Pipfruit guru feted by peers

John Wilton receives his award for outstanding service to the horticulture industry from Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy. Photo / Supplied

One of Hawke's Bay longest serving members of the horticulture industry and a man who became known as an industry "guru" has been recognised at Horticulture New Zealand's annual conference.

John Wilton set out on his long career as a trainee horticulture adviser for the Department of Agriculture in 1962 and is still putting in the hours as an internationally sought after consultant working predominantly for the pipfruit industry.

Mr Wilton was presented with the industry's premier award, the Bledisloe Cup, by the Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, at the event in Rotorua recently.

It was the second major award Mr Wilton has been honoured with for his contribution to the fruit industry.

He was awarded the Joe Bell Trophy for service to the industry by the Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers Association in 2007.

Mr Wilton's skills and knowledge of the industry were highlighted by HortNZ president Julian Raine.

He said Mr Wilton's client base throughout Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil and the UK gave him a vast knowledge of pipfruit which gave him the ability to "think at new levels" and give the industry as a whole a fresh, foresight and approach. Mr Wilton had shared that knowledge widely and, for the past 28 years, had had an article printed in all but one issue of the fruit industry magazine Orchardist.

"John's contribution to the pipfruit industry has been enormous," Mr Raine said.

Many individuals, businesses and the country had benefited from his lifetime contribution.