Yesterday Chris Clement (Line Manager, Mends Lane) and Craig Ward (Technical Manager, Apata GROW) competed in the 2015 Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrowers Competition.
Eight contests from around the Bay spent the day completing a range of tasks such as backing utes with trailers, completing orchard budgets and giving a three minute speech to a large audience on how industry can support tertiary education institutes in attracting students to horticulture.
Amongst some stiff competition both Chris and Craig emerged victorious. Chris won two of the competition categories, while Craig won four.
Craig also won the coveted overall title of Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower of the Year. Craig will now move onto the national Young Grower of the Year competition, to be held in August in Christchurch where he will compete against other regional fruitgrower finalists and the Young Vegetable Grower of the Year.
Chris and Craig epitomise the Apata ethos - they are extremely passionate about what they do and they are great at it.
We are extremely proud of both young men and invite you to join us in congratulating them.