Getting senior and more experienced members of the horticulture industry to share and transfer their vast knowledge is vital, according to newly-announced 2020 Bay of Plenty Young Grower of the Year, Melissa Van Den Heuvel.

Knowledge transfer within the horticulture industry was the 24-year-old’s key message in her speech to 400 people as she vied to win the title at the February 12 gala awards dinner at Mount Maunganui’s Trustpower Baypark.

The competition took place at the February 8 Te Puke A&P Lifestyle Show, where competitors tested their skills and ability to run a successful orchard in a series of challenges.  This was followed by a gala dinner speech competition, which asked the eight contestants to discuss ‘How can we as growers be better members of the wider community?’

Runner-up was 24-year-old Emily Crum, who placed third in the 2019 competition. This time Emily, who completed a cadetship with EastPack and became an orchard manager before moving to Whangarei to run her family’s orchard management company, also won the Apata planting, pruning and grafting challenge; and the speech competition.

Third place went to Megan Fox, who works for the Southern Cross Horticulture Graduate Programme where she manages 25ha and is orchard technical advisor for 115ha. Megan also won the inaugural ASB Innovation Award.

After greeting the audience in Maori, Melissa said growers across NZ’s avocado and kiwifruit industry have a wealth of knowledge that they’ve gained from many years on-orchard. “It’s important that before they switch the tractor keys for fishing rods, and trade the orchards for beaches that this information is passed on.

“Not only to my own generation but to future generations to come. We need this knowledge transfer to ensure it is available for future use. I propose we create a link – between those with the knowledge and those who are young, keen and eager to learn.

“Let’s, as an industry, invest time and effort into the generations that will be taking on the land in future years.”

Avos in school

Melissa proposed a programme that would channel the instinctive curiosity and eagerness that children possess “and linking them with growers who can help build and grow on that”.

“Let’s create an ‘avos in schools’ programme. With the support of industry stakeholders we would be asking growers to give up their time to help benefit the communities that they are part of. And to support and mentor skills with their very own orchard.

“Students and teachers would not only learn about planting, pest monitoring, orchard budgeting and the supply chain of our fruit and vegetables, but opportunities to learn about the nutritional and sustainability aspects [of the fruit].”

Melissa said you always hear children say in class they want to be doctors and pilots. “But you never hear them say they want to be avocado growers. We need to change that. If this knowledge transfer of ideas doesn’t take place we risk losing the innovative ideas that build the foundations of the very industry we are a part of.”

Melissa, who holds a Bachelor of science majoring in environmental planning, now works as an industry systems associate at NZ Avocado.

Overwhelmed by winning the title, Melissa says she’s happy to further represent the industry in the national NZ Young Fruit Grower competition in Wellington this August. Her prize is an all-expenses paid trip to Wellington to compete for the national title plus $1500 cash.

“This really isn’t possible without my workmates at NZ Avocado, my partner, the amazing growers, and the fantastic people across the industry who have helped me along the way.”

The 24-year-old says growing up in Rotorua “all we heard about was dairy and forestry and no-one really mentioned horticulture – so it wasn’t until my job at NZ Avocado that I learnt what it was all about”.

“Now I can’t imagine myself working anywhere else.”

Endless opportunities

Melissa loves working in the avocado industry “because it is exciting and ever-changing with endless opportunities” and she entered the BOP Young Grower competition to further her knowledge about the industry she feels fortunate to be a part of.

She also won the Avocado Tree Planting challenge, and the KVH Horticultural Biosecurity challenge – and impressed judges with her speech on passing knowledge to future generations.

After the awards she told Coast & Country News that a big risk for the horticulture industry is there’s not many young people in it, particularly avocados. “When I first started at NZ Avocado I was the youngest in my office, I didn’t know anyone my age [working in avocados].

“Also, when I was growing up horticulture wasn’t talked about [as a career option], so you don’t really realise what opportunities are out there.

“So I think the only way to get that knowledge or promotion really is by having the people who know about it and have basically spent their lives on orchards, actually passing that information on.”

Spread the word

Nikki Johnston, who is CEO of New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc, the industry body which represents 2800 growers nationwide, said the awards is about celebrating the outstanding talent in the horticulture industry “and to showcase careers and opportunities that the industry provides to each and every person in NZ”.

She thanked the BOP Young Fruit Growers Upskilling Committee for voluntarily helping to organise the competition and event coordinator Renee Fritchley, who spends 12 months putting it together.

“Lastly to our contestants – you are amazing, talented ambassadors for the horticulture industry. Each of you has an exciting future in front of you and we look forward to watching and helping you succeed.”

BOP Young Growers Upskilling Committee chair Andrew Dawson says the passion shown by the contestants is what makes the event so special. “These bright young people coming into our industry are hungry to learn and build their careers in horticulture. It’s a real privilege to give them this space to shine – their drive and the great support from our industry partners is what keeps people coming back to this event year-after-year.”

Nikki also asked MC, Kiwi comedian Guy Williams, who became an honorary avocado ambassador for the evening by donning a large blow-up version the fruit: “Spread the word my friend; tell everyone in NZ that everyone has a future in horticulture – every single person in NZ can come join us on this journey #KiwifruitjobsNZ”