Kiwifruit industry seeks to acknowledge leaders

Last year Paul Heywood and Leo Mangos pictured with Fresh Carriers president Takao Takeshige were jointly awarded the Hayward Medal for their work in establishing the grower-owned structure of the industry. Photo / Supplied

The prestigious Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal recognises leaders in the kiwifruit industry who have made a defining difference and nominations are being sought for this year's award.

Established four years ago by the kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council, chairman Paul Jones said it was designed to recognise people across the industry who had shown excellence, commitment and leadership.

In 2014, more than $1.57 billion of premium-quality Zespri kiwifruit was exported and sold.

"Our industry is set for strong growth and on track to double export revenue by 2020. We simply wouldn't be in this position today without world-class people and the Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal has been set up to acknowledge and celebrate our great people.

"We're once again calling on our colleagues to nominate the people they think have made a defining contribution to the industry success we see today," Mr Jones said.

Fresh Carriers president Takao Takeshige said when the shipping company started carrying New Zealand kiwifruit to Japan about 30 years ago, not many people could have expected the industry to be as successful as it is today.

Last year, growers Paul Heywood and Leo Mangos were jointly awarded the Fresh Carriers Hayward Medal for their work in establishing the grower-owned structure of the industry.

The ex-chairman of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Marketing Board, John Palmer was awarded the Medal in 2013 for his efforts to bring the kiwifruit industry through the fiscal crisis in the early 1990s.

The inaugural award went to Plant & Food Research plant breeder, Russell Lowe for developing and commercialising the gold kiwifruit variety Hort16A.

Hayward Medal

* Nominations close on Friday September 18 and forms can be downloaded from www.zespri.co.nz or email
corporate.communications@zespri.com

* Nominees must have made an outstanding contribution to the kiwifruit industry through innovation, contribution or unrivalled leadership or governance

* The winner will be announced at the Kiwifruit Industry Symposium on October 29 at ASB Baypark Stadium