increase font size
GRAEME HODGES has won the 10th Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower 2014 competition, defeating eight other contenders from around the region.
Hodges, 29, works at Rutherglen Orchard as an orchard manager. Based in Havelock North, he won $1000 cash, a grant of $500 donated by Pickmee Education Scholarship for further training and development, a trip to Nelson provided by Turners and Growers and a wheel barrow full of horticultural supplies from Fruitfed Supplies in Hastings.
"I found myself applying all my experience throughout the competition. It was full on - the other guys really knew what they were doing and that meant I had to put my best foot forward at every stage," says Hodges.
Nine young fruit growers battled it out on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 June at the Hawke's Bay A&P Society Showground in Hastings, undertaking a range of theoretical and practical challenges that tested skills required to run a successful fruit growing business.
As a Young Grower of the Year finalist, Hodges also won a one-day media and presentation course in Auckland and an all-expenses paid trip to Christchurch to compete for the national 2014 Young Grower of the Year title in August.
"It's such a great feeling to walk away with the top prize, and I'm looking forward to competing at a national level in August. These competitions are an outstanding opportunity for any young grower in New Zealand. I'd recommend it to anyone who is serious about getting ahead in the industry and encourage employers to push suitable candidates into the competition." says Hodges.
"We are incredibly pleased with the results this year. All the young fruit growers did a great job and everyone was watching them eagerly as they progressed through the challenges," says Robyn Stallard, co-ordinator of the competition.
"After a close competition with eight competitors, I'm confident Graeme will give young growers from the rest of the country a real run for their money at the national competition."
Jamie Kershaw (29) from Mr Apple New Zealand's Close Orchard in Mangateretere was placed second, and Lewis Houkamau (29) from Crasborn Group in Flaxmere took third place.
Images from the Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower 2014 competition are available on request.
OPINION: Central Hawke's Bay farmer Mark Warren recently told the Hawke's Bay Times it's time for a conversation about allowing skilled and properly equipped locals to help councils clear debris and reopen roads after severe weather events.
"Heart-breaking" is how growers are describing the waste of fruit left unpicked to rot due to lack of labour - made worse by Covid.
Hastings District Council has given the government a plan to address the seasonal labour shortage faced by the horticulture and viticulture sectors due to Covid-19.
Hawke’s Bay celebrated its inaugural biodiversity field day in early February, with grower Xan Harding leading a posse of viticulturist utes on a tiki tour around the wider Bridge Pa area.
Two new herds will require further investigation as Hawke’s Bay battles a tuberculosis outbreak.
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
A fair question has been raised about how member-funded organisations should conduct themselves when taking a public position on any…
OPINION: It really is getting harder to lampoon government bureaucrats when they do such a good job of it themselves.…
