Nelson man wins regions Young Fruit Grower award

For immediate release

27 June 2011

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.

ENDS

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