Nelson man wins regions Young Fruit Grower award

Kevin Withington has been named Nelson’s Young Fruit Grower 2011 at an event at Hoddy’s Orchard Packhouse.

Kevin, aged 29, has been involved in the apple industry for the last ten years and currently works for Hoddy’s Orchard pipfruit operation.

Kevin wins $1500 cash, the Energie Fruit Charitable Trust Trophy and an all-expenses paid trip to Hawke’s Bay to view other orchard systems.

“Winning the Nelson Young Fruit Grower title is a real honour. I’ve worked very hard and to have the opportunity to compete in the Young Grower competition means the world to me and my whole family,” he says. “I’m really looking forward to competing for the national title next month.”

Second place went to Bryce Dixon and Canaan Balck finished third; both come from the Waimea Plains.

The competition involved many elements, all testing essential skills a successful grower needs to run a business, including assembling an irrigation system, block analysis and administering first aid.

Competition co-ordinator Andrew Kininmonth, says that the regional grower competition gives young horticulturists an opportunity to showcase their skills outside of the work environment.
“It gives recognition to the wide range of skills growers need to learn to be the best in their field. These competitions help celebrate excellence in an informal way. Kevin is a perfect example of the high standard of young fruit growers we have in New Zealand today,” he says.

The event was held at Hoddy’s Orchard in Richmond and was the second time the Nelson region has held the competition.

The Young Grower Awards are an annual competition run by Horticulture New Zealand to select the finest young growers in the country. This is the second year that Kevin will compete for the prestigious national Young Grower of the Year title at the Horticulture New Zealand’s annual conference in Rotorua next month.