Presidents Report
My last “short” report for the year 2024 – It’ been a hugely busy year for all of us here at HBFA. We are all here, giving of our time to serve our growers and help our industry grow and succeed. Our focus for 2025 and beyond will be to engage and target our younger audience and do what we can to support, educate and promote our industry as a fantastic community to work and be involved in.
We look forward to next year running our key event – our Industry awards night on the 5th of Feb, celebrating the completion of studies for our EIT Hort students and the awarding of scholarships for those who have been chosen. We have our emerging achiever award to present and the Fourneau trophy for innovation.
Early in June we have our HB Young Fruit grower competition. We are all looking forward to seeing new emerging talent compete for the prestigious young fruit grower of the year. Please encourage your under 30’s who work in your companies to consider entering the 2025 competition – details will be our early next year so keep an eye out.
On behalf of HBFA our thoughts and prayers are with the people and Nation of Vanuatu. Many of our growers will have RSE relationships in their own businesses and will be feeling this first hand. Please reach out to us if you or if any of your Vanuatuan staff need to talk. We can provide professional help if needed.
Finally, to all our members, growers and readers of our newsletters have a very merry Christmas, enjoy your break from the trees, enjoy time with your family and will see you in 2025.
Kia kaha
Brydon Nisbet
President HBFA
