Young Grower of the Year Competition Final

Young Grower of the Year Competition Final

Young Grower of the Year is an annual competition to determine the best young fruit or vegetable grower in the country. The winners of five regional competitions will compete for the national title of 2015 Young Grower of the Year in Christchurch on 13 August 2015.

During the final, contestants will face a series of practical and theoretical challenges, designed to replicate those faced in an orchard or on-farm working environment. The finalists will then deliver a speech in front of the judges at a dinner event, before the winner is announced

Media are invited to attend the event at the Rydges Hotel, Latimer Square, Christchurch from 8.30am-3pm on Thursday 13 August 2015. Outdoor activities will be held in the adjacent Latimer Square that day. There will be opportunities to take photographs throughout the event and talk to contestants between activities.

If you are unable to attend the event …

The winner of the competition will be available for interview on Friday 14 August 2015. If you would like to schedule an interview for this day please contact Jessie Davis (details below).

All finalists will also be available for interview should you wish to speak to them before or after the event. Please get in touch for further information.

Background information

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 13 August at the Rydges Latimer, Christchurch.

Four regional Young Fruit Grower winners and the national Young Vegetable Grower 2015 will face each other in the final, they are:

· Nelson Young Fruit Grower 2015 – Canaan Balck, Block Manager at Hoddys Orchard (Waimea Plains)

· Young Vegetable Grower 2015 – Hamish Gates, Carrot Washline Supervisor at AS Wilcox & Sons (Pukekohe)

· Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower 2015 – Andrew Kearney, Senior Leading Hand at Turners and Growers Pipfruit (Hastings)

· Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower 2015 – Craig Ward, Technical Advisor at Apata Group Limited (Katikati)

· Otago Young Fruit Grower 2015 – James Huffadine, Site Manager at Parkburn Management (Cromwell)

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