New Zealand’s best young vegetable growers will be pushing their barrow to be crowned the winner of the annual New Zealand Young Vegetable Grower Competition.

Competitors will battle it out on Thursday 16 April in a series of theoretical and practical challenges, with the champion progressing to compete for the national Young Grower of the Year title, hosted by Horticulture New Zealand, on 12-13 August in Christchurch.

“The NZ Young Vegetable Grower competition showcases and celebrates our industry’s top young talent each year. It’s exciting to see our young industry leaders in action, putting their knowledge and skills to the test,” said Kiran Hari, co-ordinator of the 2015 competition.

“Each year our contestants continue to lift the standard and we expect that this year will be no different.”

The competition puts contestants through a range of key tests with various challenges from finance and marketing exercises to agri-chemical knowledge and fertilisers and soils. The tests are designed around the fundamental skills needed to running a successful vegetable growing business.

The five competitors come from around New Zealand:
• Auckland: Herman Fourie (29), Turners and Growers Ltd; Lance Pratt (29), A S Wilcox & Sons; Hamish Gates (24), A S Wilcox & Sons
• Tuakau: Arjune Dahya (22), Daya Veg Ltd
• Canterbury: Michael Anderson (29), Scott Fresh Ltd

These contestants are the future of our industry, and the competition provides a good measure of how well we support young up and coming vegetable growers. We wish all competitors the best of luck and look forward to seeing them in action,” said Mr Hari.

The NZ Young Vegetable Grower of the Year Competition be held on Thursday 16 April from 9am at the Indian Centre, 57 Ward Street, Pukekohe. Spectators are welcome. Tickets for the evening Speech Contest and Awards dinner can be purchased through secretary@pvga.org.nz.

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