Young growers compete for title

One of the six contestants competing in today's Young Grower of the Year regional finals contest at ASB Arena.

The horticultural skills of six young men will be put to the test today as they compete for the title of 2013 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year.

OPAC technical manager Chris Anstis; Kiwifruit Vine Health technical assistant Chris Clement; East Pack's Opotiki cool-storage operations Jarrod Teddy; Greg Brown from Seeka's post-harvest division; Whitehall Fruitpackers orchard manager Miguel Peterle, and Adam Bond, orchard manager of Canon Road Ltd are all competing in a full day of challenges.

They will showcase their horticultural, leadership and innovation skills through horticultural-related theoretical and practical tasks during the day followed by a speech competition at the awards and gala dinner this evening.

The winner will receive $1500 in cash and go forward to the NZ Young Fruit Grower contest at the HortNZ Conference in July. Second place receives $1000 with $500 for third.

The dinner will be attended by growers and representatives from the horticulture industry and New Zealand's Minister for Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, will be the guest speaker.

Chris Anstis was raised on a kiwifruit orchard in Opotiki and since finishing university in 2004, has done laboratory work and GlobalGAP assessments at DMS, orchard management and harvest scheduling at OPAC, and managed fresh produce supply for Total Produce in London.

He returned to New Zealand 18 months ago and is contracting between OPAC as technical manager, and helping his parents on their kiwifruit orchard.

Chris Clement studied for a BSc, majoring in horticultural science at Massey University. Between 2008 and 2012, he worked for a Katikati postharvest facility and completed the Horticulture New Zealand Leadership Programme and gained a Certificate in Sustainable Nutrient Management.

In late-2012, he joined Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) as a technical assistant, providing Psa-V technical support to kiwifruit growers. Now Chris has a role in the implementation of the National Psa-V Pest Management Plan, as well as continuing to function in a technical capacity.

Jarrod Teddy of Opotiki was introduced to the kiwifruit industry at East Pack's Opotiki facility.

Six seasons on, he now oversees the cool-storage operations on both East Pack's Quarry Road megasite, and the Washer Road facility, as well as coolstores in the Te Puke area. He has a diploma in manufacturing management and a certificate in business management (First Line Management) Level 4. His roles in post-harvest operations cover packing through to loading out.

Greg Brown from Tauranga started work for Seeka Kiwifruit Industries, Katikati as a horticultural cadet, where he completed a National Certificate in Horticulture Level 4.

He has primarily worked in the postharvest division of the business, including production and logistics within the kiwifruit and avocado industry. Chris has also been involved in the operation and development of Seeka's Avocado oil processing plant.

Miguel Peterle of Brazil began his involvement in the industry by working on his parents' orchard in South Brazil, before studying for a diploma in horticulture.

Miguel worked as a horticultural trainee in Oregon, USA, before moving to New Zealand in 2007, where he studied agronomy. Miguel works for Waikato based Whitehall Fruitpackers, which has a strong organic focus and grows and manages around 200 hectares of kiwifruit green, gold and new varieties, mostly owned by the Gardiner family.

Adam Bond has been involved in the kiwifruit industry for around nine years. Starting at Apata he carried out a wide range of tasks, including operating Compac sizer and Invision grading equipment, which he also operated at Aongatete Coolstores until deciding that growing kiwifruit was what he wanted to do.

For the last three years Adam has worked for Canon Road Ltd, and in the last year has taken over the day to day management of the orchards.

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.