Hort industry dishes out awards

Held in Wellington on 27 August, the awards are presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to commercial fruit and vegetable growing in New Zealand.

The Horticulture Bledisloe Cup, the premium industry award for those who have made an outstanding and meritorious contribution to the New Zealand horticulture industry, was bestowed on Andrew Fenton.

For more than five decades, Fenton has brought his passion for the industry, experience, practical common-sense approach and constructive team attitude to many aspects of the sector.

The current president and chair of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation and chair of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust which he has served on since 2003, his deep interest in industry good matters, kiwifruit and the wider horticulture industry has benefited all growers.

The President's Trophy, which recognises a person showing promise in a horticulture industry business and/or leadership, was presented to Daniel Kenna, an orchard manager and researcher with Katikati-based KW KIWI for significant contributions in the fields of research, community, innovation and sustainability.

As co-chair of Future Farmers NZ, Kenna established the ION Impact Orchard Network programme in partnership with Zespri, designed to develop, improve and demonstrate sustainable and effective orchard practices.

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The Sustainable Innovation Award was presented to Gordon Skipage and Pranoy Pal of Te Puke-based Trevelyan Pack and Cool Ltd.

Skipage and Pal, Trevelyan’s head of technical and kiwifruit technical manager respectively, are working with research partners conducting regenerative agriculture trials to provide evidence-based knowledge for the New Zealand kiwifruit industry.

This will lay the groundwork for further research to help the industry move towards sustainable low-carbon production and climate resilience.

The award celebrates those who are developing or have developed technologies, an innovation or undertaken research that increased productivity, profitability or environmental sustainability in the horticulture sector.

The Manaaki Award, which recognises a person, group or organisation that has risen beyond the call of duty to support employers and workers, was awarded to a cross-collaborative team comprising T&G Global, Hastings Health Centre and the OrbitProtect/nib NZ.

In 2024, the team established the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) satellite health clinic at T&G’s Whakatu packhouse in Hawke’s Bay - accessible to all RSE workers in the region.

A first for New Zealand, the clinic proved so successful that a pilot programme was extended to May 2025 and the clinic will run again for the 2026 RSE season.

The Horticulture New Zealand Life Member award recognizing distinguished and honourable service to horticulture went to Stewart Burns, managing director of the Camelot Fresh Fruit Company in Hastings and a member of the Summerfruit NZ board of directors since 2014.

As a strong supporter of broader sector development and grower representation, Burns is also known for sharing his knowledge and fostering collaboration among growers, introducing new orchard techniques and trialling emerging fruit varieties.

Horticulture New Zealand board chair Bernadine Guilleux said the award winners showed exceptional dedication to worker health and wellbeing, development of innovative and sustainable practices and growth of the sector.

“The horticulture sector is vital to our country, both by providing healthy affordable food for New Zealanders and contributing to the economy.

“From the growers and researchers to those supporting and supplying the industry, these are people who are committed to achieving the very best for their customers, our people and New Zealanders across the country.”