Apple grower takes out national title

Apple grower takes out national title

20 year old Kevin McInnes knows a lot about growing apples. Last night, the Hawke’s Bay grower was awarded the title New Zealand Young Grower of the Year proving he has a bright future in New Zealand horticulture.

The New Zealand Young Grower of the Year competition was a day-long event held in Christchurch as part of this year’s Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) conference. It tested four finalists on a range of essential horticulture and business tasks, including tractor driving, assembling an irrigation system, grading tomatoes and public speaking to more than 400 delegates.

Judge and HortNZ President Andrew Fenton said Kevin, the youngest of four competitors, stood out from the rest.

“For someone so young, he demonstrated impressive technical and business skills. He is a young leader for our industry; someone to watch.”

Kevin was excited by the win, saying it was a privilege to receive the award, especially given the caliber of his competitors.

He thanked the organizers of the Hawke’s Bay regional competition, saying that, “without their help, I wouldn’t have got this far.”

In his day job, Kevin works at Hawke’s Bay company CA Wake.

He earned his place at the competition after taking out the national and Hawke’s Bay regional titles for Young Fruit Grower. He was the youngest ever winner of both the regional and national competition for Young Fruit Grower.

Kevin beat two fruit growers and a vegetable grower to win his title.

ENDS

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