Katikati plays host to orchard tours
An innovative tourism business located in Katikati, is breaking new ground by offering tours of a working avocado orchard.
Bryce Morrison has been named Bay of Plenty’s Young Grower for 2021 at an awards dinner in Tauranga.
The competition took place 22 July at Mount Maunganui College, where eight competitors tested their skills and ability to run a successful orchard in a series of challenges. These were followed by a speech competition at a gala dinner.
Morrison, a grower services representative at Seeka, excelled in individual challenges, and impressed judges with his speech.
Emily Woods came in second, while Quentin Swanepoel was third.
Erin Atkinson, chair of BOP Young Growers, says that the calibre of this year’s contestants has made the 2021 event special.
“The contests of this year’s BOP Young Grower competition have shown great potential for strong careers in the horticulture industry. The competition is the perfect environment to put their knowledge on display and it’s reassuring that we have such young talent coming through our industry.”
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. (NZKGI) chief executive Colin Bond says these competitions are important to highlight the skills and careers associated with the horticulture industry.
“Horticulture is undergoing rapid change such as regulation and the make-up of the labour force. It is critical that we have skilled talent with careers in the industry to lead a pathway forward. The 2021 BOP Young Grower competition is an illustration of not only the careers available but that some of our young and upcoming people will hold the industry in good stead.”
Morrison will go on to compete in the national Young Grower of the Year competition, run by Horticulture New Zealand.
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has found itself in a stoush with NZPork over the controversial National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.