increase font size
Hamish Gates.
Hamish Gates from Pukekohe has beaten off tough competition to be crowned New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower 2015.
The day-long competition, which is supported by Horticulture New Zealand, took place in in Pukekohe on 16 April. On the day, the four competitors battled it out in a series of practical and theoretical challenges designed to test the skills needed to run a successful vegetable growing business.
“Winning the competition was really unexpected and this year’s had some of the best young growers I’ve met,” says Gates, a 24-year-old washline supervisor at AS Wilcox & Sons.
Gates has won a travel grant for professional development valued at $2,500. The prize also includes a one-day media and presentation course in Wellington, all-expenses paid trip to Christchurch to compete for the national 2015 Young Grower of the Year title in August and attendance at the 2015 Horticulture New Zealand Conference.
“I’m looking forward to competing in the national Young Grower title and will be stepping up my preparation over the next few months,” he says.
Kiran Hari, co-ordinator of the competition, says, “It’s great to see how much talent our young growers have. We know that our industry demands a lot, and we’re looking forward to seeing our young talent continue to progress and grow their careers over the coming years.”
Michael Anderson (29) from Canterbury was placed second and third place went to Lance Pratt (29) from Pukekohe.
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.
Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.
Dawn Meats chief executive Niall Browne says their joint venture with Alliance Group will create “a dynamic industry competitor”.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
OPINION: Media luvvies at Stuff, the Spinoff and the Granny Herald are spending more time than ever navel-gazing about why…
OPINION: Why does it take Treasury so long to turn around its figures on how the economy is tracking?
