Young growers from Bay of Plenty, Waikato winners

Horticulture New Zealand
News Release
3 August

Young growers from Bay of Plenty and Waikato announced NZ's pick of the crop

A combination of technological prowess, knowledge and good presentation skills has won two young horticulturists national accolades.

Robert Humphries from the Bay of Plenty has been announced as the Fruit Sector 2007 Ravensdown Young Horticulturist while Jeff van Rijen from Ohaupo, Waikato, is the Vegetable Sector 2007 Ravensdown Young Horticulturist.

Open to workers in the industry aged 30 years or under, the national search to find the Young Industry Horticulturist of the Year is part of the industry’s wider approach to attract and retain younger workers in an otherwise ageing sector.

Robert and Jeff will compete against the seven other sector finalists in the national final (called the Hort Industry Training Organisation Young Horticulturist of the Year) to be held in November.

“The competition to find the young horticulturist of the year is a marvelous scheme showcasing the best talent on offer in the horticulture industry. The finalists of the fruit and vegetable sectors –and all the competitors in the regional heats – displayed enormous talent, particularly in production skills which are crucial to the success of horticulture in New Zealand,” says Sue Pickering, Senior Business Manager at HortNZ.

Displaying an impressive understanding of the vegetable and fruit sector, Jeff and Robert presented to more than 250 growers and industry representatives at the annual Horticulture New Zealand conference this week in Christchurch.

Robert and the other four regional fruit sector finalists from the Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Northland and Otago competed in the national fruit sector final, held at the HortNZ conference this week, to prove their knowledge of the horticulture industry.

The vegetable sector competition was hosted in May by the Canterbury Vegetable Growers Society with Jeff successfully competing against two other vegetable growers from Canterbury.

While not formally competing in the national fruit sector competition at the HortNZ conference, Jeff presented and took part in the quiz to sharpen his skills for the national final of the Hort Industry Training Organisation Young Horticulturist of the Year.

Jeff and Robert will compete against finalists from the viticulture, nursery & garden, arboriculture, floristry, cut flowers, landscaping, and parks and recreation sectors to be named New Zealand’s Young Horticulturist of the Year.

Ms Pickering said the competition to find the young horticulturist of the year was a classic case of combined effort. “The Young Horticulturist of the Year competition is run by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture and the Horticulture Industry Training Organisation. Then there is the HortNZ conference event organised by HortNZ, and before that, the popular regional competitions run by local grower organisations.

“The competition is now in its third year and is growing in momentum. We’re finding our grower communities get really involved in the regional competitions and this support comes through the national finals and the Grand Final. It is a great promotion for the horticulture sector at all levels.

“Both the regional and conference sector competitions have been fortunate to attract major sponsorship from Ravensdown and the New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust continues to help fund the conference event. It’s great to have their support behind the sector and our budding young horticulturalists,” says Ms Pickering.

Prize Winners – Fruit Sector: 2007 Ravensdown Young Horticulturist of the Year
First prize: Robert Humphries, 27, from Bay of Plenty wins $3000
Second prize: Dominique Zivkovic-Brady, 21, from Northland wins $1500
Third prize: Kris Robb, 30, from Central Otago wins $500

Prize Winners – Veg Sector: 2007 Ravensdown Young Horticulturist of the Year
First prize: Jeff van Rijen from Ohaupo, Waikato, wins $3000
Second prize: Nigel McCartin from Canterbury wins $1500
Third prize: Troy Matthew from Canterbury wins $500

The winner of the Grand Final of the Young Horticulturist of the Year (held in November) wins an overseas visit to a horticulture event, a place in the New Zealand Leadership Programme, a 12-month course, and other prizes including Swasi clothing.

ENDS

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