Fruit grower loves challenge

Te Puke man Joel Wanhill has won the 2012 Young Grower of the Year Bay of Plenty Competition.

Mr Wanhill works as a general orchard worker for the Edkins Family Orchards in Te Puke.

He won a $1500 cash prize and will go on to compete for the national title at the Young Grower of the year competition being held at the Horticulture New Zealand Conference in Auckland in July.

Mr Wanhill said the competition was challenging but very rewarding.

"This was a real mental and physical challenge for me but I'm thrilled to have taken the title and it feels really rewarding to be able to represent the Bay of Plenty at the final next month.

"It was great to be able to show my family, friends and workmates how much I've learned during my time as a fruit grower. I think I've really proved myself and I'm looking forward to what the national competition has in store for me."

Second place went to Adam Bond, 26, orchard supervisor for Canon Road Ltd, Katikati, with Tim Webb, 30, deputy manager for Chilson Hill Orchard, third.

The Young Grower of the Year Competition assessed the horticultural skills and knowledge of young fruit and vegetable growers throughout New Zealand.

The focus of the competition was to promote and recognise young people working in the horticulture industry, develop their skills, and foster leadership.

Participants included Year 12 and 13 students from the region's colleges. More than 100 students attended.

The schools competed against each other in hortisports and learned about what was on offer in a career in horticulture.

Marketing, research and development, carbon footprint and sustainability, computing, orcharding and biosecurity were all presented this year.

The award presentation, held at the Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui, on June 20, was the culmination of a day-long event involving a series of mental and physical challenges essential to success in the industry.