Rider University Breaks Guinness World Record for Longest Line of Fruits

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Nov 09, 2014, 05:22 ET

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Nov. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, November 8, Rider University undertook its first ever Guinness World Records attempt to create the world's Longest Line of Fruits. Six hours and 10,036 cranberries later, the University and hundreds of students, staff, alumni and friends who painstakingly strung the giant string of fruit, were named official Guinness World Record holders.

Rider University broke the Guinness World Record for the Longest Line of Fruits by creating a giant string of 10,036 cranberries.

The world record attempt was a highlight of Rider's 150^th anniversary celebration, as a way to honor the university's founder and namesake, Andrew J. Rider, a cranberry farmer who introduced the cranberry to the queen of England. She later nicknamed him "The Cranberry King of New Jersey."

Until yesterday's attempt at Rider, the record for the Longest Line of Fruits was 6,010 peaches strung in Italy on August 14, 2014. In order to break the record, Rider had to string 6,011 cranberries. As part of the world record rules, every piece of fruit must touch the next one in the line.

Philip Robertson, an official adjudicator from Guinness World Records, was present for Rider's record attempt. He oversaw the university's stringing process from beginning to end and counted every cranberry before declaring the record broken approximately six hours after beginning the process.

In front of a packed crowd in the university's Alumni Gym, Robertson announced that Rider University had officially strung 10,036 cranberries, far more than needed to break the world record.

To make the world record attempt a reality, Rider received a generous donation of cranberries from alumna Judy Simons Church '80, owner and operator of Simons Berry Farm in Tabernacle, N.J., a 275-acre farm that produces about 650,000 pounds of cranberries per year. The 184-year-old farm is located not far from the cranberry farm originally owned and operated by Andrew J. Rider. Church, a boardmember of the American Cranberry Growers Association, said New Jersey is the third-largest cranberry producer in the country.

In an effort to be environmentally conscious and meet additional Guinness World Record rules, the cranberries were strung on biodegradable thread. After the record attempt was determined successful, the university placed the string of cranberries on trees and bushes around campus so the wildlife could enjoy the "fruits of their labor."

About Rider University

Rider University, founded in 1865, is a comprehensive, private, coeducational university located in Lawrenceville and Princeton, New Jersey. With approximately 5,500 students studying at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the areas of business, education, liberal arts and sciences, music and the fine and performing arts, Rider's academic experience offers a personal approach that is celebrated for educating talented students for citizenship, life and career success. During the 2014-2015 academic year, Rider will celebrate its 150^th anniversary. More information can be found at www.rider.edu/150.

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SOURCE Rider University