple
Location: Colborne, Ontario
The world’s largest apple, located just east of Toronto, is a notable attraction. This 35-foot-tall apple, built by Vout Welding of Cobourg, is part of a pie factory, restaurant, souvenir shop, and small amusement park. Visitors can enter the giant apple and enjoy a view from the observation deck. The site offers a unique experience, blending dining and entertainment with a quirky, oversized fruit theme. As a fun bonus, the venue also sells apples, adding to its charm and appeal.
The World’s Largest Orange
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
In 1971, Orange World in Kissimmee, Florida, opened its first gift shop on Highway 192. In 1984, the shop was transformed into a 60-foot-tall orange. As of May 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that Florida was expected to produce 16.1 million boxes of oranges, second only to California’s 45.1 million boxes.
The World’s Largest Ear of Corn
Location: Olivia, Minnesota
A 25-foot-tall corn monument stands on Highway 212 atop a gazebo, welcoming travelers to the state’s top corn and soybean production county. Erected in the summer of 1973, the monument commemorates Olivia as the birthplace of modern hybrid seed corn production and the “Corn Capital of the Midwest.” Recognized by the World Record Academy, it holds the world record as the largest ear of corn.
The World’s Largest Pumpkin
Location: Roland, Manitoba
In Manitoba, you’ll find the world’s largest pumpkin. The giant squash replica weighs 1,684 pounds, stands 12 feet tall, and measures 12 feet wide. Constructed from steel rods and covered in orange fiberglass, it was created in 1990 during the Roland Centennial to honor Edgar VanWyck, the “Pumpkin King.” VanWyck and the town of Roland earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for growing the largest pumpkin in the world in 1977.
The World’s Largest Tomato
Location: Leamington, Ontario
Designed in 1960 and built in 1961 as a collaborative effort between the HJ Heinz Company of Canada Ltd. and the Town of Leamington, the Big Tomato is located near the Heinz factory and has served as a tourist information booth for nearly six decades until 2019. The 20-foot replica of a tomato represented the town as the tomato-producing capital of Canada and the home of the annual Tomato Festival.
In 2024, Leamington officials opted to put $50,000 toward the structure’s restoration.
