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Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition 2025

Name: Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year Competition 2025
Start: 2025-06-05T00:00:00+12:00
End: 2025-06-06T23:59:59+12:00
Location: Ranui Sports Field

June 5 - June 6

We are thrilled to share that the 2025 Young Fruitgrower of the Year competition was an incredible success! This prestigious event brought together passionate young growers who showcased their skills, gained valuable industry insights, and connected with some of the best in the business.

📅 Competition Day: June 5th
📅 Leadership Panel & Awards Evening: June 6th

Over two action-packed days, participants demonstrated not only technical ability but also leadership, resilience, and a genuine passion for horticulture. The event was a celebration of growth, innovation, and the future of the fruitgrowing industry.

A huge thank you to all competitors, sponsors, supporters, and attendees who made it such a memorable event.

Stay tuned – dates for the 2026 competition will be announced soon!

Check out the 2025 Contestants.

George Andrews

George Andrew is an Orchardist at Mr. Apple, based at the Clive orchard, where he has been working for the past two and a half years. In his role, George is responsible for a range of practical orchard operations, including grafting, pruning, supervising thinning and harvest, tractor driving, mowing, weed spraying, planting, irrigation maintenance, extenday and young tree development.

Before joining Mr. Apple, George studied toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Horticultural Science at Massey University in Palmerston North. During his summers, he gained valuable hands-on experience working in Gisborne for Kaiaponi Farms and Kaitere Limited.

Passionate about horticulture, George is committed to continual learning and development within the industry and is eager to take advantage of new opportunities as they arise.

Brooke Hunter

Brooke Hunter is a Nursery and Orchard Hand at Taylor Corporation, where she has worked since the 2019/2020 season. She discovered her passion early on for nursery work, recognising it as the foundation of great fruit production.

Brooke brings strong skills in grafting, machinery operation, budding, time management, and team leadership—built through her work at Taylor Corporation and Genesis Nurseries. She holds multiple industry certifications, including a Primary ITO Nursery Apprenticeship and Growsafe.

Brooke hopes to step into an Assistant Nursery Manager role in the next five years and is committed to continual growth in New Zealand’s thriving horticulture sector.

Kelly Minehan

At just 21, Kelly Minehan is one of the youngest contestants, but she’s emerging as a future leader. What began as a summer job in horticulture right after high school quickly turned into a career.

Kelly secured a permanent role with Mr Apple’s Brookfields team and began her apprenticeship. She has completed certificates in Levels 1-4 in Fruit Production from EIT and aims to start her Diploma in the near future. She handles tasks such as tractor driving, spraying, pruning, and supervising RSE teams, and enjoys the variety the seasons bring.

With great mentors along the way, Kelly now shares her knowledge with newer teammates and finds it rewarding to see a smile or nod in return. She hopes to do more teaching in the future and be a positive influence. She’s also passionate about encouraging more women to join horticulture, recognising it as an industry full of opportunities.

Philip Siagia

Philip Siagia, currently serving as Assistant Manager for the apple division at Ngai Tukairangi Trust, brings over a decade of hands-on experience and unwavering passion to the horticulture industry. At 29, he has already spent 11 years honing his craft and is widely respected for his strong work ethic and commitment to both people and produce.

Having completed a Level 4 Certificate in Horticulture at EIT, Philip has also undertaken leadership training to further develop his capabilities in team management. These qualifications support his role, where he balances technical orchard operations with mentoring and guiding staff.

Philip thrives on the connection between people and nature, and his enthusiasm for the land is evident in every aspect of his work. As he continues to grow in leadership, he remains focused on contributing to the success of his team and the wider industry.

William Hirst

William is the Continuous Improvement Lead at Rockit Apples, where he’s spent the past three years driving innovation and operational excellence. His role spans process improvement, project leadership, and aligning post-harvest capabilities with business goals.

With a background in technical and operational roles at Tomra, Bay Blueberries, and Kraft Heinz Wattie’s, William brings a broad perspective across the food and horticulture sectors. He holds a Business Management degree majoring in Strategic Management and Agribusiness.
William is passionate about supply chain optimisation and aims to move into a General Manager position in the near future, while continuing to support growth and efficiency across the industry.

Jack Wotherspoon

Jack is a dedicated and forward-thinking young professional deeply invested in the future of Hawkes Bay fruit growing. He is currently expanding his knowledge and experience within the fruit growing industry working with cherries at Bounce fruit as an orchard hand and machine operator. His hands-on experience spans diverse roles, from five harvests in organic apple production at Bostock, where he developed a strong understanding of sustainable practices, to operating advanced machinery like Telehandlers and TECNOFRUIT platforms during two harvests at Craigmore. Currently a skilled Machinery Operator and Orchard Hand at Bounce, Jack holds certifications including OSH forklift and Growsafe, demonstrating his commitment to safety and industry standards.

Beyond his technical proficiency, Jack is driven by a profound passion for the well-being of the fruit growing community and the environment. He is a strong advocate for improved mental health support within the industry and is deeply committed to implementing sustainable practices that minimize environmental impact. Looking ahead, Jack aspires to integrate these crucial elements, fostering a resilient, innovative, and supportive future for Hawkes Bay's fruit growers. His unique blend of practical expertise and genuine care positions him as a promising young leader with a clear vision for a thriving and responsible industry.

Georgia Mckinnon

Georgia is a Supply & Continuous Improvement Technician at T&G Global, where she works across nursery tree quality and supports the rollout of new varieties like Joli. She also contributes to continuous improvement initiatives across orchard operations.

Her journey in horticulture began through T&G’s Graduate Programme, where she gained experience across orchard management, post-harvest, marketing, technical growing, and supply and operational planning. This gave her a strong foundation and a deep appreciation for the industry's complexity.

She later became Block Lead of a newly developed 11-hectare orchard, overseeing all on-orchard decision-making and system setup. Georgia also took part in maturity monitoring across 600 hectares and collect fruit sizing data to develop growth curve tools to support harvest and yield forecasting.

Holding a degree in Agribusiness & Food Marketing, Georgia is known for her energy, curiosity, and leadership potential. She is passionate about driving innovation, sharing knowledge, and making a practical impact. Over the next few years, she aims to grow her technical expertise and continue contributing to sustainable and efficient practices in the horticulture sector.

Sam Carter

Sam Carter is the Assistant Manager at T&G’s Pakowhai Sector, bringing nearly a decade of hands-on experience to the role. Sam began his horticultural career in 2014 as a summer casual worker with Johnny Appleseed while attending university. In 2019, he transitioned to a full-time role as an intern and orchard hand, before moving to T&G in 2023, where he initially served as a Block Lead before stepping into his current position.

Sam has completed a Level 3 Certificate in Horticulture through EIT and is currently working toward his Level 4 qualification. Committed to professional growth, Sam’s career aspiration is to continue progressing along the management pathway within the horticultural industry.