Future is Peachy for Nelson’s Best Fruit Growers

Future is Peachy for Nelson’s Best Young Fruit Growers

Nelson’s best young fruit growers will be going head-to-head next month to steal a chance at the national title of NZ Young Fruit Grower.

Six competitors from Riwaka and the Waimea Plains will compete in a half day event involving tasks, all testing essential skills a successful grower needs to run a business, including; driving a tractor, assembling an irrigation system, identifying plants and diseases as well as evaluating an orchard modeling project.

This is the first year Nelson will take part in the Young Fruit Grower Competition as well as being one of the few regions to have two women competing.

Andrew Kininmonth, the event manager, says the competition gives young horticulturists an opportunity to showcase their skills outside of the work environment.

“It gives recognition to the wide range of skills growers need to learn to be the best in their field. These competitions help celebrate excellence in an informal way and makes for a really interesting and fun occasion.”

This year’s competition will be held on Friday, July 2 at Hoddy’s Orchard Packhouse. The event begins at 1pm and all members of the public are welcome. The competition will finish with a general knowledge quiz and contestant speech deliveries on the future of the industry. The winner will be announced later that afternoon.

The winner of Nelson’s NZ Young Fruit Grower wins $1500 cash prize and a unique trophy donated by the Energie Fruit Charitable Trust and crafted by Höglund Art Glass Studio in Nelson. The winner will also have the opportunity to compete for the prestigious national Young Grower of the Year title in August.

ENDS

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