increase font size
Kiritapu Allan with 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year Laura Schultz.
It was the women who dominated at the 2022 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year competition earlier this week, taking out first, second and third place.
Laura Schultz from Trevelyans was named the first place winner, taking home a prize package which includes an all-expenses paid trip to Wellington to compete for the National Young Grower of the Year title as well as $1,500 cash.
The competition took place on 20 July at Mount Maunganui College, where eight competitors tested their skills and ability to run a successful horticulture business in a series of challenges. These were followed by a speech competition titled ‘What I’ll be growing in 2050’, at a gala dinner.
Schultz excelled in the individual challenges, and impressed judges with her speech on providing the best quality produce by adapting to climate change to grow crops which meet the changing environment.
Yanika Reiter came in second place, while Emily Woods was third.
Schultz grew up on her family orchard in the Bay of Plenty. After a diverse career across different countries that has included studying fashion design, yoga instruction, and working as a snowboard instructor, she returned home three years ago and realised her interest lay in growing avocados.
Since then, she ha leased the family orchard and now takes full responsibility for it, alongside her work with the avocado improvement group at Trevelyans.
Erin Atkinson, chair of BOP Young Growers says this year’s contestants were outstanding.
“This year’s BOP Young Grower contestants have shown the great talent we already have within our horticulture industry,” Atkinson says.
“The competition has been perfect to test their knowledge and I hope that it sets the bar for other young talent coming through our industry.”
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc. (NZKGI) chief executive Colin Bond says that competitions like the Young Grower of the Year show appreciation for the need for skilled careers in the horticulture industry.
“As a horticulture industry, we can focus on knee-jerk reactions required for the current season. But in order to continue to produce effectively into the future, we need to ensure we have young people with the right commercial, technical and scientific skills.
“The 2022 BOP Young Grower competition is a great way to celebrate the high calibre of people coming through the industry to make us future fit.”
If there was a silver lining in the tragedy that was Cyclone Gabrielle, for New Zealand Young Grower of the Year, Grace Fulford, it was the tremendous sense of community and seeing first-hand what good leadership looks like.
The 2025 Young Grower of the Year, Phoebe Scherer, says competing with other finalists felt more like being among friends.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Sam Carter, assistant manager for T&G's Pakowhai Sector, has been named the Hawke's Bay 2025 Young Grower of the Year.
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.
OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…
