Te Puke grower crowned NZ Young Grower of the Year

Te Puke's Erini Atkinson has been named New Zealand Young Grower of the Year. Photo/supplied

Te Puke woman Erin Atkinson has been named Horticulture New Zealand's Young Grower Fruit Grower of the Year.

The 30-year-old who is a technical advisor for Apata Group also won several other titles at an awards event in Christchurch last night.

Ms Atkinson is the first woman to win the title, which is in its 11th year.

Ms Atkinson won the Bay of Plenty section back in February, also secured the best business, best innovation, and best speech titles, as well as Young Grower of the Year title.

Ms Atkinson has a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture and has spent most of her working life in the horticulture industry. She said she was extremely proud to have been named Young Grower, especially as the standard of the other finalists was very high.

"It was an extremely challenging competition but I've really enjoyed meeting the other finalists and am looking forward to taking the award back to Te Puke," she said in press statement.

Runner-up for Young Grower was Scott Wilcox of Pukekohe, who is also Young Vegetable Grower 2017, while third place went to Ben Geaney of Waimate.

The Young Grower of the Year competition is run by Horticulture New Zealand and sponsored by the Horticentre Trust.

All five finalists competed in a series of practical and theoretical challenges designed to test the skills needed to run a successful export-focused horticultural business.

They also took part in a leadership panel discussion before delivering a speech on biosecurity in front of the judges at the awards dinner attended by 200 people.

Judges looked for individuals who could make a difference in their sectors and the industry, going beyond great skills to also include leadership, attitude and personality.

Horticulture New Zealand chief executive, Mike Chapman, said the aim of the competition was to foster excellence among young growers and future-proof a $5.6 billion industry that exports 60 per cent of total production to 124 countries.

"The Young Grower competition is a great way to nurture the interest and passion of younger generations as well as showcase the industry," Mr Chapman said.

" It's a very rewarding industry to be in and it so encouraging to see the depth of young talent demonstrated this week. We look forward to seeing the career progression of each of these potential industry leaders."

The 2017 placings were:

Young Grower, Young Fruit Grower, Countdown Best Business title, SPS Best Innovation title and Fruitfed Supplies Best Speech title - Erin Atkinson of Te Puke

Runner-up, Ballance Best Practical title and New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower 2017 - Scott Wilcox, Pukekohe

Third place winner and Central Otago Young Fruit Grower 2017 - Ben Geaney, Waimate

Winner of the Balance Leadership Panel / Outstanding Leadership Award and Nelson

Young Fruit Grower 2017 - Ralph Bastian, Appleby

Hawke's Bay Young Fruit Grower 2016 and 2017 - Jordon James, Whakatu

Young Grower of the Year

:

The annual competition is part of Horticulture New Zealand's strategy to support the growth and development of New Zealand's future horticultural leaders. Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) represents New Zealand's 5,500 commercial fruit and vegetable growers.