James Blair Named 2026 Young Grower National Champion
James Blair, an agronomist for AS Wilcox and the Pukekohe regional champion, has won the 2026 Young Grower national title.
The cup goes to an outstanding contributor to horticulture, this year Thorpe, who received it at the Horticulture Conference 2019.
The award citation noted Thorpe has been in horticulture for 50 years, including planting the first commercial kiwifruit in 1969. By 1975 he had developed Gisborne’s first, seamless kiwifruit packhouse and export facility.
In 1988 he became a founding member of the New Zealand Persimmon Industry Council, of which he remains an active member. As an exporter he helped push into China and the US.
His colleagues say he is a “commercially mature and unfailingly courteous gentleman and statesman of the industry” and known to be “relentless in representing the growers of the Gisborne region”.
Thorpe says it is an honour to receive the award and particularly satisfying since he has spent most of his working life in this dynamic and forward looking industry.
“In the twilight of my career I am particularly honoured to join the impressive list of people who have their names engraved on this magnificent trophy,” he said.
The Bledisloe Cup for horticulture was first presented in 1931 by Governor-general Lord Bledisloe, going to the orchardist who mounted the best exhibit of NZ apples at the Imperial Fruit Show. It is one of several cups Lord Bledisloe presented to NZ and resembles rugby’s Bledisloe Cup.
