Monday, 20 January 2020 12:09

Women step up for BOP Young Fruit Grower competition

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

(Top L-R) Harry Singh, Will Milsom, Megan Fox, Bryce Morrison, and Emily Crum. (Bottom L-R) Melissa van den Heuvel, Katherine Bell, and Aurora McGee Thomas.

A diverse group of young fruit growers have stepped up to compete for the 2020 Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower competition.

“After MC Jackie Clarkes’ call last year for more females to compete, it’s great to see that five out of the eight contestants are female,” says chair of the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Growers upskilling committee, Andrew Dawson.

The competition, which also accepts participants from the Northland region, is now in its 13^th year of celebrating young and upcoming leaders of the horticulture industry.

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. CEO Nikki Johnson says the competition is important to New Zealand horticulture and meeting labour demand.

“Horticultural industries such as kiwifruit are expanding rapidly and we need skilled young people to help lead the industry to meet this demand. The BOP Young Fruit Grower competition is an excellent chance to celebrate and showcase the talent that we have,” says Johnson.

The eight young growers vying in the competition are:

• Emily Crum, Orchard Manager, Total Orchard Management Services, Whangarei

• Bryce Morrison, Technical Services and Innovation, Fruition, Tauranga

• Aurora McGee-Thomas, Trainee Orchard Manager, Strathmurray Farms, Tauranga

• Melissa van den Heuvel, Industry Systems Associate, NZ Avocado, Tauranga

• Katherine Bell, Avocado Grower Representative, Trevelyans, Katikati

• Megan Fox, Orchard Technical Advisor, Southern Cross Horticulture, Tauranga

• William Milsom, Machinery Operations Manager, Oropi Management Services, Oropi

• Harry Singh, Orchard Manager, Prospa Total Orchard Management, Opotiki

The winner of the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower competition goes forward to the national final of the NZ Young Fruit Grower on 26-27 August 2020 in Wellington.

The competition will take place from 9.00am to 3.00pm on Saturday, 8 February at the Te Puke A&P Show and is followed by a gala dinner and awards ceremony on Wednesday, 12 February at Trustpower Baypark in Mount Maunganui.

Featured

Ballance Returns to Profit, Announces $18.2m Rebate

Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.

Mark Cameron Steps Down, Reflects on Farmers' Voice

When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.

What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?

Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.

Ex-National MP: Coup Attempt Could Cost Luxon the Election

I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

RMA Reform Still on Track Despite Wellington Drama — Feds

Despite political shenanigans in Wellington, farmers are confident that Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will get over the line in this term of Parliament.

NZ Pest Crisis Costs Farmers $466M a Year — Survey

New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.