Damage to country's vegetable crops still being calculated
Local vegetable growers are in full “clean up, tidy up” mode, says Pukekohe Vegetable Growers’ Association (PVGA) president, Kirit Makan.
"I am proud to work in such a dynamic industry and to be part of providing New Zealanders with fresh and healthy food every day," she told Hort News.
Faulkner, who was elected as PVGA president in 2019, was recognised for having passion for working on behalf of New Zealand's horticulture industry, as well as commitment to developing as a business leader and successful grower.
Faulkner says she was born to vegetable growing, "being put in an onion bin as a young child when my parents did not want me to get run over in the packhouse".
Twelve years ago, she returned to the family business and says that "to be successful, growers always need to be smarter about the way they grow".
As PVGA president she has strenuously advocated for growers in the areas of land use, the environment and labour.
During Auckland's previous lockdowns, Faulkner helped ensure that Pukekohe growers could continue to pick, pack and transport their produce, to New Zealanders around the country.
Other awards were also handed out at the HortNZ Conference. Industry service awards were provided to three people for long-staning and significant service to the sector:
Tim Jones, who recently retired as chair of Summerfruit New Zealand and held the position for five years. He has been chief executive of 45 South Management for more than 20 years and is passionate about summerfruit, "willingly sharing his knowledge and expertise, and advocating for the industry". Covid has seen Jones focussing on labour and ensuring summerfruit can get to export markets, despite ongoing freight issues.
Brent Mathieson is described by HortNZ as a "totally committed and loyal servant to the New Zealand horticulture industry". He started his horticulture career in 1979. Mathieson has focused on seed, in particular, sweetcorn and dwarf bean varieties for processing, but as he neared retirement, he's looked at outdoor crops such as cauliflower, onions, broccoli, lettuce and carrots.
David Watts left the commercial world more than 30 years ago to take up kiwifruit and avocado orcharding in Katikati. He has filled many grower representation roles, at New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated and the Katikati Fruit Growers’ Association, as chairman and as an executive member. Watts has contributed to more than 40 government submissions and has only just stepped down as Fruit News editor and advertising manager.
