James Blair Named 2026 Young Grower National Champion
James Blair, an agronomist for AS Wilcox and the Pukekohe regional champion, has won the 2026 Young Grower national title.
More than 300 delegates from throughout the country have been attending Horticulture New Zealand's annual conference being held in Rotorua.
The delegates come from all facets of the industry including growers, packers, exporters and others who provide services to the sector.
The keynote speaker at the conference was well known Australian science writer and agricultural communicator Jullian Cribb who gave delegates an insight as to how horticulture may develop in 20 to 30 years time.
There was also a focus on good agricultural practice (GAP) which included local and international speakers discussing market trends. During the conference each of the various horticultural product groups have holding their annual general meetings.
A highlight of the conference was the presentation of the Bledisloe Cup for exceptional service to the horticulture industry to Hastings AgFirst horticulture consultant John Wilton.
Ian Greaves was awarded the presidents cup for his services to PSA grower support and Tony Ivecivich and Brian Garguilo were awarded life memberships of HortNZ.
Bigger, bolder salads packed with colour, crunch and flavour are making headlines overseas — and the arrival of fresh spring vegetables means New Zealanders can now get chopping too, creating their own Great Kiwi Spring Salad.
Chinese beef trade quotas and a looming suspension of Brazilian beef imports into the European Union are expected to reshape global beef trade flows over the remainder of 2026, with implications for New Zealand exporters, according to Rabobank's Q3 Global Beef Quarterly report.
James Blair, an agronomist for AS Wilcox and the Pukekohe regional champion, has won the 2026 Young Grower national title.
An Auckland gelato shop and an established New Zealand ice cream maker have both been named Supreme Champions at the NZ Ice Cream & Gelato Awards 2026.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household grocery budgets, new figures show pork remains one of the most affordable fresh meat options for New Zealand families.
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