2024 WINNER JAMIE WELLS

Jamie Wells, a 29-year-old agronomist at Balle Brothers, won the 2024 Pukekohe Young Grower of the Year competition on Friday 17th of May.

Held at LaValla Estate in Tuakau, the competition tested the vegetable and fruit-growing knowledge of seven contestants along with the skills needed to be successful growers.

Throughout the day competitors completed modules in marketing, compliance, pest and disease identification, safe tractor driving, finance, soil and fertilisers, irrigation and quality control. At the gala dinner later that evening they each delivered a speech and competed in a panel discussion.

Jamie says the shock of the win is now starting to wear off and says that the Young Grower competition is a great opportunity to challenge your horticultural skills and to meet other young horticulturalists. “I’ve come from a family with no horticultural history, and have come this far with perseverance and dedication. If you give it your best shot, you can go far.”

Jamie received first place in the Theory, Practical & Business modules.

Jamie is pleased with his performance at the competition but admits feeling a little out of his depth with the tractor driving as he doesn’t spend much time driving vehicles as part of his horticultural work.

For the SPSNZ marketing module, Jamie designed a grilled onion charcoal briquette. His theoretical product would use waste onions and put them through a carbonisation process to have them dehydrated for use in a barbecue grill.

Jamie will go on to compete in this year's National Final, located in Hawke's Bay on the 9th and 10th of October.

The seven Pukekohe competitors showcased a range of roles and experience across the horticultural industry, from multi-generational growers to those with no previous rural background before growing fruit or vegetables commercially.

Well done to all of the competitors: Bethany Lang (T&G), Keegan Neate (Punchbowl Kiwifruit Services), Peter Schreuder (Gourmet Waiuku Ltd) and Kendra Wright (Woodhaven Gardens).

NEW ZEALAND YOUNG HORTICULTURIST OF THE YEAR.

Recently, Elyse, Kate & Sarah attended the 2023 New Zealand Young Horticulturist of the Year competition. Held in November every year, the Young Horticulturist Competition is an event that brings together the best young talent in horticulture.

Finalists are tested on their horticultural practical skills, leadership ability, speechcraft, business acumen, and industry knowledge.

South Pacific Seeds sponsor the Young Grower of the Year (a preliminary event to this competition final) and we were pleased to see that the previous Young Grower winner, Nelson-based orchardist Meryn Whitehead, took out the title.

This year Taylor Leabourn will be competiting in the 2024 Horticulturist of the year.