Cream of the crop of young fruit growers

The four competitors in the 2017 Central Otago Young Fruit Grower. Ellen Watt (left), of Kurow, Waka Paul, of Cromwell, eventual winner Ben Geaney, of Waimate, and Adam Low, of Alexandra. Photo / Yvonne O'Hara

Ben Geaney, of Waimate, has beaten three other entrants to be named Central Otago's Young Fruit Grower for 2017.

The day-long competition in Cromwell on Friday saw the four competitors engage in a series of practical challenges designed to test the skills needed to successfully run a thriving horticulture business.

Mr Geaney (29) works on his family's orchard.

With a diploma in mechanical engineering, he worked in Australia before returning home to work on his family's apple orchard. He received top marks for pruning; tractors and machinery; and irrigation.

Waka Paul (27), of Parkburn Management in Cromwell, was runner-up, winning the prize for best speech.

Mr Geaney said the competition was a great opportunity to test his horticultural and business skills.

''I'm excited to represent Waimate fruit growers at the national final in August,'' he said.

Mr Geaney, together with three other regional best young fruit growers (Nelson, Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty) and the winner of the recent young vegetable grower competition, will compete for the 2017 Young Grower of the Year title in Christchurch.

The Young Grower of the Year competition is run by Horticulture New Zealand and is now in its 11th year.

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said the aim of the competition was to foster excellence among young growers and future-proof New Zealand's $5 billion horticultural industry.