increase font size
BRETT PARKER was crowned the New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower 2014, beating six other competitors at the national competition on Thursday, April 10.
Held in Pukekohe, the day-long event saw seven contestants from around New Zealand go head-to-head in a series of theoretical and practical challenges needed to run a successful vegetable growing business.
Parker (26) works at Hinemoa Quality Producers in Pukekawa as an assistant crop manager, and won $1500 cash, $1000 for professional development and a field trip to visit other vegetable producers.
He also won a one-day media and presentation course in Wellington, an all-expenses paid trip to Christchurch to compete for the national 2014 Young Grower of the Year title in August and attendance to the 2015 Horticulture New Zealand Conference.
"I'm glad I got to compete against six other young vegetable growers who really knew their stuff. The level of skill I had to beat was incredible, and we all went above and beyond to showcase the skills you need to be a good grower," says Parker.
"Competing for the Young Grower of the Year title in August will certainly be a step up from this, and I'm definitely going to use the next few months to make sure I'm as prepared as I can be to give it my best shot."
Kiran Hari, co-ordinator of the competition, said "Everyone in this industry knows this event demands a lot from the young growers. They put on a great show and we're all quite excited to keep an eye on them as they progress with their careers".
Andrew Hutchinson (26) from Pukekohe was placed second and Herman Fourie (27) from Mangere was placed third.
The Young Grower of the Year, along with the NZ Young Fruit Grower and NZ Young Vegetable Grower awards, will be announced at an awards dinner on August 15.
The Nelson Young Fruit Grower 2014 was the first regional competition on February 14, followed by the New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower 2014 on 10 April in Pukekohe. The Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower 2014 competition is set to take place on 5-6 June and the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2014 on 18 June.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
There is an appeal to New Zealanders to buy local citrus fruit.
Avocado growers are reporting a successful season, but some are struggling to keep their operations afloat following years of bad weather.
Horticulture and commercial vegetable growers in particular stand to be major beneficiaries of radical proposals by government to make sweeping changes to RMA regulations.
Lydia Goodman has been crowned the Central Otago 2025 Young Grower of the Year regional winner.
Federated Farmers is joining major industry-good bodies in not advocating for the Government to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…
