Photo/BrydieThompson
Champions promotethesector’sfuture
Thisyearmarksthe20th anniversaryoftheBayofPlenty YoungGrowercompetition,a premiereventthatcelebrates theskills,knowledge,and innovationoftheregion’sfuture horticultureleaders.
Assuch,eventcoordinatorSam Vicente-Moasaidthecompetition willbebiggerthaneverasitjoins forceswithCultivateYourCareer,a horticulturecareersexpodesignedto showcaseopportunitiestostudents.
“Forthefirsttime,students attendingtheCultivateYourCareer eventwillbeabletowitnessthe region’stopyounghorticulturalists inactionastheycompeteonJune 27atMercuryBayparkforthe prestigioustitleofBayofPlenty YoungGrower2025.”
CultivateYourCareerisanannual eventheldintheBayofPlenty whichiscoordinatedbyNZKGI andPriorityOneaspartofits missiontoattract,developand inspireyoungpeoplewithin thehorticultureindustry,said Vicente-Moa.
“Theeventaimstoshowcase horticulturalbusinessesandindustry professionalstosecondaryschool students,openingthemtotherange ofopportunitiesavailableinthe industryandtheskillstheywill need totransitionintohorticulture employment.”
CultivateYourCareerwilltake placeonFriday,June27,from 10am-2pmintheStadiumLounge, MercuryBaypark.
Nearby,outside,eightpre-selected contestantswillbegincompeting inthe2025BayofPlentyYoung
The2024BayofPlentyYoungGrower CompetitionwinnerLilahRosenfeldt fromZespriInternationalwithAssociate MinisterofAgricultureNicolaGrigg.
Turnyourskillinto additionalincome.
Knitathomefora timelessNZlabel. D
MUSTBEVERYEXPERIENCED withPICTUREKNITTING
Growercompetitionfrom9am. BotheventsaremanagedbyNewZealand KiwifruitGrowersInc,andtheBOPregion’s eventisthelargestofitskindfromamongstall Aotearoadistricts.
Pleasesend usasamplewith 30 sts x 20 rows with a colour changepatchinthemiddle.Alongwithyourphonenumber andemailaddress.
Pleasepostto:BONZ,21LevenStreet,Invercargill,9810 woolroom@bonzgroup.co.nz
“Combiningthecompetitionandthecareers expohasbeenanexcitingstepforward,said Vicente-Moa.“Itgivesstudentsaperfect opportunitytoseeourindustryinactionandbe inspiredbythetalentandpassionondisplay.”
Thecompetition,featuringparticipantsfrom acrosshorticulturalsectorssuchaskiwifruitand avocados,willseecontestantsfacearangeof theoreticalandpracticalchallengesthattest theirknowledge,problem-solvingskillsand industryexpertise.
Thateveningfrom5.30pmtheeventcontinues withagaladinnerintheLionFoundationArena. Here,infrontofalargeaudiencefromthe horticultureindustry,contestantswillparticipate inaspeechcompetition.“Thedinnerisakey opportunityfornetworkingwithindustryleaders andlearningaboutthelatestinnovationsand practicesshapingthefutureofhorticulture,”said Vicente-Moa.
ThewinneroftheBayofPlentycompetition willbeannouncedattheendofthegaladinner tomuchfanfare,andwillwinprizesandthe opportunitytorepresenttheregionatthe nationalYoungGroweroftheYearfinalon September10-11inChristchurch.
“I’mreallyexcitedaboutthesynergiesbetween thecompetitionandthecareersexpo,”said NZKGIchiefexecutiveofficerColinBond.“I’m surestudentswillbeinspiredbythededication andskillofthecompetitors–andwehope
toseesomeofthemreturninfutureyearsas competitorsthemselves.”
EntrytothedaytimeBOPYoungGrower competitionandtheCultivateYourCareerevent onFriday,June27,atMercuryBayparkisfree forschoolsandthepublic.
Ticketstothegaladinnerareavailableat:www. bopyounggrower.co.nz.
Photos/Supplied
Lastyear’s Cultivate Your Career event.
Eightcontestantsfromaroundtheregionwhoworkin arangeofhorticulture-relatedjobswillgohead-to-head onJune27atMercuryBayparktovietowinthe2025 BayofPlentyYoungGroweroftheYearcompetition.
ManagedbyNewZealandKiwifruitGrowers Inc,thecompetitionisaplatformforlocalyoung growers–whorepresentthefutureofthehorticulture industry–todeveloptheirskillsandbuildvaluable industryconnections.Here’sanintroductionto2025’s contestants,beforethecompetitiondayonJune27.
AlexReid
IgrewuponadrystockfarmandkiwifruitorchardinŌpōtiki, andalwaysknewIwantedtofollowinmyfamily’sfootstepsasa third-generationkiwifruitgrower.
Afterfinishinghighschool,Ienteredtheindustryfull-timeand developedarealpassionforgrowing.
Iworkedmywayuptobecomeanorchardmanagerwith Prospa,beforestartingmyownorchardmanagementbusiness oneyearago.
I’veenteredtheYoungGrower competitiontochallengemyselfand growfurther.
Outsideofwork,Ienjoyhelping runtheŌpōtikiSurfLifeSaving Club,whereItrainlifeguardsand givebacktomycommunity.
AimeeBarker-Gilbert
With10yearsofexperienceinthekiwifruit industry,Iamcurrentlythetechnicaland communicationsmanageratHumePack-N-Cool LtdinKatikati.
Enteringthecompetitionisawayformetobe vulnerable,bysteppingoutsidemycomfortzoneto challengemyknowledgeandskills.
It’salsoawaytoshowgratitudetothosewho’ve supportedmethroughoutmycareer.
I’maproudmotheroftwobeautifulchildren,and Iwanttoshowthemthatanythingispossiblewhen youputyourmindtoit.
I’mtheprojectandbusinessimprovement coordinatoratTrevelyan’s,whereIleadandsupport company-wideimprovementprojectsandhelp embedcontinuousimprovementpracticesacross thebusiness.
IholdaBachelorofAgriCommerce,majoringin InternationalAgriBusiness,fromMasseyUniversity. Originallyatownie,Ispentpartofmychildhood livinginAsiabeforemovingtoruralNewZealand.
InowcallPukehinahome,whereIliveona kiwifruitorchardwithmyhusband.
I’veenteredtheYoungGrowercompetitionto challengemypracticalgrowingskills,testmy orchardknowledge,andstepoutsideofmycomfort zone.
Myproudestachievementismarryingmy
incrediblehusbandin2023.
Outsideofwork,IloveexploringNew Zealand’soutdoorsandspendingquality timewithfamilyandfriends.
BrynGault
Grace Lowery
I’mahorticulture specialistatBallance Agri-Nutrients,working withgrowersacrossthe BayofPlentytoprovide technicalknowledge andadviceonnutrient management.
IenteredtheYoung Growercompetition tochallengemyself andexpandmynetworkwithinthe horticulturalindustry.
I’mpassionateaboutlearningand growing,andI’malwayslooking fornewwaystosupportgrowersin reachingtheirgoals.
Oneofmyproudestaccomplishments wasearningafirst-classgradeinmy HonoursdegreeduringtheCovid-19 pandemic.
Myloveforhorticulturestarted youngwhilespendingtimeonmy grandparents’kiwifruitorchardinTe Puke.
EmmaFrame
OriginallyfromScotland,ImovedtoNewZealand whenIwasfourandhavegrownuponfarms,living therurallifestyle.
Oneofmyproudestachievementswasplaying againsttheTonganWomen’sNationalFootballTeam inTongaatage15,representingaCoervercoaching team.
I’mcurrentlyanorchardmanagerandhealthand safetycoordinatoratProspa;andalsosupportwith pollenandharvestcoordinationduringtheseason.
I’veenteredthecompetitiontopushmyselfoutof mycomfortzoneand proveIcandoanythingI putmymindto. Ihopetogrowin confidenceandbuild connections.
Inmysparetime,Ienjoyfootball, golf,walkingmydog,reading,and headingtothebeach.
IwasbornandraisedinŌpōtiki,whereIgrew upondairyfarmsbeforemakingtheswitchto horticulture.
I’mcurrentlyatraineeorchardmanagerwith SeekaandhaveenteredtheYoungGrower competitiontoexpandmyknowledge,meetnew people,anddevelopmynetworkingskills.
I’mexcitedtolearnfromothersintheindustry andbecomemoreeffectiveinmycurrentrole. Thisisagreatopportunitytochallengemyself andkeepgrowingprofessionally.
WhenI’mnotworking,Ienjoymountainbiking andgettingoutdoors.
JakeJansen
PhoebeScherer
I’vebeenwithApataforjustoverayearasthetechnical labmanager,overseeingtechnicalprocessesandlabtesting thatsupportourgrowerstoproducebetterfruit.
I’makiwifruitorchard managerbasedinthe Waikato,managingamix oforganicandconventional blockswithapassionfor regenerativeandsustainable growing.
Whatdrivesmeisseeing improvementsinplantand soilhealth,increasesin production,andwatching mystaffgrowintheir knowledgeandpridefor theirwork.
I’vegrownupalloverNew Zealandandnowliveinthe Waikatowithmywifeand twoyoungdaughters.
I’veenteredthis competitiontochallenge myself,buildnew
connections,andupskillfurther. Myproudestachievementis marryingtheloveofmylifeand startingafamily.
Outsideofwork,Ienjoy hunting,spearfishing,rugby, reading,andmakingknives. Ialsovolunteeratyouth camps,whichissomethingIfind incrediblyrewarding.
IgrewupinTauranga,studiedbiologyandevolution atAucklandUniversity,andaftersometimeoverseas returnedhometotheBayofPlentywhereIlandedajob countingkiwifruit,andneverlookedback.
I’veenteredtheYoungGrowercompetitiontostepout ofmycomfortzone,growmyskills,andmeetothersin theindustry.
Outsideofwork,Ilovebeinginnature,cuddlingmy cats,orheadingoffonoverseasadventures.
Levi Belcher
GoodluckPhoebeandall contestantsof
Thejoyofpreparingfoodfromhis land
WhenyouwalkintochefJames Broad’skitchentheassumed answertothequestion“Areyou hungry?”isalways:“Yes”.
“ThisiswhatIdo,”hesmiledashe preparedherbsfromhisgardentoadd toapotoftea.“Tome,thebiggest privilegeiscookingforpeople.”His loveforfoodandgenerositywere instilledfromchildhood.Broad grewuponasheepandbeeffarmin Gisbornebeforehisparentsmoved
toakiwifruitorchardinTePuke. Fromtheageofeighthewasat boardingschool,buthismemoriesof homeshapedhisphilosophyaround hospitality.
“Mymumwasexceptionalinthe kitchenanddadwasagardener,”he said.“He’ddigupthevegesandbring theminsideforMumtocook.”
Broadstillusesutensilspassed downthroughthegenerations:his grandmother’sfrypan,hismother’s peppergrinder.“Mymothergaveme thegiftofgratitude.Wegrewupin
afamilywithnomoney,butwewereincredibly wealthybecausewehadadiningroomtableculture of‘pass,don’task’.”
Visitorswerealwayswelcome,Broadsaid.“If therewasdustcomingupthedriveway,‘Darnie’ [grandma]wouldjumpupandmakeanotherplate. Wewouldn’taskiftheywantedlunch;we’djust walktheminandsitthemdown.”
Everythinghere
didacourse.Itwaslikefindinganewtoy.Iwasso excited.”Hereturnedhome,cookinginHamilton andGisborne,beforeheadingbacktotheUK.“I putmyheaddownforsevenyears.Iwasworking 7am-1amifIwasonadoubleshift,or12hours forasingle.Ididn’tmind.I’vealwayshadagreat ‘getoutofbed’ethic.Ilovecontributing.”
BacktotheBOP
Fromhis7000m2ruralpropertyonthefringe ofWelcomeBay,whichheboughtin2010,Broad hostscookingworkshops,growsmuchofhis ownfood,andinvitesotherstoreconnectover mealtime.“Ihaven’tarrivedherebygoodluckor chance,”hesaid.“I’vearrivedhereafter25years ofworkinghugehourseveryweek.Ilovedevery momentofit,andnowit’sgivenmethefreedom todowhatIlove.IhaveeverythingIwanthereon theproperty.”
EventuallyBroadopenedhisownrestaurantin GisbornethenreturnedtotheBOPforateaching contractatToiOhomai.“Itwokeupmybrain.” In2019hehelpedsetupandruntheGood Neighbourcommunitykitchen.“Ingredientsthat weren’tgoodenoughtogivetocharities,buttoo goodforthepigs.We’dmakecasserolesandstews inmassive100kgpans,vacuum-sealitin2kgbags, andsenditout.Itwasamazing.”
Avocadotreesshareshadewithpumpkins, tomatoesgrowalongsidethehouse,andappleand peartreessitbesideawell-usedvegetablepatch. Outback,adeckwithamassivediningtable andwood-firedpizzaovenoverlooksrollinghills. “Cookingclassesalwaysutiliseseasonalproduce fromTePahi’sextensivegardenandorchard. Duringsummerwe’lloftenfocusonoutdoor cookery.Anytimeofyear,wecanusethepurposebuiltwood-firedoven.”
Broadbecameachefbeganafteranear-fatalcar accidentwhenaged23andlivinginLondon.“I realisedIcouldn’tgobacktofarming.WhenI cameoutofrehab,Iwaskeenoncooking,soI
Withaccesstoacommercialkitchen,Broad indulgedhispassionforzero-wastecooking; fermenting,preservinganddehydratingeverything possible.“Duringlockdown,mykitchenpartner andIfed40,000peopleineightweeksandallof itoutofwastefood.”
Today,hiscookingschoolwearsthenameofhis oldfamilyfarm.“‘TePahi’meansaplacetopause, rest,havesomethingtoeat,”Broadsaid.“It’sthe realisationofalong-helddreamtoprepareand sharewonderfulfoodonmyownland.”
Hisgoalistobreakdownthemisconception thatnourishingmealsareexpensive,takealldayto prepareandrequireskill.“That’sjustnottrue.My excitementcomesfromsharingknowledgeabout howtoeatwellwithouttoomuchfuss.”
Duringsummermonths
Photo/Supplied
DebbieGriffiths
WendyBegbie’sloveofgardeninghas takenrootinanewdirectionwith TheNakedGardener.
It’sherdown-to-earthonlinenurseryoffering hardy,hard-to-findperennialsforflowerlovers andgardenersaroundNewZealand.
AfamiliarnametomanythroughherlongrunningAmazingIrisGarden,theAongatete residenthasspentdecadesgrowingandnurturing plants.“Istartedtheirisnurseryabout28years ago,”saidBegbie.“ButTheNakedGardener websiteismynewestventure.It’sbeenup-andrunningforaroundthree-and-a-halfyearsnow.”
Bare-bonesgardening
Despitethename,youdon’tneedtoditchyour clothes.“It’sreallyaboutbare-bonesgardening. Strippingitbacktowhatmatters–qualityplants, goodadviceandfairpricing.”
Begbie’sdiversificationcamewhensherealised mostnurseriessoldmainstreamvarietiesinbulk. “That’swhereIcomein.Ipropagatealotmyself, whichmeanssmallerrunsofuniquestock.”
Whileheralstroemeriasandhostasareavailable involume,mostoftherangeincludeshardy perennialsthatthriveinNewZealandconditions. Ordersareshippedbare-rooted,withoutpots, savingcustomersmoneyonfreightandsavingthem thetroubleofhavingtothrowplasticintothebin.
“Itmakessense,”shesaid.“It’smoreeco-friendly, andeconomical,andtheplantstravelsurprisingly well.”
BegbierunsthenurserywithherpartnerRod Erhorn.Whilethetwoofthemhandlemostofthe work–there’ssomedowntimeinwinter–they bringinthreepart-timersthroughouttheyear. Springis“wheneverythingcomesalive”,Begbie said.“It’sintenseandwe’respreadalittlethinat
| paul@wbspraying.co.nz wbspraying.co.nz
ItemsthatWendyBegbie sellsonherwebsiteThe
andTītahiBaytoraiseawarenessof thebrand.Rightnow,she’sgearing upforthenextseasonandpreparing stocktobereadybyspring. Butherambitionandwhatshe describesasher“insatiableappetite” forgardeningdoesn’tstopthere. BegbiewasinBrooks,Oregon,on thewestcoastoftheUS,fromMay 6-21todohybridising,particularly inirisesandhellebores.“Hybridising
takesbetweenfiveandsevenyears, butitmeanswecanoffernew varietiesthatnooneelsehas,”she explained.“I’mnotparticularly patient,I’mverymuchaninstant gratificationkindofperson,butI’m alsonotinterestedinsellingthesame oldvanilla.
“Iwanttocreatesomemoretopendvarietiesthatwedon’tyethavein NewZealand.”
times,butit’sexciting.Autumnisquieterwhen everything’sgoingtosleep,butthenyou’vegot helleboresandotherwinter-floweringvarietiesto focuson.”
Creativetouch
Fromherbackgroundinmarketingandsales, Begbiebringsaprofessionalandcreativetouchto thebusiness.
Everyphotographonthewebsiteishers,and thesimple,no-fusslayoutisdesignedtobeuserfriendlyandeasytonavigate.
“I’maveryvisualperson.Ilovephotography, andIknowhowimportantitistoshowpeople whattheflowersactuallylooklike.”
Whileshespendshermorningstendingplants, herafternoonsareoftenfilledwithadmin, marketingandpackingorders.Thecoupleenjoy theflexibilityofbeingtheirownbosses.
“Iftheweather’sgood,wegofishing,”shesaid. “It’sallaboutbalance–doingwhatyouloveand livinglifearoundit.”
‘Insatiableappetite’
Shealsosellswholesaletogardencentresand appearsatselectedplantfairsasfarawayasFoxton
138WalfordRd,Katikati 0276772294 www.nakedgardener.co.nz
DebbieGriffiths
WendyBegbieinherhappyplace. Photos/BrydieThompson
NakedGardener.
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